The Proposal 9 / 10
Part 9
Kradam. Ah the lovely boys again. Not mine obviously, only each others.
OK moving on with the story now and we are nearing the end of the tour when things start to get real for our boys. So Chapter 9 is a bit angsty. I am posting the last two part today so I hope you have all enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. Thanks for all the great comments so far. Remember feedback is love!
This is a ten part fic mostly from Adam's POV and I have it all written up already, but need to still post in parts due to the fact its too long otherwise. The story mostly centres around the LA show in response to requests from my glittery friends, but then moves on to the end of the tour because thats the way the muse took it.
Rating: definitely NC 17 overall for both sex and language.
Warning: Matt stans should note that he is not protrayed sympathetically in this fic. Sorry but I needed a villain and it just worked out that way. Also I have no Beta so please don't bite me if you spot some small mistakes!
Part 1 sissygalore.livejournal.com/1606.html
Part 2 sissygalore.livejournal.com/1956.html
Part 3 sissygalore.livejournal.com/2138.html
Part 4 sissygalore.livejournal.com/2341.html
Part 5 sissygalore.livejournal.com/2604.html
Part 6 sissygalore.livejournal.com/3062.html
Part 7 sissygalore.livejournal.com/3118.html
Part 8 sissygalore.livejournal.com/3390.html
The Proposal
Part 9
'I'm gonna kill him' Adam raged, pacing in the enclosed space. 'I gonna wring his scrawny filthy little neck' he spat as he pulled up his pants over his fading erection and hurriedly buttoned his shirt with shaking hands. Kris was standing in mute shock, mouth agape, flies undone, just staring at the empty doorway. Running his hands through his hair distractedly Kris finally started to come round.
'I, I'll talk to him Adam' Kris stuttered, finally pulling his own zip closed. 'You don't think he would do anything with the photo's ...would he?' he asked a pleading note in his voice as he looked over at Adam desperately trying to smooth down his rumpled clothing and push back his hair.
'How the fuck should I know' Adam rushed out angry and preoccupied, immediately regretting it as he saw the hurt flicker across Kris' face in the half light from the corridor.
'Hey, hey, come here baby. I'm sorry, its not your fault. Its gonna be OK.' Adam reached out and enveloped Kris in a tight hug, massaging the back of Kris' neck with a firm hand and kissing the top of his head as Kris responded with shaking arms.
'Come on, we need to get to that bus before they start looking for us. I promise. I'll sort it out.' Adam gazed down into Kris' still shocked face, mentally cursing Matt to high heaven for putting that look there.
'No, no, Adam I think its better if I talk to him first' Kris stuttered out. 'Me and Matt. we've always got on and he's... well, he's always been a bit off with you' he mumbled, staring back at Adam's chest, not meeting his eyes. Adam pulled him forward as they started out of the dark room and down the endless floodlit grey corridor at a fast jog, towards the parking lot at the rear of the building.
'Yeah that's only because he wants into you pants baby, and he can't stand the idea that you chose me instead' Adam laughed back at Kris bitterly. This whole thing with Matt was starting to become pretty clear to Adam now.
Kris whipped round to face him shocked, shoving at his shoulder gently with his outstretched palm. 'Don't be crazy Adam, its not like that.'
'Oh yeah, wanna bet honey?' Kris could be so naïve sometimes Adam noted, pulling Kris along again to hurry him up. Kris might not want to admit it and Matt probably even didn't realise it himself, but Adam knew he was right.
As he and Kris stumbled onto the bus red faced and sweating, panting with exertion, all eyes turned to look at them. We must look a sight thought Adam grimly, as they walked quickly to the back of the packed bus, pushing past Danny, Michael and Anoop all crowded in the narrow walkway.
'Hey, you two almost didn't make it there' called out Danny cheerfully, a slightly puzzled look on his face. Adam shrugged and managed a tight grin back in wordless response over his shoulder. He knew Danny pretty well by now. He would be reacting a whole lot differently if Matt had said anything he thought with relief. It was at times like these that Adam was glad Danny didn't catch on too quickly.
As he stalked past Matt's bunk Adam stiffened, glaring menacingly across at Matt lolled back on his pillow, cradling the digital camera in his hand suggestively. Adam balled his fists tight against his sides to prevent himself from lashing out and punching Matt smack in the middle of that smirk. At that moment Kris stopped dead in front of him and reached back to put a hand on Adam's wrist, turning his head and opening his mouth as if to say something, as though he sensed Adam's thoughts. It brought Adam round slightly. He just gave Kris a gentle shove in the small of his back to keep him moving.
'Later' Adam hissed close into Kris' ear 'Now is not the time.' Kris gave an almost imperceptible nod in wordless response and started forward again, looking straight ahead, avoiding Matt's smug gaze completely.
They reached the back of the bus, known to everyone else as their section and slumped in silence together on the couch. Kris looked down and started to pick at the fabric covering. Adam leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and palmed his face in both his hands. It was going to be a long uncomfortable night he thought with a vicious sigh.
Things hadn't gone well since that night Adam thought glumly a few days later. They had both been on edge, tense, jumping at small things, unable to relax. They hadn't made love since either and it wasn't for lack of opportunity. Neither had felt able to do more that lie awake holding on to each other, stroking and gently kissing, gazing at each other, drinking in every line and curve and soft feature with tentative hands, as if each night was going to be their last one together.
It reminded Adam painfully of their final night in the mansion alone when they had clung on, not knowing what the future held for them. Adam not knowing if Kris would go back to Arkansas, to Katy, and never want to see him again and him trying to tell Kris maybe that was for the best, while Kris just kept softly saying 'No Adam' over and over, wet streaks rolling quietly off his lashes to splash down his face. His heart ripped at the thought that they might have to go through all that again, to be separated, not knowing how their relationship was going to be twisted by the media. How they might be forced to stay apart. Adam hated not being in control.
Well at least Kris had stopped looking like a hunted animal since he had gone to talk to Matt, but now he just looked resigned Adam noted dully. They sat on the stiff crisp hotel bed together, Adam watching as Kris gazed down at his hands in his lap, body small and still. He wouldn't give out much of the detail of that conversation but Adam guessed it hadn't gone well just by the way he had caught the slump in Kris' shoulders as he let himself into Adam's hotel room minutes earlier, throwing him a weak smile as he huffed down on the edge of the bed next to him, saying simply 'No go.'
'Let me talk to him' Adam muttered darkly, 'I'll make him see sense,' he continued, threat implicit in his thickening voice.
'No Adam, it won't do any good' Kris moved to place one of his hands over Adam's ringer fingers squeezing gently. 'It would just make things worse.'
'I don't see how they could get much worse honey' Adam shifted, changing his tone as he slung one arm protectively around his lover, pulling in close so that Kris' head dropped against his shoulder with a small sigh.
'Well, Matt's under confidentiality agreement just like the rest of us' Kris muttered with some relief. 'I can't see how he can release those pictures without breaking that. And if he does 19 will come down on him like a ton of bricks'.
Adam chuckled darkly 'Don't you think he's already thought of that Kris? Matt has friends. All he has to do is make sure that whoever releases those pictures can't be traced back directly to him.'
Kris eyes were wider now, 'Shit, I never thought of that. You really think he would - you know - um - release the photo's?'
'I dunno baby. You're the one who talked to him' Adam murmured softly. 'What do you think?'
'I think he has it in for you Adam' Kris replied gruffly. 'And he just doesn't seem to care how it will affect either of us. I've never seen Matt so bitter. He kept going on about how you took all the glory all through the tour, and how I'm weak and stupid for letting you influence me, how this might bring me to my senses. But he has no idea Adam, no idea...'
Kris turned to face Adam, a plaintive look spreading across his soft open face, 'He just can't accept that I'm in love with you.'
'You told him that?' Adam eyed Kris sharply.
'Yeah, but it did no good' Kris replied in a low voice. 'He kept muttering about how I was stupid and how could I do this to Katy, and I kept telling him it was none of his business.'
'I think Matt's just jealous honey' Adam whispered softly, stroking Kris' hair with absent fingers, not bothering to elaborate about what exactly he thought Matt was jealous of.
'Don't worry. I'll think of something' Kris stated more firmly. He hated to see Adam like this, so worried for him, for them. 'I don't care what others think of us. Whatever happens no one will drive us apart' he continued with a sudden strength to his voice that surprised Adam into looking down at him quickly.
'I know baby, and I hope not. I really hope you're right' Adam sighed back relaxing, rocking Kris back against his chest tighter than before.
Adam was afraid for the first time since all this had begun. Coming clean about their relationship was one thing, when they were ready and once Kris' divorce had been finalised. Hell he would have waited for years just to make sure that the fall out was as minimal as possible. What they had together was worth all that. He knew it would still have been tough even then. But this? Pictures of him and Kris having sex in a closet! A fucking closet! Oh sweet Jesus the irony. It would be all over the internet in a matter of hours, far worse than those old pictures of him and Brad, and they would be hounded everywhere they went.
Adam was terrified. He knew Kris genuinely meant it when he said he didn't care what anyone thought, and Adam sure as hell didn't give a shit! But he also knew all too well how few relationships survived that kind of pressure. The pictures would twist their love, their feelings for each other, into something sordid and Adam just couldn't bear the thought of that.
Kris startled Adam out of his thoughts. 'I think I'm gonna talk to Katy about this' he said firmly. 'I have an idea and I need to make sure she's OK with it. And she's good with this sort of thing anyway.'
'Whaaat?' Adam jerked round to face Kris now, 'Are you crazy? Katy hates my guts! She'll freak out when she hears about this.'
'Katy doesn't hate you Adam, don't be so dramatic.' Kris sighed deeply, shifting against him in slight annoyance. 'She appreciates what you've been doing for her with all the TV stuff and all. She just...well, she's just taking her time to come round that's all. Which is why its better me telling her now than she sees some sex pictures in print a few weeks down the line.'
Kris' tone was final and Adam relented. He knew better than to argue with Kris once he got that kind of tone in his voice.
'And don't ever underestimate Southern women babe' Kris finished with a small hollow laugh, flashing him a quick smile. 'They're tough as nails.' Kris seemed suddenly brighter that he had been in days.
'Yeah, I suppose you're right honey' Adam responded weakly, wincing inwardly at the thought of Kris having to do this. Of having to tell Katy one more difficult thing. Of how it would hurt him to have to put her through even more shit because of them He hoped Katy was as tough as Kris said, he really did, because she would need to be.
Adam suddenly had another thought. 'Krisss?' he added warily, 'Don't go off planning something without telling me now will you? You're not thinking of talking to 19 or Jive or RCA are you? 'Cause then our asses really would be in the shit. In fact they'd be coming up with all kinds of scenarios that mainly involve you and I not seeing very much of each other at all.'
'Just trust me, please? For once?' Kris pleaded gazing back up at Adam, both of his hands clutching onto Adam's free hand, tentatively pulling it into his lap. 'Katy's got some good legal contacts but I need to talk to her first Adam. Just let me do this, OK?'
'OK' Adam sighed, resigned. He was suddenly very tired. The whole tour would be over in little more than a week. It had been wonderful but it had also been gruelling, what with the recording on top of everything. He had been ill more than once and his voice had almost given out half way through.
Adam looked at Kris' earnest face, noting how tired he looked too, and lifted his hand to trace his thumb along Kris' soft mouth and the shadows under his eyes. But despite the endless endless days of work this had also been one of the happiest times of Adam's life, and the thought that this was how it was going to end was breaking Adam's heart.
That night in their hotel room he and Kris made love for the first time in days and there was an edge of silent desperation to it that broke Adam's heart just a little more.