From Here On Out [PG13]
Title: From Here On Out
Author: Alex Sorensen (ilytheira)
Summary: Another season of American Idol ends as the top ten finalists gather in Glendale, Arizona for the start of their summer tour. But, as things go, an ending is just another beginning. Or, in the case of David Cook and Michael Johns, they’re just continuing from where they left off.
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Michael and David aren’t mine. If they were, a reenactment of Winding Roads’ prologue, as well as Destination, would be demanded. Immediately. 0=]
Author’s Note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, aliasguru! Hope you like it, bb. ♥ This was originally supposed to be rather short, but as soon as I got started, I just couldn’t stop. I hope you enjoy!
From Here On Out
Days later, and David Cook is still reeling from his crowning as the American Idol. He still can’t believe that he had “narrowly beaten” David Archuleta by “the slightest margin of fifty thousand votes” (well, something like that; David hadn’t really been paying attention to Ryan). He is called on wherever he goes now, and he has probably had his picture taken more times these past few months than he has in his whole life; there are flashes everywhere he goes, and there is no way to escape them, paparazzi or not.
The flight to Glendale, Arizona, isn’t a long one at all, but with everybody and their great-uncle wanting an autograph or three, it certainly seemed like one. The plane touches down, and as the passengers of the plane exit, David among them, they scatter and begin to throw themselves at him for pictures, autographs, and kisses on the cheek. They chorus to him, “We love you, David!” and he bows his head humbly. All of this success is overwhelming for him, but there is a bittersweet side to this happiness. The one person he wants so much to share this with is not by his side, is not there to lighten the load, is not there to share this --well, not necessarily burden-- with him.
He shakes his head, ignoring the constricting in his chest every time his thoughts wander off to Michael. It’s only been a week, but it’s been a week too long since they’ve last seen each other. David has to fight his way through the crowds to be able to get to baggage claim and get his belongings. He wants them all to disappear -or to simply pause-- even for just one moment, just long enough for him to gather his things, to gather himself, but there they are, everywhere he goes and anywhere he turns, and all he can do is give thanks for them, give thanks to them, because without them, none of the spectacular things during Idol would have happened.
As David maneuvers through the crowd and to the exit, ready to hail a cab and go to the hotel where the rest of the top ten are gathering for the start of the tour, ready to just rest and forget everything for even just a second, a familiar voice so impossible to forget calls out to him, “Hey, Dave, need a ride?”
The Idol doesn’t even need to search for the six-foot-three Michael Johns as the Australian moves fluidly through the crowd to get to David; it is as though they are drawn to each other through a special bond, David thinks, as his feet drag him toward the older man. Can you get any cheesier, Cook? David dryly thinks to himself.
Warmth envelopes him as Michael’s arms encircle him, and the electricity they share is there again, and he doesn’t have a care in the world for the photographers as their cameras go flash flash flash. They stand there, standing for so much more than just simple brotherhood and camaraderie -oh no, they go so much further than that, have been through so much more to be considered just that. It’s only been a week, David has to constantly remind himself, but he knows that he cannot last even a day without seeing Michael, hearing him, feeling him.
“How are you?” Michael asks, pulling away as more people crowd around them; the Australian has a tight grip on his hand, fighting to keep them together through the sea of people, and guides him to the parking lot, where Michael’s SUV is parked in the very first slot right by the entrance.
“I’m -it’s-I don’t know, indescribable,” David answers him honestly. “I still can’t believe I won, you know? And the schedule -it’s just been interview after pictorial after interview, and-“
“I think you handle yourself well,” Michael remarks, interrupting David as he helps the younger man get his luggage into the back of the SUV. “And those pictures were great.”
“You’ve seen them?” David looks at Michael incredulously.
There is a catlike smile gracing Michael’s lips, wide and mysterious, “The magazines and the web love you.” He imitates Simon’s emphasis on the word love. “And baby, don’t you remember? I’m your biggest fan.”
As soon as David’s things have been placed in the back of the SUV, they enter the vehicle, Michael starts the engine, and they are off. The crowded airport, with everybody trying to exit at the same time, gives them a large opportunity to do some large catching up.
“I heard you went back to Australia,” David strikes up the conversation, and Michael nods faintly in reply.
“Australia and then some,” he answers. “Interviews, you know, stuff like that.”
David nods, because there really isn’t anything else to say but, “I see.”
Michael exhales, relaxes himself as he leans back, and then turns his head slightly. “How did it feel?”
David turns to look at him with a sad smile, “All right, I’d say.” He turns and breaks eye contact. “I was hoping to be standing next to you, though; I wasn’t that thrilled with standing next to little Archie. I mean, he is talented and all, but he just wasn’t you. And, besides, I wasn’t going to hold his hand, even if you paid me a million dollars every day for the rest of my life.”
“Archuleta should be thankful you did no such thing,” Michael remarks with an edge in his voice.
The younger man coos, “Aw.” Michael glares sideways at him, “‘Aw’?”
“You’re not fond of anyone else holding my hand, are you?”
They have finally made their way to the exit; Michael turns violently into the freeway. Handling the steering wheel singlehandedly with his left, his right hand reaches over and seeks out David’s left, which David promptly offers to him. Their hands are a perfect fit, as they’ve always been, and Michael says, “No. No, I don’t think I am.”
And then he is lost in the sound of David’s laughter.
They don’t let go until they reach the hotel some fifteen minutes later. David exits the vehicle first as the valet comes and opens the door for him, and then moves to open the door for Michael. Michael follows David as the other man opens the back of the vehicle to gather his things. The bellhop comes over, but Michael politely says, “No, thank you,” and tips him with a five nonetheless. The bellhop nods his thanks, and proceeds to open the door for them, David thanking him with a nod for the both of them.
“This isn’t bad,” David remarks as they go through the lobby and to the elevator.
“I know, right?” Michael and David enter the elevator as the doors open with a ding, and the Australian presses the number twenty-three. The doors close and as soon as the journey up starts, Michael moves so that he is not even an inch apart from David, his hands reaching out and quickly finding the Missourian’s. David’s grip shows he isn’t willing to let go any time soon.
“And, how was your week?” he begins jovially as they pass the tenth floor.
“All the rage,” Michael says with a grin, as enthusiastic as he can, but his look turns serious when David looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “Well, all her rage.”
They’ve passed the seventeenth floor. “So she knows about us.”
Michael shakes his head, “Oh, she’s known about us for a long time, Dave.” He closes his eyes to avoid the look David’s; he cannot stand to look at the disbelief.
“T -then?” David’s voice carries a worried tone as the elevator reaches the twenty-third floor, and they exit, Michael dragging both of David’s suitcases behind him. “Mikey, what happened?”
Michael has to admit, he cannot get enough of the way the nickname falls from David’s lips. He doesn’t respond to David’s question right away as he leads the way to their room in an awkward silence. The Australian produces a card key from his pocket, slides it into the sensor, and as the door opens with a mechanical click, Michael places David’s suitcases next to his things already sprawled out. He inhales deeply, exhales, and then says quietly, “I asked her to sign them, David. I -I asked her to sign the papers.”
The look in David’s eyes as Michael raises his own to meet them is a mixture of happiness and shock. “Y -you’ve asked her to sign the divorce papers?”
Michael nods as he sits David down on the bed, and sits himself down. His tone is low and somber, “Y -yeah.”
“W -what did she say?” David looks almost afraid to know the answer to his question.
“She didn’t really say anything,” he says, carefully emphasizing the word. He raises his left sleeve to reveal a large, still-purple bruise that covers a large part of his arm.
David gasps audibly and reaches out to carefully touch Michael’s arm, “Mikey, what did she do to you?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Michael tries to say lightly, but it feels as if gravy has just been shoved down his throat. He gingerly puts a hand over David’s fingers. “One lamp and a few of her toiletries aren’t going to kill me. I was the kangaroo with the boxing gloves, remember?”
David doesn’t find the situation funny in any way as he stands up, obviously enraged by the way his eyes have widened, a fire shining behind them, “Nothing to worry about? Michael, are you crazy?”
Michael shakes his head no as he stands up and walks behind David, wraps his arms around the younger man’s waist, and rests his head on David’s shoulder. “Honestly, Dave. Baby, don’t worry about me.”
“Don’t worry? How?”
“How?” Michael tightens his grip on David. “You stop dwelling on these things, and start thinking about the positive things.”
“What could possibly be positive about something like that?”
Michael’s hands move from David’s waist to his hands, which have clenched into fists. The Australian opens them, intertwines their fingers, and the very connection that Michael feels lets his brain know what his heart has known for weeks; he doesn’t ever want to let go of this man again.
“I’m here with you now, aren’t I? And nothing’s ever going to keep me away.”
David has no desire to let go, either. Things have been insanely chaotic, and he thinks it’s absolutely wonderful to have something -someone-stable to hold on to. He and Michael stand still together, simply letting the minutes pass them by. David knows that not even the rush from winning can compare to the way fire is coursing through his body as Michael holds him in his arms, cannot possibly compare to the bursts of electricity whenever they come into contact with each other’s skin.
“Do you know how happy I am that you’re here?” Although there is nobody in the room but them, David’s voice comes out in a whisper as he twists his head around slightly, craning to catch a glimpse of Michael. The Australian’s very breath on his skin makes him want to throw Michael onto the bed and ravish him then and there.
Michael extends his neck slightly and kisses David on the mouth. “As happy as I am?”
David shakes his head, and then squirms slightly in Michael’s grasp; Michael loosens his grip slightly, and then David turns around so that they are facing each other. “No,” he tells Michael, and then captures the taller man’s mouth for such a passionate kiss, David has to fight to keep his knees upright.
“Happier, I should think. I’m on top of the world now, Mikey.”
After David’s arrival, the other Idols begin pouring into Glendale, Arizona and into the frenzy of fans and flash photography. Chikezie and Ramiele arrive about an hour after David does, and Kristy Lee arrives not long after; Syesha and Jason are the next to pass through the hotel doors, followed not even thirty minutes later by the younger David. Brooke and Carly are the last ones to arrive, and once the two spot each other, they come together instantly as the others exchange hugs and salutations around them.
Brooke starts off the conversation with, “How’ve you been?” after hugging Carly tightly.
“Great!” The Irishwoman has a large smile on her face. “And yourself?”
“Oh, wow,” Brooke says with a laugh, “I’ve been great.” Her voice trails off as she starts a whole new topic, “How do you think they’ve been?”
Carly’s answer surprises her. “Well, that depends on what Michael’s done.”
Brooke tilts hear head to the side and frowns in confusion, “What do you mean?”
Carly’s voice lowers and her voice comes out in a whisper, “Michael hasn’t told you yet?”
“No,” Brooke draws out the one-syllable word, “was he supposed to tell me something?”
The Irishwoman opens her mouth as though she is going to say something, but closes it immediately. She smiles coyly, and then chooses to say, “He’ll tell you when he’s -no, they’re-ready.”
“When they’re ready?” Brooke stares at Carly incredulously, confusion clearly written all over her delicate features.
Carly shakes her head. “You’ll see.”
Her smile is larger than ever.
“Now let’s go, roomie. I’m exhausted from that flight.”
“Was everybody hounding you for pictures and autographs?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Brooke; hit it right on the head.”
Michael and David haven’t noticed the passing of time upstairs in their room. They have simply been sitting side by side on one of the two beds -David has been leaning on Michael’s shoulder, Michael has had his arm wrapped around David. They have been like that, simply just like that, for hours, relishing each other’s company in the beautiful silence. It has been a long time since they’ve been able to do this, just simply enjoy each other in the quiet and murmur the occasional “I love you,” and Michael truly treasures it.
He is the first to speak, his voice hoarse and husky, “I think we should go down now.” He removes his arm from around David, but it doesn’t stop David from leaning on his shoulder. Michael eyes his wristwatch and sees the hands pointing at seven fifty-three. “I think we should go down now. I’d think they’d have arrived.”
“It’s already eight?” David’s voice almost sounds sleepy.
“Almost,” Michael answers tenderly. “C’mon, baby, we have to go.”
“Why can’t we stay here?” The tone is so endearing that Michael has to smile.
“Because,” he says jovially, “while we could stay up here and have awesome, mind-blowing sex with each other”-Michael stands up and pulls David out of bed by force-“and let me tell you, baby, I’d love to do that”-there is a low sound in David’s throat-“it’d be horribly impolite of the American Idol to not show up at dinner with the other participants in the summer tour.” Michael finishes speaking with a grin on his face.
David smooths down his shirt and runs a hand through his hair -Michael loves the way David messes his hair up even further-“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to keep you up here?”
Michael has to bite back a moan as so many images run through his head. “Dave, there are so many things you can do to keep me up here. But you can do that to me later. I’ll be your -ah-dessert.”
David grins wolfishly. “Well, if you’re going to put it that way -I guess I’m going to have to enjoy dinner then.”
“Don’t forget the little bit of mingling you’re going to have to do.”
A week of not seeing each other makes all the difference in the world, Jason notices as Michael and the older David are the last ones to enter the hotel restaurant for their dinner. Admittedly, he doesn’t take that much of a notice in the subtle changes -well, that was before Jason realizes he noticed Kristy Lee’s happy “engagement glow” and the fact that little Archuleta looks more relaxed than he’s ever looked while they were still competing for the title that is now the male Cook’s-but the changes in Michael and David are not at all subtle. There is a happier -Jason doesn’t think he can find a better word than ‘glow’-surrounding the both of them, and David is definitely laughing more.
Seeing Michael and David together reminds Jason of the weeks in the house after Michael’s elimination. There were days when David would only pick at his food, and then there were days where he flat-out refused to eat. There were days when David would cry himself to sleep, and there were days when David would simply burst into tears; sometimes, even during rehearsals, David would choke and begin to tear up. Michael leaving had really affected him, but now that they were together again and David is happy --well, then. Jason is going to punch Michael where it hurts if he ever leaves David again.
He believes that he can say the same thing about Michael. Throughout his time on the competition, when Michael wasn’t around David, there’s always been something holding him back from being him. He’d always be so stressed without David around, would always be so uptight or tight-lipped unless it was Brooke or Carly -especially on those damn Wednesdays-but he looks so much more carefree now, as though the weight of the world, perhaps even two, has been lifted off of his shoulders.
Jason has to hand it to the both of them. They really did know how to make the other one smile.
As they are seated, Jason has to fight to keep his smile from growing too large. Michael and David seat themselves immediately next to each other with no visible sign of hesitation whatsoever. Jason could see the smile on Carly’s face as she walks over to them; there’s obviously something going on over there.
He can clearly see the words coming out of David’s mouth as he responds to Carly’s bright and bubbly “How are you?” -“Never better, Carly. Never better.” Oh, I’m sure.
He smirks as he sees Carly’s lips move and form the words, “I know.”
She knows everything, doesn’t she?
Michael and David don’t even notice the dinner passing by. David has the automatic response for every word of congratulations thrown in his direction -he has to tilt his head down sometimes because his “Thanks” are beginning to sound so very monotonous, Michael has prepared the common “I’m great, and yourself?” to throw off any other question that might have been headed in his direction as the other person -in this case, Kristy Lee-speaks more and more of the goings-on in their life in the past week.
Honestly, Michael doesn’t see the need for all the catching-up conversation. In fact, he’s beginning to regret denying David’s request to stay upstairs. By this time, Michael thinks ruefully, he could’ve done so many things that would certainly have delighted David more than the steak now being served to them, he’s so sure of it.
It mustn’t have even been fifteen minutes before David stands up next to him. Michael, expecting some sort of toast, reaches out and grabs his wine glass, but the words that come out of David’s mouth are somewhat -unexpected.
“Hey,” David starts, “it’s great -and, really, I mean it’s great seeing you all again, but damn, I’m tired. I hope you guys don’t mind if I go upstairs?” A round of somewhat hesitant “No, not really’s” go around the table. “Awesome. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Michael watches him with a narrowed gaze as David yawns and stretches on the way out of the restaurant.
There is an awkward silence after David’s exit; Ramiele proceeds to break the ice, “He’s got to be really exhausted from all the media around them, huh?”
Carly briefly catches Michael’s eye, which leads him to look at Brooke over to Chikezie’s left; she has a pleased smile in her eyes as she tilts her head and mouths to him, “Follow him, Mike.”
Michael then responds to Ramiele’s question as he stands up and neatly folds his napkin next to his plate, “No, I think he just wants some dessert.”
As he gets up and leaves, he doesn’t notice Brooke’s gaze at the ring-less fourth finger on his left hand.
Of course, Michael isn’t surprised to find out David really wasn’t in the mood for any sort of sexual pleasure -although he will admit that he is slightly disappointed-because he realizes David’s week has definitely been more hectic than any of the eight gathered downstairs, or his. It really is for the better, Michael decides, as he watches David’s sleeping form underneath the covers. Michael undresses himself down to his boxers and then moves in next to David under the blanket. David’s body immediately reacts to his new source of warmth as the younger man unconsciously moves closer to Michael, and as Michael wraps an arm around him, he can feel David’s heartbeat steadily thumping against his hand. There is a soft, muffled murmur of, “Love you, Mikey,” that makes him smile.
“Love you, too, Dave,” he whispers in return as he begins to surrender himself to dreamland. “Love you, too.”
The crowd welcoming him onto the stage the next morning is unbelievable. There are people holding up banners, people screaming, people reaching out to hold his hand, and David is so terribly sorry he cannot respond to all of them, cannot hold all of their hands, because the opportunity they’ve given him is just massive. Humbled to tears, David has to shake his head as the music starts behind him. He had insisted on performing this song, because, well -love really didn’t need a reason.
The lyrics flow from his mouth, “We were as one, babe, for a moment in time” and as soon as he begins the next line, a second voice -a male voice joins him on stage. He stops singing and spins around and he smiles as he sees Michael walking toward him. The smooth Australian drawl is flowing out of his mouth as he continues, “And it seemed everlasting that you would always be mine.”
It becomes their own little conversation in the song. David ‘answers’ him, “Now you want to be free, so I’m letting you fly, ’cause I know in my heart, babe-“
Michael joins him for the next line, “Our love will never die.”
The screaming in the audience becomes so much louder than the audience had sounded in the Nokia Theater as Michael reaches out and grasps David’s hand. With a glint in his eye, David knows that Michael is speaking into the microphone on purpose. “No matter what’s going to happen, no matter what people are going to throw in our way, I’m going to be there for you, with you. Always. I love you, Dave.”
The audience’s voices reach impossible volumes as Michael kisses him there on the stage in front of thousands and thousands of people. With the music continually playing behind them, Michael breaks the kiss and serenades him.
“Ooh, darling, ’cause you’ll always be my baby.”
And before he knows it, Michael has kissed him one more time.
You’ll always be a part of me.
I’m part of you indefinitely.
Author: Alex Sorensen (ilytheira)
Summary: Another season of American Idol ends as the top ten finalists gather in Glendale, Arizona for the start of their summer tour. But, as things go, an ending is just another beginning. Or, in the case of David Cook and Michael Johns, they’re just continuing from where they left off.
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Michael and David aren’t mine. If they were, a reenactment of Winding Roads’ prologue, as well as Destination, would be demanded. Immediately. 0=]
Author’s Note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, aliasguru! Hope you like it, bb. ♥ This was originally supposed to be rather short, but as soon as I got started, I just couldn’t stop. I hope you enjoy!
From Here On Out
Days later, and David Cook is still reeling from his crowning as the American Idol. He still can’t believe that he had “narrowly beaten” David Archuleta by “the slightest margin of fifty thousand votes” (well, something like that; David hadn’t really been paying attention to Ryan). He is called on wherever he goes now, and he has probably had his picture taken more times these past few months than he has in his whole life; there are flashes everywhere he goes, and there is no way to escape them, paparazzi or not.
The flight to Glendale, Arizona, isn’t a long one at all, but with everybody and their great-uncle wanting an autograph or three, it certainly seemed like one. The plane touches down, and as the passengers of the plane exit, David among them, they scatter and begin to throw themselves at him for pictures, autographs, and kisses on the cheek. They chorus to him, “We love you, David!” and he bows his head humbly. All of this success is overwhelming for him, but there is a bittersweet side to this happiness. The one person he wants so much to share this with is not by his side, is not there to lighten the load, is not there to share this --well, not necessarily burden-- with him.
He shakes his head, ignoring the constricting in his chest every time his thoughts wander off to Michael. It’s only been a week, but it’s been a week too long since they’ve last seen each other. David has to fight his way through the crowds to be able to get to baggage claim and get his belongings. He wants them all to disappear -or to simply pause-- even for just one moment, just long enough for him to gather his things, to gather himself, but there they are, everywhere he goes and anywhere he turns, and all he can do is give thanks for them, give thanks to them, because without them, none of the spectacular things during Idol would have happened.
As David maneuvers through the crowd and to the exit, ready to hail a cab and go to the hotel where the rest of the top ten are gathering for the start of the tour, ready to just rest and forget everything for even just a second, a familiar voice so impossible to forget calls out to him, “Hey, Dave, need a ride?”
The Idol doesn’t even need to search for the six-foot-three Michael Johns as the Australian moves fluidly through the crowd to get to David; it is as though they are drawn to each other through a special bond, David thinks, as his feet drag him toward the older man. Can you get any cheesier, Cook? David dryly thinks to himself.
Warmth envelopes him as Michael’s arms encircle him, and the electricity they share is there again, and he doesn’t have a care in the world for the photographers as their cameras go flash flash flash. They stand there, standing for so much more than just simple brotherhood and camaraderie -oh no, they go so much further than that, have been through so much more to be considered just that. It’s only been a week, David has to constantly remind himself, but he knows that he cannot last even a day without seeing Michael, hearing him, feeling him.
“How are you?” Michael asks, pulling away as more people crowd around them; the Australian has a tight grip on his hand, fighting to keep them together through the sea of people, and guides him to the parking lot, where Michael’s SUV is parked in the very first slot right by the entrance.
“I’m -it’s-I don’t know, indescribable,” David answers him honestly. “I still can’t believe I won, you know? And the schedule -it’s just been interview after pictorial after interview, and-“
“I think you handle yourself well,” Michael remarks, interrupting David as he helps the younger man get his luggage into the back of the SUV. “And those pictures were great.”
“You’ve seen them?” David looks at Michael incredulously.
There is a catlike smile gracing Michael’s lips, wide and mysterious, “The magazines and the web love you.” He imitates Simon’s emphasis on the word love. “And baby, don’t you remember? I’m your biggest fan.”
As soon as David’s things have been placed in the back of the SUV, they enter the vehicle, Michael starts the engine, and they are off. The crowded airport, with everybody trying to exit at the same time, gives them a large opportunity to do some large catching up.
“I heard you went back to Australia,” David strikes up the conversation, and Michael nods faintly in reply.
“Australia and then some,” he answers. “Interviews, you know, stuff like that.”
David nods, because there really isn’t anything else to say but, “I see.”
Michael exhales, relaxes himself as he leans back, and then turns his head slightly. “How did it feel?”
David turns to look at him with a sad smile, “All right, I’d say.” He turns and breaks eye contact. “I was hoping to be standing next to you, though; I wasn’t that thrilled with standing next to little Archie. I mean, he is talented and all, but he just wasn’t you. And, besides, I wasn’t going to hold his hand, even if you paid me a million dollars every day for the rest of my life.”
“Archuleta should be thankful you did no such thing,” Michael remarks with an edge in his voice.
The younger man coos, “Aw.” Michael glares sideways at him, “‘Aw’?”
“You’re not fond of anyone else holding my hand, are you?”
They have finally made their way to the exit; Michael turns violently into the freeway. Handling the steering wheel singlehandedly with his left, his right hand reaches over and seeks out David’s left, which David promptly offers to him. Their hands are a perfect fit, as they’ve always been, and Michael says, “No. No, I don’t think I am.”
And then he is lost in the sound of David’s laughter.
They don’t let go until they reach the hotel some fifteen minutes later. David exits the vehicle first as the valet comes and opens the door for him, and then moves to open the door for Michael. Michael follows David as the other man opens the back of the vehicle to gather his things. The bellhop comes over, but Michael politely says, “No, thank you,” and tips him with a five nonetheless. The bellhop nods his thanks, and proceeds to open the door for them, David thanking him with a nod for the both of them.
“This isn’t bad,” David remarks as they go through the lobby and to the elevator.
“I know, right?” Michael and David enter the elevator as the doors open with a ding, and the Australian presses the number twenty-three. The doors close and as soon as the journey up starts, Michael moves so that he is not even an inch apart from David, his hands reaching out and quickly finding the Missourian’s. David’s grip shows he isn’t willing to let go any time soon.
“And, how was your week?” he begins jovially as they pass the tenth floor.
“All the rage,” Michael says with a grin, as enthusiastic as he can, but his look turns serious when David looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “Well, all her rage.”
They’ve passed the seventeenth floor. “So she knows about us.”
Michael shakes his head, “Oh, she’s known about us for a long time, Dave.” He closes his eyes to avoid the look David’s; he cannot stand to look at the disbelief.
“T -then?” David’s voice carries a worried tone as the elevator reaches the twenty-third floor, and they exit, Michael dragging both of David’s suitcases behind him. “Mikey, what happened?”
Michael has to admit, he cannot get enough of the way the nickname falls from David’s lips. He doesn’t respond to David’s question right away as he leads the way to their room in an awkward silence. The Australian produces a card key from his pocket, slides it into the sensor, and as the door opens with a mechanical click, Michael places David’s suitcases next to his things already sprawled out. He inhales deeply, exhales, and then says quietly, “I asked her to sign them, David. I -I asked her to sign the papers.”
The look in David’s eyes as Michael raises his own to meet them is a mixture of happiness and shock. “Y -you’ve asked her to sign the divorce papers?”
Michael nods as he sits David down on the bed, and sits himself down. His tone is low and somber, “Y -yeah.”
“W -what did she say?” David looks almost afraid to know the answer to his question.
“She didn’t really say anything,” he says, carefully emphasizing the word. He raises his left sleeve to reveal a large, still-purple bruise that covers a large part of his arm.
David gasps audibly and reaches out to carefully touch Michael’s arm, “Mikey, what did she do to you?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Michael tries to say lightly, but it feels as if gravy has just been shoved down his throat. He gingerly puts a hand over David’s fingers. “One lamp and a few of her toiletries aren’t going to kill me. I was the kangaroo with the boxing gloves, remember?”
David doesn’t find the situation funny in any way as he stands up, obviously enraged by the way his eyes have widened, a fire shining behind them, “Nothing to worry about? Michael, are you crazy?”
Michael shakes his head no as he stands up and walks behind David, wraps his arms around the younger man’s waist, and rests his head on David’s shoulder. “Honestly, Dave. Baby, don’t worry about me.”
“Don’t worry? How?”
“How?” Michael tightens his grip on David. “You stop dwelling on these things, and start thinking about the positive things.”
“What could possibly be positive about something like that?”
Michael’s hands move from David’s waist to his hands, which have clenched into fists. The Australian opens them, intertwines their fingers, and the very connection that Michael feels lets his brain know what his heart has known for weeks; he doesn’t ever want to let go of this man again.
“I’m here with you now, aren’t I? And nothing’s ever going to keep me away.”
David has no desire to let go, either. Things have been insanely chaotic, and he thinks it’s absolutely wonderful to have something -someone-stable to hold on to. He and Michael stand still together, simply letting the minutes pass them by. David knows that not even the rush from winning can compare to the way fire is coursing through his body as Michael holds him in his arms, cannot possibly compare to the bursts of electricity whenever they come into contact with each other’s skin.
“Do you know how happy I am that you’re here?” Although there is nobody in the room but them, David’s voice comes out in a whisper as he twists his head around slightly, craning to catch a glimpse of Michael. The Australian’s very breath on his skin makes him want to throw Michael onto the bed and ravish him then and there.
Michael extends his neck slightly and kisses David on the mouth. “As happy as I am?”
David shakes his head, and then squirms slightly in Michael’s grasp; Michael loosens his grip slightly, and then David turns around so that they are facing each other. “No,” he tells Michael, and then captures the taller man’s mouth for such a passionate kiss, David has to fight to keep his knees upright.
“Happier, I should think. I’m on top of the world now, Mikey.”
After David’s arrival, the other Idols begin pouring into Glendale, Arizona and into the frenzy of fans and flash photography. Chikezie and Ramiele arrive about an hour after David does, and Kristy Lee arrives not long after; Syesha and Jason are the next to pass through the hotel doors, followed not even thirty minutes later by the younger David. Brooke and Carly are the last ones to arrive, and once the two spot each other, they come together instantly as the others exchange hugs and salutations around them.
Brooke starts off the conversation with, “How’ve you been?” after hugging Carly tightly.
“Great!” The Irishwoman has a large smile on her face. “And yourself?”
“Oh, wow,” Brooke says with a laugh, “I’ve been great.” Her voice trails off as she starts a whole new topic, “How do you think they’ve been?”
Carly’s answer surprises her. “Well, that depends on what Michael’s done.”
Brooke tilts hear head to the side and frowns in confusion, “What do you mean?”
Carly’s voice lowers and her voice comes out in a whisper, “Michael hasn’t told you yet?”
“No,” Brooke draws out the one-syllable word, “was he supposed to tell me something?”
The Irishwoman opens her mouth as though she is going to say something, but closes it immediately. She smiles coyly, and then chooses to say, “He’ll tell you when he’s -no, they’re-ready.”
“When they’re ready?” Brooke stares at Carly incredulously, confusion clearly written all over her delicate features.
Carly shakes her head. “You’ll see.”
Her smile is larger than ever.
“Now let’s go, roomie. I’m exhausted from that flight.”
“Was everybody hounding you for pictures and autographs?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Brooke; hit it right on the head.”
Michael and David haven’t noticed the passing of time upstairs in their room. They have simply been sitting side by side on one of the two beds -David has been leaning on Michael’s shoulder, Michael has had his arm wrapped around David. They have been like that, simply just like that, for hours, relishing each other’s company in the beautiful silence. It has been a long time since they’ve been able to do this, just simply enjoy each other in the quiet and murmur the occasional “I love you,” and Michael truly treasures it.
He is the first to speak, his voice hoarse and husky, “I think we should go down now.” He removes his arm from around David, but it doesn’t stop David from leaning on his shoulder. Michael eyes his wristwatch and sees the hands pointing at seven fifty-three. “I think we should go down now. I’d think they’d have arrived.”
“It’s already eight?” David’s voice almost sounds sleepy.
“Almost,” Michael answers tenderly. “C’mon, baby, we have to go.”
“Why can’t we stay here?” The tone is so endearing that Michael has to smile.
“Because,” he says jovially, “while we could stay up here and have awesome, mind-blowing sex with each other”-Michael stands up and pulls David out of bed by force-“and let me tell you, baby, I’d love to do that”-there is a low sound in David’s throat-“it’d be horribly impolite of the American Idol to not show up at dinner with the other participants in the summer tour.” Michael finishes speaking with a grin on his face.
David smooths down his shirt and runs a hand through his hair -Michael loves the way David messes his hair up even further-“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to keep you up here?”
Michael has to bite back a moan as so many images run through his head. “Dave, there are so many things you can do to keep me up here. But you can do that to me later. I’ll be your -ah-dessert.”
David grins wolfishly. “Well, if you’re going to put it that way -I guess I’m going to have to enjoy dinner then.”
“Don’t forget the little bit of mingling you’re going to have to do.”
A week of not seeing each other makes all the difference in the world, Jason notices as Michael and the older David are the last ones to enter the hotel restaurant for their dinner. Admittedly, he doesn’t take that much of a notice in the subtle changes -well, that was before Jason realizes he noticed Kristy Lee’s happy “engagement glow” and the fact that little Archuleta looks more relaxed than he’s ever looked while they were still competing for the title that is now the male Cook’s-but the changes in Michael and David are not at all subtle. There is a happier -Jason doesn’t think he can find a better word than ‘glow’-surrounding the both of them, and David is definitely laughing more.
Seeing Michael and David together reminds Jason of the weeks in the house after Michael’s elimination. There were days when David would only pick at his food, and then there were days where he flat-out refused to eat. There were days when David would cry himself to sleep, and there were days when David would simply burst into tears; sometimes, even during rehearsals, David would choke and begin to tear up. Michael leaving had really affected him, but now that they were together again and David is happy --well, then. Jason is going to punch Michael where it hurts if he ever leaves David again.
He believes that he can say the same thing about Michael. Throughout his time on the competition, when Michael wasn’t around David, there’s always been something holding him back from being him. He’d always be so stressed without David around, would always be so uptight or tight-lipped unless it was Brooke or Carly -especially on those damn Wednesdays-but he looks so much more carefree now, as though the weight of the world, perhaps even two, has been lifted off of his shoulders.
Jason has to hand it to the both of them. They really did know how to make the other one smile.
As they are seated, Jason has to fight to keep his smile from growing too large. Michael and David seat themselves immediately next to each other with no visible sign of hesitation whatsoever. Jason could see the smile on Carly’s face as she walks over to them; there’s obviously something going on over there.
He can clearly see the words coming out of David’s mouth as he responds to Carly’s bright and bubbly “How are you?” -“Never better, Carly. Never better.” Oh, I’m sure.
He smirks as he sees Carly’s lips move and form the words, “I know.”
She knows everything, doesn’t she?
Michael and David don’t even notice the dinner passing by. David has the automatic response for every word of congratulations thrown in his direction -he has to tilt his head down sometimes because his “Thanks” are beginning to sound so very monotonous, Michael has prepared the common “I’m great, and yourself?” to throw off any other question that might have been headed in his direction as the other person -in this case, Kristy Lee-speaks more and more of the goings-on in their life in the past week.
Honestly, Michael doesn’t see the need for all the catching-up conversation. In fact, he’s beginning to regret denying David’s request to stay upstairs. By this time, Michael thinks ruefully, he could’ve done so many things that would certainly have delighted David more than the steak now being served to them, he’s so sure of it.
It mustn’t have even been fifteen minutes before David stands up next to him. Michael, expecting some sort of toast, reaches out and grabs his wine glass, but the words that come out of David’s mouth are somewhat -unexpected.
“Hey,” David starts, “it’s great -and, really, I mean it’s great seeing you all again, but damn, I’m tired. I hope you guys don’t mind if I go upstairs?” A round of somewhat hesitant “No, not really’s” go around the table. “Awesome. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Michael watches him with a narrowed gaze as David yawns and stretches on the way out of the restaurant.
There is an awkward silence after David’s exit; Ramiele proceeds to break the ice, “He’s got to be really exhausted from all the media around them, huh?”
Carly briefly catches Michael’s eye, which leads him to look at Brooke over to Chikezie’s left; she has a pleased smile in her eyes as she tilts her head and mouths to him, “Follow him, Mike.”
Michael then responds to Ramiele’s question as he stands up and neatly folds his napkin next to his plate, “No, I think he just wants some dessert.”
As he gets up and leaves, he doesn’t notice Brooke’s gaze at the ring-less fourth finger on his left hand.
Of course, Michael isn’t surprised to find out David really wasn’t in the mood for any sort of sexual pleasure -although he will admit that he is slightly disappointed-because he realizes David’s week has definitely been more hectic than any of the eight gathered downstairs, or his. It really is for the better, Michael decides, as he watches David’s sleeping form underneath the covers. Michael undresses himself down to his boxers and then moves in next to David under the blanket. David’s body immediately reacts to his new source of warmth as the younger man unconsciously moves closer to Michael, and as Michael wraps an arm around him, he can feel David’s heartbeat steadily thumping against his hand. There is a soft, muffled murmur of, “Love you, Mikey,” that makes him smile.
“Love you, too, Dave,” he whispers in return as he begins to surrender himself to dreamland. “Love you, too.”
The crowd welcoming him onto the stage the next morning is unbelievable. There are people holding up banners, people screaming, people reaching out to hold his hand, and David is so terribly sorry he cannot respond to all of them, cannot hold all of their hands, because the opportunity they’ve given him is just massive. Humbled to tears, David has to shake his head as the music starts behind him. He had insisted on performing this song, because, well -love really didn’t need a reason.
The lyrics flow from his mouth, “We were as one, babe, for a moment in time” and as soon as he begins the next line, a second voice -a male voice joins him on stage. He stops singing and spins around and he smiles as he sees Michael walking toward him. The smooth Australian drawl is flowing out of his mouth as he continues, “And it seemed everlasting that you would always be mine.”
It becomes their own little conversation in the song. David ‘answers’ him, “Now you want to be free, so I’m letting you fly, ’cause I know in my heart, babe-“
Michael joins him for the next line, “Our love will never die.”
The screaming in the audience becomes so much louder than the audience had sounded in the Nokia Theater as Michael reaches out and grasps David’s hand. With a glint in his eye, David knows that Michael is speaking into the microphone on purpose. “No matter what’s going to happen, no matter what people are going to throw in our way, I’m going to be there for you, with you. Always. I love you, Dave.”
The audience’s voices reach impossible volumes as Michael kisses him there on the stage in front of thousands and thousands of people. With the music continually playing behind them, Michael breaks the kiss and serenades him.
“Ooh, darling, ’cause you’ll always be my baby.”
And before he knows it, Michael has kissed him one more time.
You’ll always be a part of me.
I’m part of you indefinitely.