David Cook Breaks His Rules or How Kris Allen Got His Groove Back (2)
Title David Cook Breaks His Rules, or How Kris Allen Got His Groove Back (2)
Pairing Kris Allen/David Cook, Adam Lmabert/Brad Bell, Anoop Desai/Megan Joy, other pairings implied.
Rating R
Word Count14500 or so
Summary Um Kris works for David in a bar/club. Both of them are snarky and not each other's type. ~things happen. Aggressive!Kris. Inspired by the plaguedbymen prompt AU Kris/David bartending and written for ficforhope
Disclaimer Only the second time I've written this pairing. I know next to nothing about bartending. Not my people. I made ages kind of irrelevant, as Michael Sarver is now older than everyone.
Special thanks to ksl012479 for giving me the beta I've always needed. Seriously. And also to my kradio benches who have been waiting like two months for the finished product.
READ PART ONE FIRST!!
WEEK THREE
SUNDAY
Rule Five: If you do break rule one, extricate yourself immediately. Either find a way to fire said employee, or make it a one night stand. Do not, do NOT start an affair/relationship/whatever.
David wasn't sure why he had let Kris stay. Except after the shower, much later, he had put his arm around Kris and they had slept. And then in the morning, Kris had begun to walk out and David had stopped him. They had spent the day talking about completely nothing, Kris eyeing David's guitar reverently, and laughing as he attempted to play left handed.
It was the most fun David had had in a long time. But Kris had left in the late afternoon with a lingering kiss and not a word about ever coming back. David didn't say anything because it wasn't supposed to be anything. So he had leaned against the door for a while and breathed.
Breaking rule number one wasn't a terrible thing. He had dated employees after Adam. But only after they had quit, or were on the verge of quitting. Here, and now, Kris wasn't leaving anytime soon. More importantly, David was beginning to think he was breaking rule number five.
Rule number five was in effect for one reason: Adam. They had been really good together, but David knew that Adam was leaving, could feel him pulling away. So he had let Adam go. Which had been messy, and painful, and had interrupted his life more than he would have liked to. Kris was a different kind of guy, but his 'new Kris Allen' plan made him transitory, made the burgeoning feelings very, very dangerous.
So David tried to tuck them away, and began to prepare for another week. He didn't know exactly how he was going to deal with everything, but he had survived Adam, so he could handle anything. David sighed, and wondered if he could.
MONDAY
Rule Number Six: When all else fails, go to Michael.
Michael was only three years older than David, but besides Neal, he had been there the longest. He had been happily married since he was eighteen, and was possibly the most straight-laced guy David had ever known. When Michael had first found out about David being gay, David had expected him to be, well, not too nice about it. Instead Michael had calmly asked a few questions and nodded.
"As long as you’re happy."
So when David needed any relationship advice, Michael was his rock. He was everyone's rock, because he stood back and watched, almost disappearing into the background. But when you needed him, he was there, solid as ever.
"You look conflicted. Happy, but worried. Let me guess: new guy."
David sat in the kitchen as Michael began the preparations for the day.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Only when they worry you."
David laughed. "Thanks."
"Tell me about it."
David looked around, even though he knew no one would be there for at least another hour.
"It isn't supposed to be a relationship."
"Ah."
"But somehow he's wormed his way in, and I really like him. Like scary like him. But I can't say anything because it isn't supposed to be anything. And even if it did go into that territory, what if he decided he wanted to walk away? I can't do that again, Michael."
Michael put down whatever he was working on and sat across from David.
"Dave, I know I've been married for a long time, but part of love is getting your heart broken. You'll never find it if you don't let it happen."
"I don't love him. It's not that bad."
"Yet."
David swallowed. "Yet?"
Michael smiled. "You totally have the 'I could fall in love' look on your face."
Shit David thought.
"Why is that bad?" Michael said.
"I shouldn't fall for this guy." David looked down at the counter. "It breaks all of my rules."
Michael was silent for a long time. "Damn. I owe Adam ten dollars."
David's head snapped back up. "You guys have a pool?"
"I had it down for another week before he succeeded."
David couldn't speak. Had it been that transparent?
"Look, normally, I would totally give you the benefit of the doubt, and say that no one could break your rules. Especially rule number five. But there's something about him. I don't know what it is, but he's special. He'd be good for you. He's a case where the rules shouldn't count."
"I-"
"Look, I won't tell anyone, and if anyone asks, I'll lie if you want. But he seems like a relationship guy to me."
David sighed. "Yeah, except he's in his 'new Kris Allen' phase, and casual is a part of that."
"I see. Well, there is one way to solve that."
"How?"
"You know we all love you, Dave, right?"
"Okay…"
"For once in your life, don't have any rules. Don't follow any plan. Just go with it. See what happens then."
"But-"
"No buts. Just go with it."
David sighed. Maybe he was too organized with his life. Maybe he should live a little. He thought about it: he had set himself into this box because his heart had been broken. But now it was breaking because he had set himself into this box. Either he chose to continue following his rules, continue to be someone he had created out of a moment of panic, or he could-
"I can't believe I'm letting myself do this."
Michael patted him on the back. "Just think of how much fun it will be to hide it from everyone."
David groaned and put his head in his hands. It was going to be a long Monday.
WEDNESDAY
New Rule One: There are no rules.
Kris never acted any different on Monday, had continued the constant badgering and flirting. So David had reciprocated, somehow (hopefully) managing to do the same. The others didn’t seem to notice any change, so David began to relax, and think that maybe it was going to be okay. That he could pull it all off, this casual relationship limbo thing.
Except he kind of expected Kris to be there after closing and he wasn't. David had to remind himself that it was just sex, and that it wasn't important. Feelings had gotten him into trouble with Adam, so it was best if he just went with everything and took it day by day. But then he remembered what Michael had said, and let himself feel, even if it did hurt a little.
Then it was Wednesday, which offered a couples’ discount, so the mood was romantic, and David wasn’t feeling it at all. But then he heard a familiar voice.
"David! David!"
David turned and grinned as a bundle of blonde energy leaped into his arms.
"Ryder! I didn't realize your mom was here!"
"She's not. Kris brought me here because he totally promised to take me out to dinner while Mom went out with Anoop again. So I asked to come here. Then Kris said it was date night, and I said that was gross, but he said it could be a play date, so we brought some of my toys. You wanna see my dinosaur?"
"Sure."
David looked up and Kris waved from a booth. David walked over, Ryder's hand in his, and listened as he chatted about how his dinosaur was in a fight with his teddy bear, so Kris was making them talk it out. Just listening to Ryder talk about it made his smile soften, and he felt his heart opening despite himself. It was hard not to, when Ryder was concerned.
"Babysitting? Is there anything that you don't do?"
Kris ducked his head. "Um, well, I think you know the answer to that."
David leaned against the booth and laughed.
"Yes, yes I do. Don't believe anything this kid says about me. I hate kids and would never do anything for them."
David walked away then, but his eyes kept going back to the booth, as Ryder kept laughing and appeared to be having the time of his life. David rubbed at his heart, but surely he wasn't jealous of a child, was he?
"Gosh they are so adorable," Alli said, sighing.
"Please don't tell me you want children. You are barely legal enough to sell those drinks let alone have children."
"No. Not yet, anyway. But I bet you would make a great dad."
"Don't you start."
"Aww, but he's like perfect! I mean he babysits for free, and he totally volunteers and look at him, he'd be a really cool dad too."
"Allison." Allison had a way of railroading over people sometimes. She didn't pull her aggressive side out often, but when she did, there was no stopping her. So David decided to nip it in the bud early.
"Fine. But it's a stupid rule."
David wondered how bad it would be if she knew he had broken it.
*
Kris came up to him around eight, Ryder asleep in his arms. David sighed.
"What's up?"
“Megan called. There was a car accident in front of them and they’re stuck in traffic. She said you had a room?"
"Yeah. Come on back."
David led them through the office to a small supply room that he had set up with a small bed and various things for children. Kris laid Ryder on the bed, murmuring softly as Ryder made a noise, brushing the hair out of Ryder’s face before standing. David closed the door without a word.
Then he pushed Kris into the wall and kissed him, Kris saying David's name between their lips. It was warm and slow, David lingering for longer than he should, Kris braced against the wall, as if waiting for it to escalate. Instead, David stepped away.
"I should hire a kid to follow me around if that is your response," Kris said.
"Not funny. But terribly true."
Kris laughed. "So you have a room for him? You really are a pile of goo, aren't you?"
"When it comes to him, yeah. First time I met him, it was love. Unconditional. And he gives it back too."
"Yeah. It's pretty amazing."
"I need to get back to the bar. If you need anything-"
Kris nodded. "Okay."
Michael was leaving, and David was escorting the last of the customers into a taxi when Megan and Anoop pulled up. Megan waved at Mike, but her attention was completely on David.
"Is he okay?"
David shrugged. "He was the last time I checked. Kris is with him."
Of course David had checked each half hour. Not that he didn't trust Kris, but it was fascinating to watch him and Ryder together: playing with the dinosaur and teddy bear, chasing around the room and pretending to fly, reading quietly, and all sorts of other little moments punctuated with Kris looking up at David and smiling, David's heart beating just a little faster each time. The last time David had checked had been less than five minutes ago, and Kris had been sitting on the bed with Ryder, the two of them softly singing in order to keep Ryder distracted.
So David followed Megan and Anoop with a smile on his face.
Megan opened the door carefully, her whole body visibly relaxing as she peeked in. David followed as she walked into the room, stopping just inside the doorway. Kris looked up from the bed, and smiled, mouthing a hello at Megan and Anoop. David leaned against the wall, pretending to be slightly disinterested, all the while his heart tripping slowly as Kris stood with Ryder in his arms and handed him to Anoop.
"Oh, hi Mommy. Hi 'noop. Is it home time now?"
"Yeah, that's right," Megan said.
"We can have another play date, right, Kris?"
Kris smiled, "You name the time and I'll be there. Maybe next time David can make the dinosaur and teddy bear get along. He's really good at managing things like that."
Right then, when Kris looked at him, his face completely serious, it happened. David felt it happen, the deep dark chasm of love swallowing him up. It wasn't so much that moment, it was that whole evening, that Kris was completely aware of David's relationship with Ryder in the space of a few hours. The thought of being able to spend a day with Kris and Ryder overwhelmed him. David breathed, because he began to realize how serious this was. A week and a half ago he hadn’t even known Kris. Now he was having trouble imagining life without him?
David blinked and told himself to calm down. Just because he told himself to bend his rules…
David looked down at the floor. He remembered a favorite saying of Adam's.
"Sometimes fate has a way of sneaking up on us. She likes surprises."
David had never much believed in fate, but it was the only way he could explain it all, how fast it had come. He realized everyone was looking at him, and cleared his throat.
"Yeah," he said. "I'll take the teddy bear and dinosaur and you can deal with the easy stuff."
Ryder smiled and burrowed into Anoop, eyes closing again.
"Anoop, can you take him out to the car. I want to have a word with these two."
Anoop nodded, and gave Megan a long look. But he walked out without a word.
Megan turned to Kris and kissed him, whispering a few words into his ear as his blush began to fade. Then she walked over to David, and kissed him, too.
"You really are the best ever. You know that, right?"
"I'm only using you for your son and his fabulous hugs."
Megan threw her head back and laughed. "Goof."
David shrugged.
"You should give him a shot. He's not a bad kisser."
She walked out then and David grinned, holding back the 'I know' that wanted to roll off of his tongue.
He and Kris stood there watching the door. David felt Kris's focus shift, but David didn’t look that way. He looked at the door still, trying to sort everything out.
"You love her."
"What?" David looked at Kris.
"Not like that. But she's really important to you, isn't she?"
David nodded. He had to get out of this room. It felt small, as if all of his feelings were going to smother him. So he headed into his office.
"She worked here almost a year before I found out about Ryder. She thought that if I knew she was a mom, it would stop me from hiring her. She didn't know my mom raised me practically on her own. She actually lived here for awhile when Ryder's dad bailed on her. So yes. She's practically my sister."
David turned and Kris was right behind him, head slightly tilted. "Have you locked the doors yet?"
"No." What kind of question-
Kris was kissing him then, his hands at David's belt, undoing the buttons. David felt himself pushed backwards, stepping out of his pants, grunting as he sat in his office chair. Kris knelt in front of him, his eyes never leaving David's.
"Kris-" David said.
But Kris stopped any more words when he traced a finger lightly down David's cock, then sucked on it, his eyes gleaming as David stiffened, watching Kris's mouth around his finger, then groaning as Kris teased his tongue around the rim of his cock, little flicks, as if testing the taste, each time making David tense.
"Hey David, have you seen Kris?"
David looked up then, all of a sudden remembering that he hadn't locked the doors, but Kris was blocked by the desk, and he could only hope his startled look was because Matt had surprised him, not the fear that he would see something more.
"Uh," David bit back a noise as Kris grinned and continued to tease. "I think he went to the bathroom."
"Oh. Can you tell him I have that music he was looking for?"
"Yeah," David sighed as Kris began to lightly stroke with his fingers, and tried to breathe slowly to prevent himself from coming right in front of Matt.
"Are you okay? You don't look good."
"Just tired. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? And can you lock the doors on the way out?"
Matt nodded and walked out. David relaxed, until Kris started again, fingers and tongue barely touching him, until he couldn't take it anymore, grasping Kris's hair in his hand and pushing down, arching his hips forward to make his point. Kris obliged, his eyes still sparkling with amusement as he swallowed, David collapsing into the chair.
"That was completely unfair," David said, trying to find words for what had just happened.
"Maybe. Fun though. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Excuse me?"
David almost tripped as he followed Kris out to the bar, hastily pulling on his pants.
"I have to get my beauty sleep, you know," Kris said, turning and flashing a smile.
"You little fuck." David caught Kris's wrist, his forward motion propelling both of them into the bar.
Kris looked at him, his mouth slightly open, eyes heavy, and David almost kissed him again. But payback was more important, so he merely laid his hand against the front of Kris's pants, smiling as Kris twitched and let out a small whine.
He leaned forward. "Didn't you know payback is a bitch?"
"David-"
David shook his head, and nipped Kris's bottom lip, hands slowly unbuttoning.
"Not fair."
"You want to talk about playing fair?"
Kris stayed silent, gripping the bar as David pulled down his underwear.
"You were going to leave like this? What a waste," David whispered as he stroked Kris's cock, which was already hard and leaking pre-come.
"Was hoping," Kris breathed as David traced his finger around the tip, then stroked up and down, just his fingernail touching, "you might return the favor."
"And what if I don't?"
"David, please."
"Please what?"
"I want your mouth. Around me, on me, oh fuck stop touching and start sucking for fuck's sake."
David laughed then, throwing his head back as Kris squirmed. "My, what a dirty little mouth you have. I may have to fix that."
Kris sagged a little then, an incoherent moan coming from his mouth.
David mentally filed the reaction for later, and then barely began before Kris was spilling down his throat. He carefully pulled up Kris's pants, smiling as Kris leaned limply against the bar.
"Now you can go home."
There was an "or" implied there, something David would have never left open before, but he didn't want Kris to leave yet, wanted so much it physically hurt, even though he knew that it meant more for him than Kris, that the implications of the space after David's words were merely an invitation for more sex to Kris, and a chance for just a little more time for David. A little more time before things fell apart, because they always fell apart.
"Or?" Kris finally said, and David stopped himself from visibly sighing in relief.
"Or," he whispered in Kris's ears, "we can talk about how I can fix that dirty mouth of yours."
Kris licked his lips and swallowed. "Really? I'd like to see you try."
Kris's voice was steady, if not a little higher than normal. David stepped away, pulling Kris along to the stairs.
"I won't have to try."
Kris laughed then, and pinched David's butt as they climbed the stairs. David turned and gave him a look, but they both ended up laughing, stumbling into the room as they shed clothing, both of them fighting for dominance, hurling out false bravado and insults combined with suggestive sneers and looks. Finally, David pinned Kris to the bed.
"I win."
"Maybe I let you win."
"Maybe I let you think that you let me win," David countered.
"Maybe I think you should shut up and fuck me already."
"Maybe I think I told you that you were in trouble for that dirty mouth of yours."
"Maybe you should do something about that."
"Maybe I just want to fuck you."
Kris laughed. "Maybe I should punish you for your dirty mouth.
"Later,” David said, reaching into his drawer.
*
"I probably shouldn't spend the night tonight," Kris mumbled, stretching.
"Probably shouldn't."
But when Kris shifted, so did David and he stayed anyway.
FRIDAY
It was nearing the end of the shift, and David couldn't help but be nervous. He had played it cool, and was fairly sure that Kris had no idea how he felt, that everything was still going smoothly. But there had been a nervous feeling in David's stomach all day, and he couldn't place it.
He kept telling himself just because Kris hadn't come Thursday it didn't mean anything. He kept telling himself that the distance Kris was keeping was a part of their game, a new aspect to their relationship. He wanted to pull Kris aside and ask, but casual had been promised and that sort of questioning implied that David expected more than what they had.
Except that it felt like more than sex, with everything else between them. It was then David realized all he knew of Kris could barely be contained on one page of the notebook Kris carried around, but even that little knowledge was enough for him.
"Excuse me, but I'm looking for Kris Allen."
David looked at the man in front of him, tale, brunette, hot. "Yes. He's right over there."
"Thank you."
David tried to watch impassively as Kris gave the man a bear hug, face animated, then slowly looking shocked as the man talked. Then David's hand fisted as the man leaned down and kissed Kris, slowly and with more finesse than David would have given him credit for. Kris stared at the door as the man left. The whole bar, which David hadn't even noticed going quiet, resumed conversation again.
David walked over to Kris, dropping his voice, "What the hell was that?"
Kris shook his head. "I don't even. That was Cale. My best friend from Arkansas."
David nodded. Kris had told him the story, his face completely frozen, his eyes pained. Cale had been the one Kris had been in love with. Who had rejected him and sent him here. To David. David wanted to ask what Kris was going to do, but it was obvious. David was just a passing affair. Cale-Kris had known Cale forever.
"You should go after him."
Kris looked at him, face unreadable. "What?"
"Look, I'm not gonna say I'm gonna be happy about it, but you should go after him. You loved him, right?"
Kris's brows furrowed. "Well, yeah."
David set his mouth, trying to ignore the scream he wanted to let out. "Go after him. You don't work again until Monday. Consider it a parting gift and thank you for teaching me that my rules should and can be flexible."
Kris stood for a moment. "But-"
"Go. Idiot."
David pushed him and Kris walked out the door his face confused. David turned and several of the staff were looking at him.
"That was Cale. Former best friend and love of his life. What? I can't be nice?"
David caught the shake of Michael's head then, and he shrugged. What was he supposed to do? Bare his unrequited love in front of everyone? It was much better this way. David gave a nod to Neal to take care of the bar and went back to his office. He sat in his chair and put his head in his hands.
"You are never publicly nice."
David peeked through his fingers. "Alli, go away."
"Plus Cale was totally an infatuation thing. So I'm not sure what you accomplished by pushing them together."
"All. Go. Away."
David heard the door lock.
"Shit. How in the hell did you keep it a secret?"
David sighed. "Please, Alli. I can't discuss this."
She sat across from him and reached across the desk. "How long?"
"How long have I been sleeping with him, or when did I fall stupid in love with him?"
Alli nodded slowly, squezzing the hand tha David finally put out. "Both."
"Sunday. Wednesday. It's better this way Alli. He wasn't interested in a relationship."
"Bullshit."
"Excuse me?"
Allison sighed. "You never saw him looking at you did you? Shit, David, we thought you were such a tough fucking nut for resisting that look. He's totally into you, and you are a moron for pushing him away."
"He looked at me?"
"He did nothing else but."
David blinked. "Shit. I fucked up again, didn't I?"
Allison shook her head. "No. Adam was totally going to end in disaster. Or at least that's the way I hear it. This one, you fucked up."
"What do I do?"
"I don't know. But we'll come up with something. If he doesn't decide to dump you for Arkansas Stud Muffin."
"Allison, please," David groaned.
"Okay. But we totally have to call a team meeting on this one."
"Great. Now I get to embarrass myself in front of everyone."
"Nah. The hand job story is still going to be the best one. Adam won't ket that ever be overshadowed."
"Not if I tell you everything."
"Really? Now I'm interested."
David laughed as Alli leaned forward. "Still not going to tell you. But we can have a team meeting on Sunday. I didn't want to open anyway."
SUNDAY
"If we're having a team meeting, where's Kris?" Adam said, arms crossed.
"Duh, this is about Kris," Alli stuck her tongue out.
"Why would we have a meeting about-holy shit. You slept with him."
David said nothing and the whole room exploded, everyone turning to Alli and bombarding her with questions.
"Wait a second when did this happen?"
"How do you know?"
"Did he tell you? David never tells anything!"
"EXCUSE ME."
Everyone turned to him.
"Now-"
"Wait a minute, how is it Allison knew before me?" Adam interrupted.
"Actually, I knew," Michael said.
"Me too," Megan raised her hand.
"Wait, what?" Adam gaped.
Michael shrugged. "I just guessed right. Didn't seem right to say anything because I owed money in the pool."
"And what about you?" Adam looked at Megan.
She laughed. "I totally caught Kris doing the walk of shame on Thursday morning. He winked at me and laughed. I didn't say anything because Dave's been really happy this week. So I let it go."
"I, uh, suspected something," Matt said, and a chorus of 'yeahs' floated around the room.
"Are you saying I'm the only one who thought that Dave had acquired super human resistance and hadn't even kissed him?" Adam said.
David laughed. "I guess so. Looks like your observation skills need honing."
"Bite me."
"Been there, done that."
Adam laughed. "Well at least I still get lewdest thing to happen in the office, right?"
Matt coughed, "Um."
"You tell them what you think happened and I swear to God you will never find a job again," David said.
Everyone's eyes were on Matt, who sat thoughtfully. "I actually didn't see anything. So I can only guess. But dude, if it were true, Adam, week five would be nothing."
"So you are saying that not only do I no longer rank as the crazy ex-boyfriend, or the love of Dave's life, but I also don't get coolest thing to happen in the office?" Adam sighed. "I quit."
"No you don't," David said. "We'll always have week five."
"I hate you."
"Stop being such a drama queen. No one cares except your twink."
"You did not just go there."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Ass."
"And?"
Adam laughed again. "You are impossible."
David shrugged. "Too bad. You could have had me."
"Nah." Adam said, "You loved me, but you weren't in love with me. Plus I'm totally out of your league."
"Um, as fun as it is to watch you two banter, this isn't solving Dave's problem," Allison said.
"Fine. I'll shut up. I still can't believe I didn't know. Damn I'm getting slow."
"Well, you are getting old," Kelly said.
"Kelly. Don't rile him up now."
"But it's so much fun."
David looked at her. "Okay, so I guess I should start. So Friday, I, uh-"
"Fucked things up?"
"Thanks, Alli. Anyway, apparently I completely misread him and thought that he, um, was totally casual about our-" David sighed. "I feel like I'm on Dr. Phil or something."
"Do you want me to sum it up for you?"
"Yes. Please. I feel stupid."
"That's because you are, Dave," Alli smiled. "Okay, so David totally didn't realize that Kris was completely googly for him, and so when Cale came in yesterday he thought he was being gallant by stepping aside when in fact he was being a complete moron and possibly pushing the best thing that ever happened to him away. That about cover it?"
"Yeah. So what do I do now?"
"Grovel. Groveling always works," Anoop said.
"You should do something completely romantic and schmoopy," Megan added.
"Schmoopy?" David said.
"Yeah, like pour your heart out to him and shit. In front of everyone. Like sing a song you think he would totally get," Adam said.
"That… that actually is a great idea. I mean he works tomorrow, right?" Megan said.
"Yeah. Okay. So I need a song," David said, and the room exploded again.
He could only hope it would work.
WEEK FOUR
SUNDAY
It had been a strange, strange weekend.
Kris had spent Saturday with Cale, mostly talking about life, driving around LA, and slowly realizing that even though Kris made Cale realize that he was bisexual, they made way better friends than lovers.
(It had completely surprised Kris when Cale had kissed him and he had felt nothing but a pleasant warmth. Cale was a good kisser, but there was nothing more than that.)
It was Sunday that had gotten weird, because Cale had broached the relationship question and Kris had answered honestly.
"Well, I thought I was in one. Now I'm not so sure."
"It was the guy with the unfortunate haircut, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"You're totally in love with him, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"When did it happen?"
Kris blinked. He tried to pinpoint it, and he remembered the way David had looked at Megan and Anoop and Ryder, the complete change in his demeanor, the naked want of something like that. That was it.
"Wednesday. Definitely Wednesday. But he's been hurt. So I think he really thought I wasn't like, searching for a relationship. And yet there we were. He makes me laugh. A lot."
"So how do you convince him otherwise?"
Kris shrugged, and then remembered the notebook in his pocket. "I have an idea."
MONDAY
Kris walked into the bar and sat Cale at a booth. "Now, none of the staff is available. Well, maybe Alli, but flirt with her and I will kill you. Behave, okay?"
"Yes sir!"
Kris shook his head and clocked in. There was no sign of David, so he tucked the notebook in his right front pocket.
"Hey, Alli!"
"Hi Kris! How was your weekend?"
Kris shrugged. "Uneventful. Turns out Cale and I make great friends, and while he is an excellent kisser, totally not for me."
"Oh." Allison said. "Does he still like girls? ‘Cause he is kind of hot."
Kris sighed. "Yes, he still likes girls, but I told him if he flirted with you I'd have to kill him. So play nicely."
"No one ever wants me to have a boyfriend!"
"Nope. Have you seen David? I, uh, missed my weekly report."
Allison shook her head. "No. But I think he's singing first tonight."
"Oh. That's cool."
"It's gonna be awesome. He's totally going acoustic."
Kris nodded, ignoring the nervous twitch in his chest. How was he supposed to convince David of anything if he wasn't around?
He just hoped David wouldn't brush him off. Or fire him. Or worst of all, tell him that he didn't feel that way. Maybe that's why he had brushed Kris off.
"Hello everyone, welcome to A Dose of Ambiance. I'm David, the owner, and this is Monday, which means open mike nights."
Kris turned and looked at the stage. He didn't care if it showed, but just seeing David again, and like that-
He had done something to his hair, either cut it or styled it or both, and he was wearing a black shirt and a pink tie, which would normally seem ridiculous but looked completely hot. Kris's jaw dropped a little, and he felt frozen.
"So normally, I don't start things out, but I have an embarrassing confession to make. See, there's a guy. And I think he's pretty terrific. His name is Kris. Wave to everyone, Kris."
Kris felt his face flame as he raised his hand automatically. What was this?
"See, I've only known Kris for a month, but somehow I fell completely head over heels in love with him. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it was the fact that he didn't take no for an answer. Maybe it was his kindness. Maybe it was the fact that he made me laugh at the most inappropriate times. Anyway, the one thing I do know is that I love him. Like in the most terrible way possible, and I fucked it up. And this is my way of groveling and saying I'm sorry, and I hope that you feel the same way."
David sat down then, and Kris stood still, still processing everything, aware that the whole bar was dividing its attention between him and David and not really caring. Then David strummed the opening to "Falling Slowly" and Kris started walking forward, completely ignoring any semblance of working. It was straight out of some shitty romantic comedy and he didn't care.
David looked at Kris on the words and I can't go back and gave him a half smile. Kris felt his heart in his chest, trying to struggle with words, but the music kept saying everything for him.
David's hands slipped on a chord and he looked back down, his smile becoming a little sheepish, the words still echoing around the room. How had he known that Kris loved this song? Kris sneaked a glance at Alli, who winked. Kris laughed then, and simply watched David sing, basking in the words he knew were for him and him alone.
David finished and the room was silent. He looked down at Kris. "Hi."
"Hi. You gonna talk to me down here, or you too afraid to face me?"
David put the guitar down and hopped off the stage. "So. How was your weekend?"
Kris stared, and reached into his pocket. "You completely ruined my ‘convince David he's completely in love with me’ speech. You bastard."
David blinked and took the notebook from Kris's hand. The room was still silent, but it seemed as if it were just the two of them.
Kris bit his lip as David read it, then sighed as David smiled, and stepped closer.
"What did I tell you about that dirty mouth of yours?"
"Guess you're gonna have to spend some time fixing it then, huh?"
"Damn right."
Then David was kissing him, not even chastely, ignoring everyone possibly watching, and Kris didn't even care anymore, fisting his hands in David's shirt and pulling him closer.
"Get back to work! What do you think this is, a party?" David yelled as they broke apart. "You. We will talk later."
"Hmmm. I don't know about talking, but I'm all for the later," Kris said as he walked away and yelled a drink order to Adam.
"So you going to tell me what happened in the office that is steamier than week five?" Adam said.
Kris raised an eyebrow. "No. I think I'll keep that one to myself."
"This is terrible."
"Get used to disappointment."
"Oh my Ra, both of you are so insufferable! I give up."
Kris grinned as Adam walked away. It was going to be a good week.
*
The things I have learned about David Cook.
1. Underneath the gruff exterior lies the biggest softie I have ever met
2. He cares. Really cares about people
3. His eyes are amazing
4. He would love a family but doesn't know how to express it
5. He makes me laugh at the most inappropriate times
6. I'm terribly in love with him
7. Every time I look at him I want to fuck him. For him to fuck me. It's like a sickness.
8. I'm terribly in love with him. (I said that already but, fuck, it's like nothing I have ever experienced.)
Pairing Kris Allen/David Cook, Adam Lmabert/Brad Bell, Anoop Desai/Megan Joy, other pairings implied.
Rating R
Word Count14500 or so
Summary Um Kris works for David in a bar/club. Both of them are snarky and not each other's type. ~things happen. Aggressive!Kris. Inspired by the plaguedbymen prompt AU Kris/David bartending and written for ficforhope
Disclaimer Only the second time I've written this pairing. I know next to nothing about bartending. Not my people. I made ages kind of irrelevant, as Michael Sarver is now older than everyone.
Special thanks to ksl012479 for giving me the beta I've always needed. Seriously. And also to my kradio benches who have been waiting like two months for the finished product.
READ PART ONE FIRST!!
WEEK THREE
SUNDAY
Rule Five: If you do break rule one, extricate yourself immediately. Either find a way to fire said employee, or make it a one night stand. Do not, do NOT start an affair/relationship/whatever.
David wasn't sure why he had let Kris stay. Except after the shower, much later, he had put his arm around Kris and they had slept. And then in the morning, Kris had begun to walk out and David had stopped him. They had spent the day talking about completely nothing, Kris eyeing David's guitar reverently, and laughing as he attempted to play left handed.
It was the most fun David had had in a long time. But Kris had left in the late afternoon with a lingering kiss and not a word about ever coming back. David didn't say anything because it wasn't supposed to be anything. So he had leaned against the door for a while and breathed.
Breaking rule number one wasn't a terrible thing. He had dated employees after Adam. But only after they had quit, or were on the verge of quitting. Here, and now, Kris wasn't leaving anytime soon. More importantly, David was beginning to think he was breaking rule number five.
Rule number five was in effect for one reason: Adam. They had been really good together, but David knew that Adam was leaving, could feel him pulling away. So he had let Adam go. Which had been messy, and painful, and had interrupted his life more than he would have liked to. Kris was a different kind of guy, but his 'new Kris Allen' plan made him transitory, made the burgeoning feelings very, very dangerous.
So David tried to tuck them away, and began to prepare for another week. He didn't know exactly how he was going to deal with everything, but he had survived Adam, so he could handle anything. David sighed, and wondered if he could.
MONDAY
Rule Number Six: When all else fails, go to Michael.
Michael was only three years older than David, but besides Neal, he had been there the longest. He had been happily married since he was eighteen, and was possibly the most straight-laced guy David had ever known. When Michael had first found out about David being gay, David had expected him to be, well, not too nice about it. Instead Michael had calmly asked a few questions and nodded.
"As long as you’re happy."
So when David needed any relationship advice, Michael was his rock. He was everyone's rock, because he stood back and watched, almost disappearing into the background. But when you needed him, he was there, solid as ever.
"You look conflicted. Happy, but worried. Let me guess: new guy."
David sat in the kitchen as Michael began the preparations for the day.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Only when they worry you."
David laughed. "Thanks."
"Tell me about it."
David looked around, even though he knew no one would be there for at least another hour.
"It isn't supposed to be a relationship."
"Ah."
"But somehow he's wormed his way in, and I really like him. Like scary like him. But I can't say anything because it isn't supposed to be anything. And even if it did go into that territory, what if he decided he wanted to walk away? I can't do that again, Michael."
Michael put down whatever he was working on and sat across from David.
"Dave, I know I've been married for a long time, but part of love is getting your heart broken. You'll never find it if you don't let it happen."
"I don't love him. It's not that bad."
"Yet."
David swallowed. "Yet?"
Michael smiled. "You totally have the 'I could fall in love' look on your face."
Shit David thought.
"Why is that bad?" Michael said.
"I shouldn't fall for this guy." David looked down at the counter. "It breaks all of my rules."
Michael was silent for a long time. "Damn. I owe Adam ten dollars."
David's head snapped back up. "You guys have a pool?"
"I had it down for another week before he succeeded."
David couldn't speak. Had it been that transparent?
"Look, normally, I would totally give you the benefit of the doubt, and say that no one could break your rules. Especially rule number five. But there's something about him. I don't know what it is, but he's special. He'd be good for you. He's a case where the rules shouldn't count."
"I-"
"Look, I won't tell anyone, and if anyone asks, I'll lie if you want. But he seems like a relationship guy to me."
David sighed. "Yeah, except he's in his 'new Kris Allen' phase, and casual is a part of that."
"I see. Well, there is one way to solve that."
"How?"
"You know we all love you, Dave, right?"
"Okay…"
"For once in your life, don't have any rules. Don't follow any plan. Just go with it. See what happens then."
"But-"
"No buts. Just go with it."
David sighed. Maybe he was too organized with his life. Maybe he should live a little. He thought about it: he had set himself into this box because his heart had been broken. But now it was breaking because he had set himself into this box. Either he chose to continue following his rules, continue to be someone he had created out of a moment of panic, or he could-
"I can't believe I'm letting myself do this."
Michael patted him on the back. "Just think of how much fun it will be to hide it from everyone."
David groaned and put his head in his hands. It was going to be a long Monday.
WEDNESDAY
New Rule One: There are no rules.
Kris never acted any different on Monday, had continued the constant badgering and flirting. So David had reciprocated, somehow (hopefully) managing to do the same. The others didn’t seem to notice any change, so David began to relax, and think that maybe it was going to be okay. That he could pull it all off, this casual relationship limbo thing.
Except he kind of expected Kris to be there after closing and he wasn't. David had to remind himself that it was just sex, and that it wasn't important. Feelings had gotten him into trouble with Adam, so it was best if he just went with everything and took it day by day. But then he remembered what Michael had said, and let himself feel, even if it did hurt a little.
Then it was Wednesday, which offered a couples’ discount, so the mood was romantic, and David wasn’t feeling it at all. But then he heard a familiar voice.
"David! David!"
David turned and grinned as a bundle of blonde energy leaped into his arms.
"Ryder! I didn't realize your mom was here!"
"She's not. Kris brought me here because he totally promised to take me out to dinner while Mom went out with Anoop again. So I asked to come here. Then Kris said it was date night, and I said that was gross, but he said it could be a play date, so we brought some of my toys. You wanna see my dinosaur?"
"Sure."
David looked up and Kris waved from a booth. David walked over, Ryder's hand in his, and listened as he chatted about how his dinosaur was in a fight with his teddy bear, so Kris was making them talk it out. Just listening to Ryder talk about it made his smile soften, and he felt his heart opening despite himself. It was hard not to, when Ryder was concerned.
"Babysitting? Is there anything that you don't do?"
Kris ducked his head. "Um, well, I think you know the answer to that."
David leaned against the booth and laughed.
"Yes, yes I do. Don't believe anything this kid says about me. I hate kids and would never do anything for them."
David walked away then, but his eyes kept going back to the booth, as Ryder kept laughing and appeared to be having the time of his life. David rubbed at his heart, but surely he wasn't jealous of a child, was he?
"Gosh they are so adorable," Alli said, sighing.
"Please don't tell me you want children. You are barely legal enough to sell those drinks let alone have children."
"No. Not yet, anyway. But I bet you would make a great dad."
"Don't you start."
"Aww, but he's like perfect! I mean he babysits for free, and he totally volunteers and look at him, he'd be a really cool dad too."
"Allison." Allison had a way of railroading over people sometimes. She didn't pull her aggressive side out often, but when she did, there was no stopping her. So David decided to nip it in the bud early.
"Fine. But it's a stupid rule."
David wondered how bad it would be if she knew he had broken it.
*
Kris came up to him around eight, Ryder asleep in his arms. David sighed.
"What's up?"
“Megan called. There was a car accident in front of them and they’re stuck in traffic. She said you had a room?"
"Yeah. Come on back."
David led them through the office to a small supply room that he had set up with a small bed and various things for children. Kris laid Ryder on the bed, murmuring softly as Ryder made a noise, brushing the hair out of Ryder’s face before standing. David closed the door without a word.
Then he pushed Kris into the wall and kissed him, Kris saying David's name between their lips. It was warm and slow, David lingering for longer than he should, Kris braced against the wall, as if waiting for it to escalate. Instead, David stepped away.
"I should hire a kid to follow me around if that is your response," Kris said.
"Not funny. But terribly true."
Kris laughed. "So you have a room for him? You really are a pile of goo, aren't you?"
"When it comes to him, yeah. First time I met him, it was love. Unconditional. And he gives it back too."
"Yeah. It's pretty amazing."
"I need to get back to the bar. If you need anything-"
Kris nodded. "Okay."
Michael was leaving, and David was escorting the last of the customers into a taxi when Megan and Anoop pulled up. Megan waved at Mike, but her attention was completely on David.
"Is he okay?"
David shrugged. "He was the last time I checked. Kris is with him."
Of course David had checked each half hour. Not that he didn't trust Kris, but it was fascinating to watch him and Ryder together: playing with the dinosaur and teddy bear, chasing around the room and pretending to fly, reading quietly, and all sorts of other little moments punctuated with Kris looking up at David and smiling, David's heart beating just a little faster each time. The last time David had checked had been less than five minutes ago, and Kris had been sitting on the bed with Ryder, the two of them softly singing in order to keep Ryder distracted.
So David followed Megan and Anoop with a smile on his face.
Megan opened the door carefully, her whole body visibly relaxing as she peeked in. David followed as she walked into the room, stopping just inside the doorway. Kris looked up from the bed, and smiled, mouthing a hello at Megan and Anoop. David leaned against the wall, pretending to be slightly disinterested, all the while his heart tripping slowly as Kris stood with Ryder in his arms and handed him to Anoop.
"Oh, hi Mommy. Hi 'noop. Is it home time now?"
"Yeah, that's right," Megan said.
"We can have another play date, right, Kris?"
Kris smiled, "You name the time and I'll be there. Maybe next time David can make the dinosaur and teddy bear get along. He's really good at managing things like that."
Right then, when Kris looked at him, his face completely serious, it happened. David felt it happen, the deep dark chasm of love swallowing him up. It wasn't so much that moment, it was that whole evening, that Kris was completely aware of David's relationship with Ryder in the space of a few hours. The thought of being able to spend a day with Kris and Ryder overwhelmed him. David breathed, because he began to realize how serious this was. A week and a half ago he hadn’t even known Kris. Now he was having trouble imagining life without him?
David blinked and told himself to calm down. Just because he told himself to bend his rules…
David looked down at the floor. He remembered a favorite saying of Adam's.
"Sometimes fate has a way of sneaking up on us. She likes surprises."
David had never much believed in fate, but it was the only way he could explain it all, how fast it had come. He realized everyone was looking at him, and cleared his throat.
"Yeah," he said. "I'll take the teddy bear and dinosaur and you can deal with the easy stuff."
Ryder smiled and burrowed into Anoop, eyes closing again.
"Anoop, can you take him out to the car. I want to have a word with these two."
Anoop nodded, and gave Megan a long look. But he walked out without a word.
Megan turned to Kris and kissed him, whispering a few words into his ear as his blush began to fade. Then she walked over to David, and kissed him, too.
"You really are the best ever. You know that, right?"
"I'm only using you for your son and his fabulous hugs."
Megan threw her head back and laughed. "Goof."
David shrugged.
"You should give him a shot. He's not a bad kisser."
She walked out then and David grinned, holding back the 'I know' that wanted to roll off of his tongue.
He and Kris stood there watching the door. David felt Kris's focus shift, but David didn’t look that way. He looked at the door still, trying to sort everything out.
"You love her."
"What?" David looked at Kris.
"Not like that. But she's really important to you, isn't she?"
David nodded. He had to get out of this room. It felt small, as if all of his feelings were going to smother him. So he headed into his office.
"She worked here almost a year before I found out about Ryder. She thought that if I knew she was a mom, it would stop me from hiring her. She didn't know my mom raised me practically on her own. She actually lived here for awhile when Ryder's dad bailed on her. So yes. She's practically my sister."
David turned and Kris was right behind him, head slightly tilted. "Have you locked the doors yet?"
"No." What kind of question-
Kris was kissing him then, his hands at David's belt, undoing the buttons. David felt himself pushed backwards, stepping out of his pants, grunting as he sat in his office chair. Kris knelt in front of him, his eyes never leaving David's.
"Kris-" David said.
But Kris stopped any more words when he traced a finger lightly down David's cock, then sucked on it, his eyes gleaming as David stiffened, watching Kris's mouth around his finger, then groaning as Kris teased his tongue around the rim of his cock, little flicks, as if testing the taste, each time making David tense.
"Hey David, have you seen Kris?"
David looked up then, all of a sudden remembering that he hadn't locked the doors, but Kris was blocked by the desk, and he could only hope his startled look was because Matt had surprised him, not the fear that he would see something more.
"Uh," David bit back a noise as Kris grinned and continued to tease. "I think he went to the bathroom."
"Oh. Can you tell him I have that music he was looking for?"
"Yeah," David sighed as Kris began to lightly stroke with his fingers, and tried to breathe slowly to prevent himself from coming right in front of Matt.
"Are you okay? You don't look good."
"Just tired. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? And can you lock the doors on the way out?"
Matt nodded and walked out. David relaxed, until Kris started again, fingers and tongue barely touching him, until he couldn't take it anymore, grasping Kris's hair in his hand and pushing down, arching his hips forward to make his point. Kris obliged, his eyes still sparkling with amusement as he swallowed, David collapsing into the chair.
"That was completely unfair," David said, trying to find words for what had just happened.
"Maybe. Fun though. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Excuse me?"
David almost tripped as he followed Kris out to the bar, hastily pulling on his pants.
"I have to get my beauty sleep, you know," Kris said, turning and flashing a smile.
"You little fuck." David caught Kris's wrist, his forward motion propelling both of them into the bar.
Kris looked at him, his mouth slightly open, eyes heavy, and David almost kissed him again. But payback was more important, so he merely laid his hand against the front of Kris's pants, smiling as Kris twitched and let out a small whine.
He leaned forward. "Didn't you know payback is a bitch?"
"David-"
David shook his head, and nipped Kris's bottom lip, hands slowly unbuttoning.
"Not fair."
"You want to talk about playing fair?"
Kris stayed silent, gripping the bar as David pulled down his underwear.
"You were going to leave like this? What a waste," David whispered as he stroked Kris's cock, which was already hard and leaking pre-come.
"Was hoping," Kris breathed as David traced his finger around the tip, then stroked up and down, just his fingernail touching, "you might return the favor."
"And what if I don't?"
"David, please."
"Please what?"
"I want your mouth. Around me, on me, oh fuck stop touching and start sucking for fuck's sake."
David laughed then, throwing his head back as Kris squirmed. "My, what a dirty little mouth you have. I may have to fix that."
Kris sagged a little then, an incoherent moan coming from his mouth.
David mentally filed the reaction for later, and then barely began before Kris was spilling down his throat. He carefully pulled up Kris's pants, smiling as Kris leaned limply against the bar.
"Now you can go home."
There was an "or" implied there, something David would have never left open before, but he didn't want Kris to leave yet, wanted so much it physically hurt, even though he knew that it meant more for him than Kris, that the implications of the space after David's words were merely an invitation for more sex to Kris, and a chance for just a little more time for David. A little more time before things fell apart, because they always fell apart.
"Or?" Kris finally said, and David stopped himself from visibly sighing in relief.
"Or," he whispered in Kris's ears, "we can talk about how I can fix that dirty mouth of yours."
Kris licked his lips and swallowed. "Really? I'd like to see you try."
Kris's voice was steady, if not a little higher than normal. David stepped away, pulling Kris along to the stairs.
"I won't have to try."
Kris laughed then, and pinched David's butt as they climbed the stairs. David turned and gave him a look, but they both ended up laughing, stumbling into the room as they shed clothing, both of them fighting for dominance, hurling out false bravado and insults combined with suggestive sneers and looks. Finally, David pinned Kris to the bed.
"I win."
"Maybe I let you win."
"Maybe I let you think that you let me win," David countered.
"Maybe I think you should shut up and fuck me already."
"Maybe I think I told you that you were in trouble for that dirty mouth of yours."
"Maybe you should do something about that."
"Maybe I just want to fuck you."
Kris laughed. "Maybe I should punish you for your dirty mouth.
"Later,” David said, reaching into his drawer.
*
"I probably shouldn't spend the night tonight," Kris mumbled, stretching.
"Probably shouldn't."
But when Kris shifted, so did David and he stayed anyway.
FRIDAY
It was nearing the end of the shift, and David couldn't help but be nervous. He had played it cool, and was fairly sure that Kris had no idea how he felt, that everything was still going smoothly. But there had been a nervous feeling in David's stomach all day, and he couldn't place it.
He kept telling himself just because Kris hadn't come Thursday it didn't mean anything. He kept telling himself that the distance Kris was keeping was a part of their game, a new aspect to their relationship. He wanted to pull Kris aside and ask, but casual had been promised and that sort of questioning implied that David expected more than what they had.
Except that it felt like more than sex, with everything else between them. It was then David realized all he knew of Kris could barely be contained on one page of the notebook Kris carried around, but even that little knowledge was enough for him.
"Excuse me, but I'm looking for Kris Allen."
David looked at the man in front of him, tale, brunette, hot. "Yes. He's right over there."
"Thank you."
David tried to watch impassively as Kris gave the man a bear hug, face animated, then slowly looking shocked as the man talked. Then David's hand fisted as the man leaned down and kissed Kris, slowly and with more finesse than David would have given him credit for. Kris stared at the door as the man left. The whole bar, which David hadn't even noticed going quiet, resumed conversation again.
David walked over to Kris, dropping his voice, "What the hell was that?"
Kris shook his head. "I don't even. That was Cale. My best friend from Arkansas."
David nodded. Kris had told him the story, his face completely frozen, his eyes pained. Cale had been the one Kris had been in love with. Who had rejected him and sent him here. To David. David wanted to ask what Kris was going to do, but it was obvious. David was just a passing affair. Cale-Kris had known Cale forever.
"You should go after him."
Kris looked at him, face unreadable. "What?"
"Look, I'm not gonna say I'm gonna be happy about it, but you should go after him. You loved him, right?"
Kris's brows furrowed. "Well, yeah."
David set his mouth, trying to ignore the scream he wanted to let out. "Go after him. You don't work again until Monday. Consider it a parting gift and thank you for teaching me that my rules should and can be flexible."
Kris stood for a moment. "But-"
"Go. Idiot."
David pushed him and Kris walked out the door his face confused. David turned and several of the staff were looking at him.
"That was Cale. Former best friend and love of his life. What? I can't be nice?"
David caught the shake of Michael's head then, and he shrugged. What was he supposed to do? Bare his unrequited love in front of everyone? It was much better this way. David gave a nod to Neal to take care of the bar and went back to his office. He sat in his chair and put his head in his hands.
"You are never publicly nice."
David peeked through his fingers. "Alli, go away."
"Plus Cale was totally an infatuation thing. So I'm not sure what you accomplished by pushing them together."
"All. Go. Away."
David heard the door lock.
"Shit. How in the hell did you keep it a secret?"
David sighed. "Please, Alli. I can't discuss this."
She sat across from him and reached across the desk. "How long?"
"How long have I been sleeping with him, or when did I fall stupid in love with him?"
Alli nodded slowly, squezzing the hand tha David finally put out. "Both."
"Sunday. Wednesday. It's better this way Alli. He wasn't interested in a relationship."
"Bullshit."
"Excuse me?"
Allison sighed. "You never saw him looking at you did you? Shit, David, we thought you were such a tough fucking nut for resisting that look. He's totally into you, and you are a moron for pushing him away."
"He looked at me?"
"He did nothing else but."
David blinked. "Shit. I fucked up again, didn't I?"
Allison shook her head. "No. Adam was totally going to end in disaster. Or at least that's the way I hear it. This one, you fucked up."
"What do I do?"
"I don't know. But we'll come up with something. If he doesn't decide to dump you for Arkansas Stud Muffin."
"Allison, please," David groaned.
"Okay. But we totally have to call a team meeting on this one."
"Great. Now I get to embarrass myself in front of everyone."
"Nah. The hand job story is still going to be the best one. Adam won't ket that ever be overshadowed."
"Not if I tell you everything."
"Really? Now I'm interested."
David laughed as Alli leaned forward. "Still not going to tell you. But we can have a team meeting on Sunday. I didn't want to open anyway."
SUNDAY
"If we're having a team meeting, where's Kris?" Adam said, arms crossed.
"Duh, this is about Kris," Alli stuck her tongue out.
"Why would we have a meeting about-holy shit. You slept with him."
David said nothing and the whole room exploded, everyone turning to Alli and bombarding her with questions.
"Wait a second when did this happen?"
"How do you know?"
"Did he tell you? David never tells anything!"
"EXCUSE ME."
Everyone turned to him.
"Now-"
"Wait a minute, how is it Allison knew before me?" Adam interrupted.
"Actually, I knew," Michael said.
"Me too," Megan raised her hand.
"Wait, what?" Adam gaped.
Michael shrugged. "I just guessed right. Didn't seem right to say anything because I owed money in the pool."
"And what about you?" Adam looked at Megan.
She laughed. "I totally caught Kris doing the walk of shame on Thursday morning. He winked at me and laughed. I didn't say anything because Dave's been really happy this week. So I let it go."
"I, uh, suspected something," Matt said, and a chorus of 'yeahs' floated around the room.
"Are you saying I'm the only one who thought that Dave had acquired super human resistance and hadn't even kissed him?" Adam said.
David laughed. "I guess so. Looks like your observation skills need honing."
"Bite me."
"Been there, done that."
Adam laughed. "Well at least I still get lewdest thing to happen in the office, right?"
Matt coughed, "Um."
"You tell them what you think happened and I swear to God you will never find a job again," David said.
Everyone's eyes were on Matt, who sat thoughtfully. "I actually didn't see anything. So I can only guess. But dude, if it were true, Adam, week five would be nothing."
"So you are saying that not only do I no longer rank as the crazy ex-boyfriend, or the love of Dave's life, but I also don't get coolest thing to happen in the office?" Adam sighed. "I quit."
"No you don't," David said. "We'll always have week five."
"I hate you."
"Stop being such a drama queen. No one cares except your twink."
"You did not just go there."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Ass."
"And?"
Adam laughed again. "You are impossible."
David shrugged. "Too bad. You could have had me."
"Nah." Adam said, "You loved me, but you weren't in love with me. Plus I'm totally out of your league."
"Um, as fun as it is to watch you two banter, this isn't solving Dave's problem," Allison said.
"Fine. I'll shut up. I still can't believe I didn't know. Damn I'm getting slow."
"Well, you are getting old," Kelly said.
"Kelly. Don't rile him up now."
"But it's so much fun."
David looked at her. "Okay, so I guess I should start. So Friday, I, uh-"
"Fucked things up?"
"Thanks, Alli. Anyway, apparently I completely misread him and thought that he, um, was totally casual about our-" David sighed. "I feel like I'm on Dr. Phil or something."
"Do you want me to sum it up for you?"
"Yes. Please. I feel stupid."
"That's because you are, Dave," Alli smiled. "Okay, so David totally didn't realize that Kris was completely googly for him, and so when Cale came in yesterday he thought he was being gallant by stepping aside when in fact he was being a complete moron and possibly pushing the best thing that ever happened to him away. That about cover it?"
"Yeah. So what do I do now?"
"Grovel. Groveling always works," Anoop said.
"You should do something completely romantic and schmoopy," Megan added.
"Schmoopy?" David said.
"Yeah, like pour your heart out to him and shit. In front of everyone. Like sing a song you think he would totally get," Adam said.
"That… that actually is a great idea. I mean he works tomorrow, right?" Megan said.
"Yeah. Okay. So I need a song," David said, and the room exploded again.
He could only hope it would work.
WEEK FOUR
SUNDAY
It had been a strange, strange weekend.
Kris had spent Saturday with Cale, mostly talking about life, driving around LA, and slowly realizing that even though Kris made Cale realize that he was bisexual, they made way better friends than lovers.
(It had completely surprised Kris when Cale had kissed him and he had felt nothing but a pleasant warmth. Cale was a good kisser, but there was nothing more than that.)
It was Sunday that had gotten weird, because Cale had broached the relationship question and Kris had answered honestly.
"Well, I thought I was in one. Now I'm not so sure."
"It was the guy with the unfortunate haircut, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"You're totally in love with him, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"When did it happen?"
Kris blinked. He tried to pinpoint it, and he remembered the way David had looked at Megan and Anoop and Ryder, the complete change in his demeanor, the naked want of something like that. That was it.
"Wednesday. Definitely Wednesday. But he's been hurt. So I think he really thought I wasn't like, searching for a relationship. And yet there we were. He makes me laugh. A lot."
"So how do you convince him otherwise?"
Kris shrugged, and then remembered the notebook in his pocket. "I have an idea."
MONDAY
Kris walked into the bar and sat Cale at a booth. "Now, none of the staff is available. Well, maybe Alli, but flirt with her and I will kill you. Behave, okay?"
"Yes sir!"
Kris shook his head and clocked in. There was no sign of David, so he tucked the notebook in his right front pocket.
"Hey, Alli!"
"Hi Kris! How was your weekend?"
Kris shrugged. "Uneventful. Turns out Cale and I make great friends, and while he is an excellent kisser, totally not for me."
"Oh." Allison said. "Does he still like girls? ‘Cause he is kind of hot."
Kris sighed. "Yes, he still likes girls, but I told him if he flirted with you I'd have to kill him. So play nicely."
"No one ever wants me to have a boyfriend!"
"Nope. Have you seen David? I, uh, missed my weekly report."
Allison shook her head. "No. But I think he's singing first tonight."
"Oh. That's cool."
"It's gonna be awesome. He's totally going acoustic."
Kris nodded, ignoring the nervous twitch in his chest. How was he supposed to convince David of anything if he wasn't around?
He just hoped David wouldn't brush him off. Or fire him. Or worst of all, tell him that he didn't feel that way. Maybe that's why he had brushed Kris off.
"Hello everyone, welcome to A Dose of Ambiance. I'm David, the owner, and this is Monday, which means open mike nights."
Kris turned and looked at the stage. He didn't care if it showed, but just seeing David again, and like that-
He had done something to his hair, either cut it or styled it or both, and he was wearing a black shirt and a pink tie, which would normally seem ridiculous but looked completely hot. Kris's jaw dropped a little, and he felt frozen.
"So normally, I don't start things out, but I have an embarrassing confession to make. See, there's a guy. And I think he's pretty terrific. His name is Kris. Wave to everyone, Kris."
Kris felt his face flame as he raised his hand automatically. What was this?
"See, I've only known Kris for a month, but somehow I fell completely head over heels in love with him. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it was the fact that he didn't take no for an answer. Maybe it was his kindness. Maybe it was the fact that he made me laugh at the most inappropriate times. Anyway, the one thing I do know is that I love him. Like in the most terrible way possible, and I fucked it up. And this is my way of groveling and saying I'm sorry, and I hope that you feel the same way."
David sat down then, and Kris stood still, still processing everything, aware that the whole bar was dividing its attention between him and David and not really caring. Then David strummed the opening to "Falling Slowly" and Kris started walking forward, completely ignoring any semblance of working. It was straight out of some shitty romantic comedy and he didn't care.
David looked at Kris on the words and I can't go back and gave him a half smile. Kris felt his heart in his chest, trying to struggle with words, but the music kept saying everything for him.
David's hands slipped on a chord and he looked back down, his smile becoming a little sheepish, the words still echoing around the room. How had he known that Kris loved this song? Kris sneaked a glance at Alli, who winked. Kris laughed then, and simply watched David sing, basking in the words he knew were for him and him alone.
David finished and the room was silent. He looked down at Kris. "Hi."
"Hi. You gonna talk to me down here, or you too afraid to face me?"
David put the guitar down and hopped off the stage. "So. How was your weekend?"
Kris stared, and reached into his pocket. "You completely ruined my ‘convince David he's completely in love with me’ speech. You bastard."
David blinked and took the notebook from Kris's hand. The room was still silent, but it seemed as if it were just the two of them.
Kris bit his lip as David read it, then sighed as David smiled, and stepped closer.
"What did I tell you about that dirty mouth of yours?"
"Guess you're gonna have to spend some time fixing it then, huh?"
"Damn right."
Then David was kissing him, not even chastely, ignoring everyone possibly watching, and Kris didn't even care anymore, fisting his hands in David's shirt and pulling him closer.
"Get back to work! What do you think this is, a party?" David yelled as they broke apart. "You. We will talk later."
"Hmmm. I don't know about talking, but I'm all for the later," Kris said as he walked away and yelled a drink order to Adam.
"So you going to tell me what happened in the office that is steamier than week five?" Adam said.
Kris raised an eyebrow. "No. I think I'll keep that one to myself."
"This is terrible."
"Get used to disappointment."
"Oh my Ra, both of you are so insufferable! I give up."
Kris grinned as Adam walked away. It was going to be a good week.
*
The things I have learned about David Cook.
1. Underneath the gruff exterior lies the biggest softie I have ever met
2. He cares. Really cares about people
3. His eyes are amazing
4. He would love a family but doesn't know how to express it
5. He makes me laugh at the most inappropriate times
6. I'm terribly in love with him
7. Every time I look at him I want to fuck him. For him to fuck me. It's like a sickness.
8. I'm terribly in love with him. (I said that already but, fuck, it's like nothing I have ever experienced.)