Man in the Mirror
Title: Man in the Mirror
Pairing: Kradam
Author: Stinkerbell2016
Rating: PG 13 for now…
Word Count: 1,420
Summary: Something is changing in Kris and Adam’s friendship…
Disclaimer: Complete fantasy. Don’t own anything except my imagination.
I
Kris wasn’t going to miss living in the mansion…it had grown too big and pretentious for his taste. When they first arrived it was different…it had been fun. The rooms buzzed with activity and the walls themselves seemed to absorb energy from the good natured crowd that had temporarily taken residence. In the beginning…it almost felt like a home.
Each elimination episode brought the loss of another friend and as the rooms emptied, Kris felt the house itself becoming an unwelcome reminder of those no longer there. On the other hand, he couldn’t imagine being anyplace else. He could get along with anybody, but he hadn't expected to bond as tightly as he had with the other contestants and he didn’t want to lose any of their remaining time together.
The clock on the wall rang-out once signaling half-past the hour. Kris yawned and laid his guitar on the couch beside him. He stood up, raising his hands over his head and stretching...un-kinking muscles that had grown stiff during hours of practice. He shook his head at the chaos of papers strewn around the room, all containing various notes on the Donna Summer song he was reworking for the next episode. “Disco sucks”, he muttered absentmindedly as he began to rub the rumble in his stomach. He looked up to check the time. “Crap! How did it get to be 1:30 in the morning?”
Padding off down the hall, he wondered if he’d be the last to join the midnight snack group already congregating in the kitchen. His mind flitted through random thoughts. How was it that they somehow managed to end up in the kitchen at the same time when there was no set meeting schedule? Who all would be there tonight? The corner of his mouth turned up in a knowing half grin…the regulars of course. Inevitably, Anoop would be there in search of something sweet, Allison something salty, and Matt, content with anything he might find tucked away or easily swiped from someone else. Of those remaining in the house, Adam and Lil only occasionally joined the nocturnal food fest.
As he passed the back staircase, Kris wondered if he should wake Adam to join them. He paused at the foot of the stairs; his hand resting lightly on the banister, internally debating the idea. Adam had seemed a bit distant the last couple of days. It wasn’t anything Kris could put his finger on or even articulate, but there had been a subtle difference. He tried to explain it to Katy but given his inability to identify anything specific, she brushed it off as increasing nerves.
It frustrated Kris that he was even worried about it. A week ago, he wouldn’t have thought twice about nudging Adam awake to join the group. Adam usually refused, responding sleepily, “I don’t have your Super-Man metabolism Kris…I eat this late and I’ll never get my ass in my performance outfit.” But sometimes Kris could coax him up and when that happened, it always seemed the group laughed a little louder and lingered a little longer.
Adam was different from anyone Kris had met before. He had a mysterious vibe that not only drew people to him, but seemed to draw people to each other. It was weird…but it was good.
After several more moments of contemplation, Kris turned and regretfully headed towards the kitchen alone. He wasn’t sure what, if anything was going on between him and Adam…but he didn’t want to intrude on Adam’s space, if in fact he was trying to create some.
Kris stepped through the kitchen doorway, nodding at Anoop who raised a spoon of ice cream in greeting. Allison peered up from the crackers she was clearly not enjoying. “Dude,” she said, pointing a cracker in Kris’ direction accusingly, “where’ve you been? Do you see what I’m eating?” She tossed the cracker back down on the plate in disgust. “I think it might even be healthy,” she said in mock horror. “You gotta find us something good to eat.”
Kris smiled at the younger girl he considered his sister. “Where’s Mama Iraheta?” he asked scanning the room as if concerned, “you know how she feels about you eating unhealthy.”
“Mom doesn’t bother to get up anymore…she knows you’ll watch out for me. Turning her attention to the serious subject of food, she scrunched her face up in a smile, “Soooo….whatcha gonna make us?”
Kris rummaged through the fridge a few minutes before calling out behind him. “How about some ‘mock’ Stoby’s cheese dip?” he asked, taking Allison’s squeal as a yes. Kris assembled the ingredients for a microwave version of his favorite dip as he half listened to the back and forth banter. He laughed as both Allison and Anoop responded to Matt’s dramatic entrance into the kitchen.
“Bro, did you just fart?” Anoop asked. That is so uncool. I think I’m going to throw-up.”
Allison squealed, “Oh no you didn’t!”
Matt’s easy and contagious laugh soon had the kitchen buzzing again with comfortable conversation. Kris put the dip and chips on the table and sat down next to Allison. He nudged her gently, “How’s your song coming?”
“Good, I think,” she responded. “Adam heard it today and liked it. Can you give me you’re thoughts tomorrow?”
Kris nodded as he stuffed a chip dripping with cheese into his mouth. He looked up in surprise as Adam entered the kitchen. He quickly swallowed the partially chewed food not noticing the excess cheese that had dribbling down his chin. “What’s up with this? You hardly ever join us for midnight snack.”
Adam rubbed his eyes. They were rimmed with purple circles, almost looking as if he had two black eyes. “Couldn’t sleep…” he muttered moving into the kitchen and ruffling Allison’s hair as he passed. “How ya doing, kiddo?” he asked affectionately. He took a seat next to Kris, his eyes flitting down to the cheese drying on his chin before looking over at Anoop and Matt. “Anoop, you realize every time you put your bowl of ice cream down, Matt takes a bite.” Anoop shot Matt a surprised look. Adam grinned and continued with a gentle tease, “I think you might need to be worried about cooties.”
Anoop slid the bowl of ice cream towards Matt. “Help yourself, man, I’m done,” his voice was stern, but there was a tug at the corner of his mouth. Matt grinned and happily and picked up the bowl to finish it off.
Adam turned his attention back to Kris again. “Did you get your song arrangement worked out?” he asked, gazing intently into Kris’ brown eyes.
Kris smiled, “Yeah, for a disco song, I think it’s pretty good.”
"Great,” Adam nodded his approval. “I’d love to hear it.”
Kris exhaled…maybe he had been imagining a change in Adam. “That’d be great. I’m working out a few final things that I’d like your opinion on.” Kris and Adam had been giving each other feedback for weeks and often sat in on each others rehearsals. Adam had seemed to be avoiding it this week, always busy or tired. They hadn’t even had a chance to talk for days…Adam was either going to bed early or coming in after Kris was asleep. But it seemed to be the old Adam sitting next to him now.
Kris nudged the bowl of dip towards him but Adam shook his head in refusal. He wondered why Adam’s gaze kept slipping down to his lower face.
“What?” Kris asked. “Do I have something stuck in my teeth?”
Adam laughed, “No. You have cheese stuck in that peach-fuzz on your chin that you think looks manly and cool!” The room filled with laughter as Adam reached over and wiped the cheese from Kris’ chin. Without thinking he brought his now messy fingers to his mouth, nibbling and sucking them clean. It was an intimate act, one that Adam might have done with a lover or someone he cared for deeply…but never in mixed public and never with a straight friend.
Adam snapped to present with stunned realization at what he had done.
“Ohhh, cooties!” Allison chortled unaware of the changed energy in the room.
Kris wasn’t moving, didn’t seem capable of moving. Adam glanced over at Anoop and Matt who had stolen side glances at each other and looked confused. He tried to recover, “Well that’s enough of a snack for me,” he said lamely and bolted from the room before another word was spoken.
Pairing: Kradam
Author: Stinkerbell2016
Rating: PG 13 for now…
Word Count: 1,420
Summary: Something is changing in Kris and Adam’s friendship…
Disclaimer: Complete fantasy. Don’t own anything except my imagination.
I
Kris wasn’t going to miss living in the mansion…it had grown too big and pretentious for his taste. When they first arrived it was different…it had been fun. The rooms buzzed with activity and the walls themselves seemed to absorb energy from the good natured crowd that had temporarily taken residence. In the beginning…it almost felt like a home.
Each elimination episode brought the loss of another friend and as the rooms emptied, Kris felt the house itself becoming an unwelcome reminder of those no longer there. On the other hand, he couldn’t imagine being anyplace else. He could get along with anybody, but he hadn't expected to bond as tightly as he had with the other contestants and he didn’t want to lose any of their remaining time together.
The clock on the wall rang-out once signaling half-past the hour. Kris yawned and laid his guitar on the couch beside him. He stood up, raising his hands over his head and stretching...un-kinking muscles that had grown stiff during hours of practice. He shook his head at the chaos of papers strewn around the room, all containing various notes on the Donna Summer song he was reworking for the next episode. “Disco sucks”, he muttered absentmindedly as he began to rub the rumble in his stomach. He looked up to check the time. “Crap! How did it get to be 1:30 in the morning?”
Padding off down the hall, he wondered if he’d be the last to join the midnight snack group already congregating in the kitchen. His mind flitted through random thoughts. How was it that they somehow managed to end up in the kitchen at the same time when there was no set meeting schedule? Who all would be there tonight? The corner of his mouth turned up in a knowing half grin…the regulars of course. Inevitably, Anoop would be there in search of something sweet, Allison something salty, and Matt, content with anything he might find tucked away or easily swiped from someone else. Of those remaining in the house, Adam and Lil only occasionally joined the nocturnal food fest.
As he passed the back staircase, Kris wondered if he should wake Adam to join them. He paused at the foot of the stairs; his hand resting lightly on the banister, internally debating the idea. Adam had seemed a bit distant the last couple of days. It wasn’t anything Kris could put his finger on or even articulate, but there had been a subtle difference. He tried to explain it to Katy but given his inability to identify anything specific, she brushed it off as increasing nerves.
It frustrated Kris that he was even worried about it. A week ago, he wouldn’t have thought twice about nudging Adam awake to join the group. Adam usually refused, responding sleepily, “I don’t have your Super-Man metabolism Kris…I eat this late and I’ll never get my ass in my performance outfit.” But sometimes Kris could coax him up and when that happened, it always seemed the group laughed a little louder and lingered a little longer.
Adam was different from anyone Kris had met before. He had a mysterious vibe that not only drew people to him, but seemed to draw people to each other. It was weird…but it was good.
After several more moments of contemplation, Kris turned and regretfully headed towards the kitchen alone. He wasn’t sure what, if anything was going on between him and Adam…but he didn’t want to intrude on Adam’s space, if in fact he was trying to create some.
Kris stepped through the kitchen doorway, nodding at Anoop who raised a spoon of ice cream in greeting. Allison peered up from the crackers she was clearly not enjoying. “Dude,” she said, pointing a cracker in Kris’ direction accusingly, “where’ve you been? Do you see what I’m eating?” She tossed the cracker back down on the plate in disgust. “I think it might even be healthy,” she said in mock horror. “You gotta find us something good to eat.”
Kris smiled at the younger girl he considered his sister. “Where’s Mama Iraheta?” he asked scanning the room as if concerned, “you know how she feels about you eating unhealthy.”
“Mom doesn’t bother to get up anymore…she knows you’ll watch out for me. Turning her attention to the serious subject of food, she scrunched her face up in a smile, “Soooo….whatcha gonna make us?”
Kris rummaged through the fridge a few minutes before calling out behind him. “How about some ‘mock’ Stoby’s cheese dip?” he asked, taking Allison’s squeal as a yes. Kris assembled the ingredients for a microwave version of his favorite dip as he half listened to the back and forth banter. He laughed as both Allison and Anoop responded to Matt’s dramatic entrance into the kitchen.
“Bro, did you just fart?” Anoop asked. That is so uncool. I think I’m going to throw-up.”
Allison squealed, “Oh no you didn’t!”
Matt’s easy and contagious laugh soon had the kitchen buzzing again with comfortable conversation. Kris put the dip and chips on the table and sat down next to Allison. He nudged her gently, “How’s your song coming?”
“Good, I think,” she responded. “Adam heard it today and liked it. Can you give me you’re thoughts tomorrow?”
Kris nodded as he stuffed a chip dripping with cheese into his mouth. He looked up in surprise as Adam entered the kitchen. He quickly swallowed the partially chewed food not noticing the excess cheese that had dribbling down his chin. “What’s up with this? You hardly ever join us for midnight snack.”
Adam rubbed his eyes. They were rimmed with purple circles, almost looking as if he had two black eyes. “Couldn’t sleep…” he muttered moving into the kitchen and ruffling Allison’s hair as he passed. “How ya doing, kiddo?” he asked affectionately. He took a seat next to Kris, his eyes flitting down to the cheese drying on his chin before looking over at Anoop and Matt. “Anoop, you realize every time you put your bowl of ice cream down, Matt takes a bite.” Anoop shot Matt a surprised look. Adam grinned and continued with a gentle tease, “I think you might need to be worried about cooties.”
Anoop slid the bowl of ice cream towards Matt. “Help yourself, man, I’m done,” his voice was stern, but there was a tug at the corner of his mouth. Matt grinned and happily and picked up the bowl to finish it off.
Adam turned his attention back to Kris again. “Did you get your song arrangement worked out?” he asked, gazing intently into Kris’ brown eyes.
Kris smiled, “Yeah, for a disco song, I think it’s pretty good.”
"Great,” Adam nodded his approval. “I’d love to hear it.”
Kris exhaled…maybe he had been imagining a change in Adam. “That’d be great. I’m working out a few final things that I’d like your opinion on.” Kris and Adam had been giving each other feedback for weeks and often sat in on each others rehearsals. Adam had seemed to be avoiding it this week, always busy or tired. They hadn’t even had a chance to talk for days…Adam was either going to bed early or coming in after Kris was asleep. But it seemed to be the old Adam sitting next to him now.
Kris nudged the bowl of dip towards him but Adam shook his head in refusal. He wondered why Adam’s gaze kept slipping down to his lower face.
“What?” Kris asked. “Do I have something stuck in my teeth?”
Adam laughed, “No. You have cheese stuck in that peach-fuzz on your chin that you think looks manly and cool!” The room filled with laughter as Adam reached over and wiped the cheese from Kris’ chin. Without thinking he brought his now messy fingers to his mouth, nibbling and sucking them clean. It was an intimate act, one that Adam might have done with a lover or someone he cared for deeply…but never in mixed public and never with a straight friend.
Adam snapped to present with stunned realization at what he had done.
“Ohhh, cooties!” Allison chortled unaware of the changed energy in the room.
Kris wasn’t moving, didn’t seem capable of moving. Adam glanced over at Anoop and Matt who had stolen side glances at each other and looked confused. He tried to recover, “Well that’s enough of a snack for me,” he said lamely and bolted from the room before another word was spoken.