AVALANCHE: Crashing Down [8/?] -- PG
[title] AVALANCHE: Crashing Down [8/?]
[author] kissontheneck [aka fieryrogue]
[pairing] Cookleta
[beta] rajkumari905, the master of enthusiastic feedback ;)
[rating] PG
[word count] 2331
[summary] David is on a nice holiday ski trip with his family. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to ski, but a couple private lessons should remedy that problem.
[disclaimer] Surely, I have nothing to do with either of these fine young men, no matter how much I wish I did.
[warnings] None.
[author's notes] It's 2013? OOPS.
PART ONE: Milk Run
PART TWO: Fresh Powder
PART THREE: Drop In
PART FOUR: Falling Leaf
PART FIVE: Après Ski
PART SIX: Fall Line
PART SEVEN: Cabin Fever
PART EIGHT:
It was early when David awoke. Or at least, it probably was. He tended to wake up pretty early, even during vacation, because he liked to get a head start on the day with a nice refreshing morning run long before anyone in his family even dreamed of getting up. It was his alone time, his "me" time. His time for thoughts and prayers and convening with nature. Fresh air in his lungs and a clearness in his brain. But yes, his run. Time to get up, stretch, throw on some tennis shoes and head out the door.
He got as far as trying to stretch an arm out before a startling pain jolted through his arm, making him panic for a second. Before he could think much further, something like a dozen more sensations shocked him all at once. One: He didn't hear the familiar sound of birds outside his window. Two: A freezing cold paralyzed his nose and cheeks. And three: He didn't recognize this room at all. His whole body shivered against the combination of cold and unfamiliarity, which made him suddenly aware of four: a warm body at his side, snoozing away.
To say David was startled to find himself in bed with another person who wasn't a sibling was probably an understatement. His head still foggy with sleep, it took him a moment to recall where he was, how he'd gotten there, and why it was so dang cold in the room.
Then the events of the night before came rushing back to him, just about the same time that he became alert enough to feel the throbbing in his ankle again. Oh geez, he'd gone to bed with Cook. He'd gone to bed with his ski instructor. What… what had happened exactly? He strained to remember. Things came in blurs of memory that he could only put together enough to remember he'd fallen and Cook had taken care of him and… and what? Turning his head very slightly, he tried to look at his rescuer. Cook, his wily hair even messier than usual, slept with his mouth half open and one arm flopped over the side of the bed. His other arm had been tucked under David's shoulder, which to be perfectly honest didn't feel too terrible.
But he still didn't like somehow not knowing how he'd gotten into this bed. Had the pain of his injury made him that delusional? Had Cook given him some sort of terrible painkiller? Had he and Cook done things together? The thoughts were so overwhelming that David suddenly felt like running away except, oh yeah, he was trapped in this bed with an injury. For a fleeting moment he wished he hadn't watched Misery with his sister two nights before; his mother had warned him that it would make him anxious.
He stared at the ceiling for a long moment, trying to rationalize this entire scenario. Of course Cook hadn't done anything indiscreet with him, that was insane. He mentally scolded himself for having such an overreactive thought. Taking a couple deep breaths, he decided a little water would help calm him, but alas, the nearest water bottle was on the night stand, some three feet away from him and across Cook's sleeping body. Great. He'd become even thirstier now though, and tried his best to reach across his friend without disturbing him. The plan failed almost immediately. The slightest brush across his chest caused Cook to squirm, moaning slightly before breaking into a full yawn. His eyes creaked open and immediately fixed on David.
"Morning," he said, voice cracking.
"Good morning," David said, his own voice raspy. "Um. Did we? Did I… Um… hi."
Cook's eyes squinted closed as he chuckled and pushed himself up onto his side. David felt remiss as Cook's warm arm left his shoulders.
"Had a little frozen memory loss?" Cook asked. "Answer number one: no. Answer number two: no. And number three…" Instead of finishing with words, Cook leaned in closer and gave David a brief kiss the forehead. "Hi."
“Hi,” David said again, blinking back in disbelief.
“You have nice eyelashes, has anyone ever told you that?” Cook asked. It became difficult for David to pay very close attention since Cook’s warm breath brushed his cheek and all he could really feel was that.
“I… don’t know,” he replied lamely. He blinked his eyes a few times as if maybe he could feel how nice they apparently were. Cook laughed.
“You make me smile,” he said, sweeping a bit of David’s hair away from his eyes. “That’s why I like you.”
David very much liked Cook as well, but didn’t know how to say it exactly. In fact, his entire communication system seized up on him. What were words, anyway?
“I’ve trapped you into saying that you like me back,” Cook said, “which I realize is evil. So instead, are you hungry?”
Hungry. Yes, hunger was a feeling David could process. He nodded because his mouth still didn’t seem to work.
It didn’t matter. Cook beamed at him. For a brief moment David enjoyed that crazy, toothy grin that he found so brilliant and impossible before Cook slipped out of the bed and disappeared out of the room.
For a long time David returned to staring up at the ceiling. The sounds of Cook clanging around in the kitchen echoed down the hall, making him wonder just what on earth the guy could be doing in there. The chill in the room reminded David that there was no electricity, so breakfast options had to be quite limited. After some time he tried moving his wrist again, which this time felt a bit better now that he'd woken up a little and took it easier than before. His ankle still stung a little when he stretched it, but with a little ibuprofen or whatever he thought he almost might be able to hobble around.
He'd managed to push himself up into a sitting position against the mountain of pillows Cook had built for him by the time his caretaker returned.
"Oh, getting a bit active in here, are we?" Cook commented, struggling with the cutting board he'd decided to use as a serving tray. "Nice to see you moving around even a little. I thought I'd broken you." He handed David a fresh bottle of water and then a cereal bowl. "Basically, this is it," he said, sounding disappointed. "Milk's perfectly cold, of course, so no problem. Also, if we're not rescued by lunchtime, there's plenty of lunch meat and cheese in the fridge that'll probably freeze before it goes bad."
David couldn't decide if this was good or bad news. But being with Cook made him feel about a thousand times better. Being with another human was nice enough, not to mention a human who knew how to survive in the snow. But it was even better than being trapped with say his brother or some other random staff member. Cook made him really feel safe, which was something that didn't come easily with David.
Cook carefully settled next to David, balancing his own bowl in his hand. "Snow's still built up around the cabins," Cook informed, taking a bite of cereal. "But it's stopped coming down and the wind's calm. Maybe I'll be able to trek down the path a ways if this keeps up."
Though he tried to seem positive about this idea, David secretly wished they'd be snowed in for a bit longer than a few hours.
"Do you think Mike and Carly made it to the lodge?" David asked. Cook huffed.
"Oh yeah," he replied dismissively, scooping more cereal into his mouth. "If anyone can survive out here it's those two. They're the best survivalists around here. Mike may act like a wimp half the time when we've got the luxury of the cabin, but that guy can dig a snow cave like nobody's business."
"You think they're outside then?" This possibility worried David despite Cook's high praise of his friends.
Cook shook his head. "They made it to the lodge, I'm sure. They've got propane tanks and everything there so they're probably having freaking bacon and eggs for breakfast, the jerks."
David couldn't help but laugh. "I hope my family's okay," he said as an afterthought.
"If they were in their cabin when the storm hit, I'm sure they're fine," Cook replied. "A bit cold maybe, but fine." He paused and regarded David a moment. "Though maybe worried about you."
"Oh gosh!" David exclaimed, almost dropping his spoon. "I hadn't thought--"
"And don't do it now," Cook instructed. "You'll worry yourself into hysteria. You done with your cereal?"
David nodded and Cook reached for the dishes. "I'll go get you some more pain reliever, eh?"
"I'm feeling a bit better," David replied, "but that'll be nice."
"Be right back."
Again Cook disappeared, and David noticed just how cold it was in the room. Since he'd sat up, he didn't have any blankets pulled up to his chin anymore, so his entire upper body was freezing. He was fighting off a hard shiver just as Cook came back into the bedroom.
"Good grief, Archuleta, you're turning blue in here. Not really, by the way," Cook added quickly, David assumed because he'd made a horrified face. "It's pretty cold though, huh?" Cook rubbed his own arms as he looked around. "I already brought all the blankets in here so…" He glanced back to David again.
"You, uh, said we'd have to huddle," David said. "For survival."
"Right, for survival," Cook echoed, unable to fight the smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. "It could mean life or death."
"Well, I'd rather not have death," David commented, and though he was totally serious, Cook barked a laugh.
"Sorry," he said. "You say funny things. Welp, budge up, I'm coming in."
It was hardly enough warning for Cook practically diving onto the bed. He scooted way in under the covers, this time completely unafraid to press against David entirely.
"Mmm, you're so warm," David commented, truly surprised.
"I have a hot body," Cook replied, pushing some blankets around. He paused and looked at David, cheeks turning pink, though not from the cold. "I mean… I'm always warm. I mean…"
"I know what you mean," David assured him. "Gimme that quilt."
Cook did as he was told and after a few more minutes they were snuggled together in such a way that they almost couldn't move.
"My face is still cold," David commented after a few minutes. "How does a person warm his face without suffocating?"
Cook gazed at David for a long moment, their eyes locked by some kind of force that neither could control.
"There's one way I know," Cook said, pitching his voice until he was almost whispering. Time slowed as Cook leaned in and pressed his cool lips to David's, and David found himself instantly lost.
It was strange how bodies seemed to magically produce heat, but David could feel a fire spark in his chest and begin to spread out in all directions. His feelings of security while in Cook's hands kept him from pulling away from this admittedly new and scary experience. He'd never kissed a boy before; he'd never kissed anyone before. And yet it was all he wanted right now, this gentle cradling of his jaw by Cook's rough, warm hand.
After a second Cook's lips left his, and when he looked up Cook's eyes were completely locked on his face. The heat seeped into David's cheeks and he had to remind himself to breathe.
"I think it's working," he said at length, which felt like it was coming from another person. David had always been so careful and conservative before; this was like some kind of parallel universe where he had the slightest amount of bravery.
"Good," Cook said softly. His hand left David's chin and wrapped around his neck, fingertips arching into his hair. David couldn't help the gentle gasp that escaped his lips, to which Cook grinned. Apparently taking it as encouragement, Cook let his hand streak to David's shoulder and back before leaning in for another slow kiss.
Heat seemed to be pouring off David now, and he wondered if Cook could sense it at all. His temple felt so hot that he suddenly worried that he might be sweating and abruptly pulled from the kiss.
"You all right, David?"
"I… I'm just…" David tried to breathe deeply without seeming like he needed to, and attempted to appear normal even in the wake of David Cook's gripping stare. "I'm just feeling a lot," he finally said.
"Mmm," Cook nodded, biting his lip. "Feeling like stopping?"
"No…" Honestly, he didn't know what he was feeling. "It's just new for me," he admitted. "But I like it."
"Ah, yes," Cook said, giving a slight nod. Something in his eyes changed that suggested thoughts left unshared. "You know how I am, David, just say what you want and I'll totally respect that. No worries here, okay? But…" He paused as if gathering courage. "I really like you, David."
David felt his eyes widen right along with his heart. "I… I like you too."
A friendly smile filled Cook's face as he nudged so close that their noses almost touched. "Glad to hear it."
For a third time their mouths came together, and this time David felt himself naturally fall into it as if he'd been kissing this man for years. On top of that, all pain had left his senses, leaving only the bright flow of life though his veins all the way to his fingertips. Surely this was the definition of bliss. Security, emotion, connection. Yes, this was absolute bliss.
A thunder-like pounding on the front door startled them both out of their embrace, and Cook cursed under his breath.
"Damn it," he grumbled in disappointment. "We're being rescued."
.
[author] kissontheneck [aka fieryrogue]
[pairing] Cookleta
[beta] rajkumari905, the master of enthusiastic feedback ;)
[rating] PG
[word count] 2331
[summary] David is on a nice holiday ski trip with his family. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to ski, but a couple private lessons should remedy that problem.
[disclaimer] Surely, I have nothing to do with either of these fine young men, no matter how much I wish I did.
[warnings] None.
[author's notes] It's 2013? OOPS.
PART ONE: Milk Run
PART TWO: Fresh Powder
PART THREE: Drop In
PART FOUR: Falling Leaf
PART FIVE: Après Ski
PART SIX: Fall Line
PART SEVEN: Cabin Fever
PART EIGHT:
It was early when David awoke. Or at least, it probably was. He tended to wake up pretty early, even during vacation, because he liked to get a head start on the day with a nice refreshing morning run long before anyone in his family even dreamed of getting up. It was his alone time, his "me" time. His time for thoughts and prayers and convening with nature. Fresh air in his lungs and a clearness in his brain. But yes, his run. Time to get up, stretch, throw on some tennis shoes and head out the door.
He got as far as trying to stretch an arm out before a startling pain jolted through his arm, making him panic for a second. Before he could think much further, something like a dozen more sensations shocked him all at once. One: He didn't hear the familiar sound of birds outside his window. Two: A freezing cold paralyzed his nose and cheeks. And three: He didn't recognize this room at all. His whole body shivered against the combination of cold and unfamiliarity, which made him suddenly aware of four: a warm body at his side, snoozing away.
To say David was startled to find himself in bed with another person who wasn't a sibling was probably an understatement. His head still foggy with sleep, it took him a moment to recall where he was, how he'd gotten there, and why it was so dang cold in the room.
Then the events of the night before came rushing back to him, just about the same time that he became alert enough to feel the throbbing in his ankle again. Oh geez, he'd gone to bed with Cook. He'd gone to bed with his ski instructor. What… what had happened exactly? He strained to remember. Things came in blurs of memory that he could only put together enough to remember he'd fallen and Cook had taken care of him and… and what? Turning his head very slightly, he tried to look at his rescuer. Cook, his wily hair even messier than usual, slept with his mouth half open and one arm flopped over the side of the bed. His other arm had been tucked under David's shoulder, which to be perfectly honest didn't feel too terrible.
But he still didn't like somehow not knowing how he'd gotten into this bed. Had the pain of his injury made him that delusional? Had Cook given him some sort of terrible painkiller? Had he and Cook done things together? The thoughts were so overwhelming that David suddenly felt like running away except, oh yeah, he was trapped in this bed with an injury. For a fleeting moment he wished he hadn't watched Misery with his sister two nights before; his mother had warned him that it would make him anxious.
He stared at the ceiling for a long moment, trying to rationalize this entire scenario. Of course Cook hadn't done anything indiscreet with him, that was insane. He mentally scolded himself for having such an overreactive thought. Taking a couple deep breaths, he decided a little water would help calm him, but alas, the nearest water bottle was on the night stand, some three feet away from him and across Cook's sleeping body. Great. He'd become even thirstier now though, and tried his best to reach across his friend without disturbing him. The plan failed almost immediately. The slightest brush across his chest caused Cook to squirm, moaning slightly before breaking into a full yawn. His eyes creaked open and immediately fixed on David.
"Morning," he said, voice cracking.
"Good morning," David said, his own voice raspy. "Um. Did we? Did I… Um… hi."
Cook's eyes squinted closed as he chuckled and pushed himself up onto his side. David felt remiss as Cook's warm arm left his shoulders.
"Had a little frozen memory loss?" Cook asked. "Answer number one: no. Answer number two: no. And number three…" Instead of finishing with words, Cook leaned in closer and gave David a brief kiss the forehead. "Hi."
“Hi,” David said again, blinking back in disbelief.
“You have nice eyelashes, has anyone ever told you that?” Cook asked. It became difficult for David to pay very close attention since Cook’s warm breath brushed his cheek and all he could really feel was that.
“I… don’t know,” he replied lamely. He blinked his eyes a few times as if maybe he could feel how nice they apparently were. Cook laughed.
“You make me smile,” he said, sweeping a bit of David’s hair away from his eyes. “That’s why I like you.”
David very much liked Cook as well, but didn’t know how to say it exactly. In fact, his entire communication system seized up on him. What were words, anyway?
“I’ve trapped you into saying that you like me back,” Cook said, “which I realize is evil. So instead, are you hungry?”
Hungry. Yes, hunger was a feeling David could process. He nodded because his mouth still didn’t seem to work.
It didn’t matter. Cook beamed at him. For a brief moment David enjoyed that crazy, toothy grin that he found so brilliant and impossible before Cook slipped out of the bed and disappeared out of the room.
For a long time David returned to staring up at the ceiling. The sounds of Cook clanging around in the kitchen echoed down the hall, making him wonder just what on earth the guy could be doing in there. The chill in the room reminded David that there was no electricity, so breakfast options had to be quite limited. After some time he tried moving his wrist again, which this time felt a bit better now that he'd woken up a little and took it easier than before. His ankle still stung a little when he stretched it, but with a little ibuprofen or whatever he thought he almost might be able to hobble around.
He'd managed to push himself up into a sitting position against the mountain of pillows Cook had built for him by the time his caretaker returned.
"Oh, getting a bit active in here, are we?" Cook commented, struggling with the cutting board he'd decided to use as a serving tray. "Nice to see you moving around even a little. I thought I'd broken you." He handed David a fresh bottle of water and then a cereal bowl. "Basically, this is it," he said, sounding disappointed. "Milk's perfectly cold, of course, so no problem. Also, if we're not rescued by lunchtime, there's plenty of lunch meat and cheese in the fridge that'll probably freeze before it goes bad."
David couldn't decide if this was good or bad news. But being with Cook made him feel about a thousand times better. Being with another human was nice enough, not to mention a human who knew how to survive in the snow. But it was even better than being trapped with say his brother or some other random staff member. Cook made him really feel safe, which was something that didn't come easily with David.
Cook carefully settled next to David, balancing his own bowl in his hand. "Snow's still built up around the cabins," Cook informed, taking a bite of cereal. "But it's stopped coming down and the wind's calm. Maybe I'll be able to trek down the path a ways if this keeps up."
Though he tried to seem positive about this idea, David secretly wished they'd be snowed in for a bit longer than a few hours.
"Do you think Mike and Carly made it to the lodge?" David asked. Cook huffed.
"Oh yeah," he replied dismissively, scooping more cereal into his mouth. "If anyone can survive out here it's those two. They're the best survivalists around here. Mike may act like a wimp half the time when we've got the luxury of the cabin, but that guy can dig a snow cave like nobody's business."
"You think they're outside then?" This possibility worried David despite Cook's high praise of his friends.
Cook shook his head. "They made it to the lodge, I'm sure. They've got propane tanks and everything there so they're probably having freaking bacon and eggs for breakfast, the jerks."
David couldn't help but laugh. "I hope my family's okay," he said as an afterthought.
"If they were in their cabin when the storm hit, I'm sure they're fine," Cook replied. "A bit cold maybe, but fine." He paused and regarded David a moment. "Though maybe worried about you."
"Oh gosh!" David exclaimed, almost dropping his spoon. "I hadn't thought--"
"And don't do it now," Cook instructed. "You'll worry yourself into hysteria. You done with your cereal?"
David nodded and Cook reached for the dishes. "I'll go get you some more pain reliever, eh?"
"I'm feeling a bit better," David replied, "but that'll be nice."
"Be right back."
Again Cook disappeared, and David noticed just how cold it was in the room. Since he'd sat up, he didn't have any blankets pulled up to his chin anymore, so his entire upper body was freezing. He was fighting off a hard shiver just as Cook came back into the bedroom.
"Good grief, Archuleta, you're turning blue in here. Not really, by the way," Cook added quickly, David assumed because he'd made a horrified face. "It's pretty cold though, huh?" Cook rubbed his own arms as he looked around. "I already brought all the blankets in here so…" He glanced back to David again.
"You, uh, said we'd have to huddle," David said. "For survival."
"Right, for survival," Cook echoed, unable to fight the smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. "It could mean life or death."
"Well, I'd rather not have death," David commented, and though he was totally serious, Cook barked a laugh.
"Sorry," he said. "You say funny things. Welp, budge up, I'm coming in."
It was hardly enough warning for Cook practically diving onto the bed. He scooted way in under the covers, this time completely unafraid to press against David entirely.
"Mmm, you're so warm," David commented, truly surprised.
"I have a hot body," Cook replied, pushing some blankets around. He paused and looked at David, cheeks turning pink, though not from the cold. "I mean… I'm always warm. I mean…"
"I know what you mean," David assured him. "Gimme that quilt."
Cook did as he was told and after a few more minutes they were snuggled together in such a way that they almost couldn't move.
"My face is still cold," David commented after a few minutes. "How does a person warm his face without suffocating?"
Cook gazed at David for a long moment, their eyes locked by some kind of force that neither could control.
"There's one way I know," Cook said, pitching his voice until he was almost whispering. Time slowed as Cook leaned in and pressed his cool lips to David's, and David found himself instantly lost.
It was strange how bodies seemed to magically produce heat, but David could feel a fire spark in his chest and begin to spread out in all directions. His feelings of security while in Cook's hands kept him from pulling away from this admittedly new and scary experience. He'd never kissed a boy before; he'd never kissed anyone before. And yet it was all he wanted right now, this gentle cradling of his jaw by Cook's rough, warm hand.
After a second Cook's lips left his, and when he looked up Cook's eyes were completely locked on his face. The heat seeped into David's cheeks and he had to remind himself to breathe.
"I think it's working," he said at length, which felt like it was coming from another person. David had always been so careful and conservative before; this was like some kind of parallel universe where he had the slightest amount of bravery.
"Good," Cook said softly. His hand left David's chin and wrapped around his neck, fingertips arching into his hair. David couldn't help the gentle gasp that escaped his lips, to which Cook grinned. Apparently taking it as encouragement, Cook let his hand streak to David's shoulder and back before leaning in for another slow kiss.
Heat seemed to be pouring off David now, and he wondered if Cook could sense it at all. His temple felt so hot that he suddenly worried that he might be sweating and abruptly pulled from the kiss.
"You all right, David?"
"I… I'm just…" David tried to breathe deeply without seeming like he needed to, and attempted to appear normal even in the wake of David Cook's gripping stare. "I'm just feeling a lot," he finally said.
"Mmm," Cook nodded, biting his lip. "Feeling like stopping?"
"No…" Honestly, he didn't know what he was feeling. "It's just new for me," he admitted. "But I like it."
"Ah, yes," Cook said, giving a slight nod. Something in his eyes changed that suggested thoughts left unshared. "You know how I am, David, just say what you want and I'll totally respect that. No worries here, okay? But…" He paused as if gathering courage. "I really like you, David."
David felt his eyes widen right along with his heart. "I… I like you too."
A friendly smile filled Cook's face as he nudged so close that their noses almost touched. "Glad to hear it."
For a third time their mouths came together, and this time David felt himself naturally fall into it as if he'd been kissing this man for years. On top of that, all pain had left his senses, leaving only the bright flow of life though his veins all the way to his fingertips. Surely this was the definition of bliss. Security, emotion, connection. Yes, this was absolute bliss.
A thunder-like pounding on the front door startled them both out of their embrace, and Cook cursed under his breath.
"Damn it," he grumbled in disappointment. "We're being rescued."
.