(Even Bad) Wolves Can Be Good 1/?
(Even Bad) Wolves Can Be Good
Part 1?
Pairing: Kradam
Rating: PG-13? for racy thoughts and minor Language?
Kristopher Allen was shaken to the core, staring horrified at the innocent looking piece of paper in his hand. He barely noticed the people passing him in the aisle, giving him those ‘okay, weirdo’ looks you can’t help but give out sometimes. He was entirely focused on one little word.
The word was Tampons.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” He said to himself, startling the soccer mom next to him, who grabbed a box (New! Fiber Plus Antioxidants™) before pushing her cart away at a speed that really wasn’t very smart in as small an aisle as this.
“Hey, are you okay?” Kris turned around to see- well that was different.
Now, Arkansas isn’t quite as hick as tourists seemed to think it is. They have satellite TV and Internet; they even had (as he had to explain to that group from California) indoor plumbing. But he seriously didn’t think he’d ever seen a guy dressed head to toe in black, sporting eyeliner, about 12 different necklaces and purple-glittery nail polish. So seeing this in Macabee’s General Store in West Junction, population 539, was kind of a trip.
(He was really trying to avoid thinking about those hands on him, of how those rings would feel, whether they’d be cold or warm from the guy’s hands, and okay, maybe his mom was right to kick him out of his own apartment ("But, Mama, why can't Daniel go?"
"Because Daniel isn't wallowing on his couch, trying to become a mushroom. Now go shower or I'll go into your room and pack for you."
"Yes'm.") to go take care of his grandmother, and damn it, Kris, he asked you a question!)
“Yeah! I mean, yeah.” Kris shook his head, trying to clear it. “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
“Are you sure?” Blue eyes narrowed as the guy angled his head at Kris. “’Cause, you’ve kind of been standing here for, like, ten minutes.”
“Oh.” And Kris blushed, because of course the cute guy would notice him when he’s being weird, that’s just Kris’ luck. “No, it’s just, I’m picking some things up for my Grandma, and my mom just kind of shoved the list at me so I didn’t look at it until I got here and,” and Kris stopped to laugh a bit, because he was rambling. This just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it? “And some of the things she asked for are kind of weird, you know?”
The guy nodded, “Yeah, this angel I’m staying with, she asked me to run up here and pick up some lard. And when I got here there were, like, ten different kinds and that would imply different purposes for them, right? What do people even use that for?”
"Cooking." Kris says. "And it's used to make candles and soaps and..." the guy is staring at him, wide eyed. "Um, my grandma makes stuff to sell out of it." Kris can feel himself blush again, dang it. "Usually she buys in bulk for the soap and stuff, this must be for baking..." He trails off, because the guy is still staring at him but with a smile on his face instead of a more incredulous 'really?'. "She sells some of it here, actually. Wood's Naturals?"
"Wood? Like, Kathleen Wood?" The guy started biting at his bottom lip and shifting his feet. Probably didn't like to stand still.
"Yeah, that's her. She hurt her hip last month and just got out of the hospital, but she refused to stay here in town with my parents, so I'm getting shipped out to the woods to help 'til she's better." And okay, he's telling a random stranger a lot. Kris started to push his cart down the aisle. When the guy moved to walk along beside him, Kris asked, "So who are you staying with? I could probably help you choose which kind to get, I used to work here, so I kind of know who gets what."
"Oh! Uh, not really with with, you know, more sort of by." The guy stammered. Kris looked down, noticing that he had a slight limp " And she really said it wasn't that important, that I didn't need to get it. I'm just, uh, getting some essentials." Kris looked at the basket the guy was carrying. "Essentials" apparently meant four pairs of control top pantyhose and fruit-loops.
"I'm Adam Lambert, by the way."
Kris looked at the guy, Adam, who was back to biting his bottom lip. "Kris Allen."
Turning into the next aisle (canned goods, thank God), Kris asked, "So, you're not from around here?"
Adam grinned and gestured to his outfit, "That obvious, huh? I thought I was fitting in so well!"
Kris shook his head and smiled back, "Yeah, most locals don't wear quite that amount of black."
"No, they seem to be in a state of plaid." Adam said, shifting his eyes to the Gregson brothers infront of them, muttering to each other by the baked beans, before looking back at Kris, raising an eyebrow at Kris' own clothes, a long sleeved plaid button up over a white t-shirt.
"Hey," Kris brought up a finger to wave, "Don't knock it 'til you try it, pal. Besides," he stopped to grab some soup cans (clam chowder and cream of mushroom. Anything else, and Nana would think he didn't like her's). "It's not just a fashion statement."
"No?"
"Nope. It's a way of life. So you might wanna think about that if you're planning on sticking around long."
"I'll keep it in mind." Adam smiled. "I'm from LA, actually, so I guess I'm still going through culture shock."
Kris laughed at that. Arkansas must seem like a world away. "Seriously, LA?" Kris stopped the cart, shaking his head." Sorry, but I've gotta ask: how'd you end up here?"
"Well, I took this left turn at Albuquerque..." Adam stopped while Kris laughed. "No, seriously, LA was getting a little..." He shook his hand, trying to think of a word, "Closed in? I just needed to get out, stretch my legs and breathe a bit, you know?"
"Yeah, I know the feeling." He'd been having it himself, actually. But he guessed spending the next month or so at his grandmother's backwood cottage was the next best thing.
They had reached the end of the aisle and Kris stopped, mentally bracing himself for the next task at hand. Adam stopped, looking concerned before peeking his head around the corner. His eyebrows lifted before looking back at Kris, "Seriously? A cutie like you never had to pick some up for your girlfriend before?"
Kris blushed again. "Girlfriend, no, I haven't had to in awhile. And never for my grandmother, which, frankly, is not a picture I ever wanted in my head, so thank you, Adam, for reminding me who these were for." Adam's eye's widened dramatically before he burst out laughing. Kris shook his head, rolling his eyes and smiling anyway. "Yeah, laugh it up, man. Laugh. It. Up."
Adam straightened up, wiping at his eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, but that is really-" He started laughing again. Kris looked away, trying to stare at nothing down the aisle while Adam calmed down.
"Right, sorry." Adam breathed deeply a couple times, and then turned to face the shelves. "Jesus, I thought I had trouble with the lard." Kris turned as well, eyes widening because, whoa, he'd forgotten how many there were.
"So, um, what, uh. Kind should we get?" Adam's hand went up to his hair, ruffling it and creating even more odd looking tufts.
"Um, I don't know, it just says tampons." Kris gestured helplessly at the list.
"So, um, what kind did your girlfriend get?" Adam look at Kris, with a twinge of panic in his eyes.
"Oh, uh." Kris stepped forward, looking at various boxes before grabbing one that sort of looked familar. He stepped back quickly and threw it in the cart. He started pushing the cart quickly, trying to get out, out, out, Jesus Christ.
Safely in the next aisle, they both were breathing heavily. "Oh my God, I have new respect for you straight boys." Adam said. Kris just looked at him. "Thanks, anything to try and redeem ourselves." Adam's eyes met his own and they both started laughing.
"Oh God, I can't believe you freaked out like that!" Kris said, the uproar now turned into a chuckle.
"Excuse me, being gay doesn't mean a free pass into the female pysche." Adam shot back. "That was kind of the point." Which of course started a whole new round of laughter. Again, passersby were giving out the "crazy" looks, but Kris didn't notice. He had other things to think about.
"So, anything else on that list you need moral support with?" Adam asked when the laughter stopped, finally. Kris shook his head.
"Nope, I've got everything. What about you?" He nodded at Adam's basket. "Any other essentials necesary to survive the wild Arkansas night?"
"No, I'm set for right now." Kris nodded at that, trying not to be too sad about it. This was the most fun he'd had in weeks.
"So, check out?" Adam said, which Kris nodded at. "Yeah, right up front." They walked to the register, quieter now that they both realized that they'd have to part company. "So, um, where does your grandma live?" Adam asked, shifting nervously before leaning back on the counter. Kris blinked.
"Oh, just a couple miles into the woods. Normally I'd walk but, what with the groceries and my suitcase and everything I'm driving my truck out." And, wow, he'd only known this guy for ten minutes. But Kris can't really help it. It feels like he's known Adam, been friends with him, for awhile now. Kris never really clicked with anyone this quickly before, not even Katy. It was... weird. "How 'bout you?"
"Oh, it's pretty close." He gave this hand gesture which was probably supposed to indicate a direction but was really just a wave. "It's within walking distance." Kris nodded, gathering up his bags as Adam's things were rung up.
"So you don't need a lift?" Kris asked, tryng to prolong this, whatever this was. Adam didn't cooperate, though, shaking his head quickly.
"No I'll be fine. It's only like, ten, fifteen minutes from here. And walking's why I came here anyway, right? The fresh air." Adam took a deep breath, to show how much it was appreciated.
"Right." They reached his teal and white 1988 Ford pick-up, and Kris went to put his bags in the passenger side door. He turned to face Adam, "So I guess I'll see you around?" Adam nodded.
"Oh, definately." His eyes wandered over Kris again, inspiring yet another blush (really, Kristopher? Come on!). When they reached Kris' eyes Adam's mouth twitched into a smirk. "Really soon, hopefully." He took a few steps back. "So I'll see you later, Kris."
Kris blinked and had to swallow hard. "Yeah, see ya." He walked around the front of the cab and climbed into the driver's side. He started the engine and looked up. Adam hadn't moved. Kris waved, a little perfunctally. He saw Adam smirk again and wave back, still watching.
"Okay, Kris, time to wake up." Kris turned to look over his shoulder as he backed the truck up, then started forward toward the street. He really tried not to notice how Adam turned to watch him leave. After all, the guy was from LA. Why would he watch Kris Allen?
____
Part 1?
Pairing: Kradam
Rating: PG-13? for racy thoughts and minor Language?
Kristopher Allen was shaken to the core, staring horrified at the innocent looking piece of paper in his hand. He barely noticed the people passing him in the aisle, giving him those ‘okay, weirdo’ looks you can’t help but give out sometimes. He was entirely focused on one little word.
The word was Tampons.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” He said to himself, startling the soccer mom next to him, who grabbed a box (New! Fiber Plus Antioxidants™) before pushing her cart away at a speed that really wasn’t very smart in as small an aisle as this.
“Hey, are you okay?” Kris turned around to see- well that was different.
Now, Arkansas isn’t quite as hick as tourists seemed to think it is. They have satellite TV and Internet; they even had (as he had to explain to that group from California) indoor plumbing. But he seriously didn’t think he’d ever seen a guy dressed head to toe in black, sporting eyeliner, about 12 different necklaces and purple-glittery nail polish. So seeing this in Macabee’s General Store in West Junction, population 539, was kind of a trip.
(He was really trying to avoid thinking about those hands on him, of how those rings would feel, whether they’d be cold or warm from the guy’s hands, and okay, maybe his mom was right to kick him out of his own apartment ("But, Mama, why can't Daniel go?"
"Because Daniel isn't wallowing on his couch, trying to become a mushroom. Now go shower or I'll go into your room and pack for you."
"Yes'm.") to go take care of his grandmother, and damn it, Kris, he asked you a question!)
“Yeah! I mean, yeah.” Kris shook his head, trying to clear it. “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
“Are you sure?” Blue eyes narrowed as the guy angled his head at Kris. “’Cause, you’ve kind of been standing here for, like, ten minutes.”
“Oh.” And Kris blushed, because of course the cute guy would notice him when he’s being weird, that’s just Kris’ luck. “No, it’s just, I’m picking some things up for my Grandma, and my mom just kind of shoved the list at me so I didn’t look at it until I got here and,” and Kris stopped to laugh a bit, because he was rambling. This just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it? “And some of the things she asked for are kind of weird, you know?”
The guy nodded, “Yeah, this angel I’m staying with, she asked me to run up here and pick up some lard. And when I got here there were, like, ten different kinds and that would imply different purposes for them, right? What do people even use that for?”
"Cooking." Kris says. "And it's used to make candles and soaps and..." the guy is staring at him, wide eyed. "Um, my grandma makes stuff to sell out of it." Kris can feel himself blush again, dang it. "Usually she buys in bulk for the soap and stuff, this must be for baking..." He trails off, because the guy is still staring at him but with a smile on his face instead of a more incredulous 'really?'. "She sells some of it here, actually. Wood's Naturals?"
"Wood? Like, Kathleen Wood?" The guy started biting at his bottom lip and shifting his feet. Probably didn't like to stand still.
"Yeah, that's her. She hurt her hip last month and just got out of the hospital, but she refused to stay here in town with my parents, so I'm getting shipped out to the woods to help 'til she's better." And okay, he's telling a random stranger a lot. Kris started to push his cart down the aisle. When the guy moved to walk along beside him, Kris asked, "So who are you staying with? I could probably help you choose which kind to get, I used to work here, so I kind of know who gets what."
"Oh! Uh, not really with with, you know, more sort of by." The guy stammered. Kris looked down, noticing that he had a slight limp " And she really said it wasn't that important, that I didn't need to get it. I'm just, uh, getting some essentials." Kris looked at the basket the guy was carrying. "Essentials" apparently meant four pairs of control top pantyhose and fruit-loops.
"I'm Adam Lambert, by the way."
Kris looked at the guy, Adam, who was back to biting his bottom lip. "Kris Allen."
Turning into the next aisle (canned goods, thank God), Kris asked, "So, you're not from around here?"
Adam grinned and gestured to his outfit, "That obvious, huh? I thought I was fitting in so well!"
Kris shook his head and smiled back, "Yeah, most locals don't wear quite that amount of black."
"No, they seem to be in a state of plaid." Adam said, shifting his eyes to the Gregson brothers infront of them, muttering to each other by the baked beans, before looking back at Kris, raising an eyebrow at Kris' own clothes, a long sleeved plaid button up over a white t-shirt.
"Hey," Kris brought up a finger to wave, "Don't knock it 'til you try it, pal. Besides," he stopped to grab some soup cans (clam chowder and cream of mushroom. Anything else, and Nana would think he didn't like her's). "It's not just a fashion statement."
"No?"
"Nope. It's a way of life. So you might wanna think about that if you're planning on sticking around long."
"I'll keep it in mind." Adam smiled. "I'm from LA, actually, so I guess I'm still going through culture shock."
Kris laughed at that. Arkansas must seem like a world away. "Seriously, LA?" Kris stopped the cart, shaking his head." Sorry, but I've gotta ask: how'd you end up here?"
"Well, I took this left turn at Albuquerque..." Adam stopped while Kris laughed. "No, seriously, LA was getting a little..." He shook his hand, trying to think of a word, "Closed in? I just needed to get out, stretch my legs and breathe a bit, you know?"
"Yeah, I know the feeling." He'd been having it himself, actually. But he guessed spending the next month or so at his grandmother's backwood cottage was the next best thing.
They had reached the end of the aisle and Kris stopped, mentally bracing himself for the next task at hand. Adam stopped, looking concerned before peeking his head around the corner. His eyebrows lifted before looking back at Kris, "Seriously? A cutie like you never had to pick some up for your girlfriend before?"
Kris blushed again. "Girlfriend, no, I haven't had to in awhile. And never for my grandmother, which, frankly, is not a picture I ever wanted in my head, so thank you, Adam, for reminding me who these were for." Adam's eye's widened dramatically before he burst out laughing. Kris shook his head, rolling his eyes and smiling anyway. "Yeah, laugh it up, man. Laugh. It. Up."
Adam straightened up, wiping at his eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, but that is really-" He started laughing again. Kris looked away, trying to stare at nothing down the aisle while Adam calmed down.
"Right, sorry." Adam breathed deeply a couple times, and then turned to face the shelves. "Jesus, I thought I had trouble with the lard." Kris turned as well, eyes widening because, whoa, he'd forgotten how many there were.
"So, um, what, uh. Kind should we get?" Adam's hand went up to his hair, ruffling it and creating even more odd looking tufts.
"Um, I don't know, it just says tampons." Kris gestured helplessly at the list.
"So, um, what kind did your girlfriend get?" Adam look at Kris, with a twinge of panic in his eyes.
"Oh, uh." Kris stepped forward, looking at various boxes before grabbing one that sort of looked familar. He stepped back quickly and threw it in the cart. He started pushing the cart quickly, trying to get out, out, out, Jesus Christ.
Safely in the next aisle, they both were breathing heavily. "Oh my God, I have new respect for you straight boys." Adam said. Kris just looked at him. "Thanks, anything to try and redeem ourselves." Adam's eyes met his own and they both started laughing.
"Oh God, I can't believe you freaked out like that!" Kris said, the uproar now turned into a chuckle.
"Excuse me, being gay doesn't mean a free pass into the female pysche." Adam shot back. "That was kind of the point." Which of course started a whole new round of laughter. Again, passersby were giving out the "crazy" looks, but Kris didn't notice. He had other things to think about.
"So, anything else on that list you need moral support with?" Adam asked when the laughter stopped, finally. Kris shook his head.
"Nope, I've got everything. What about you?" He nodded at Adam's basket. "Any other essentials necesary to survive the wild Arkansas night?"
"No, I'm set for right now." Kris nodded at that, trying not to be too sad about it. This was the most fun he'd had in weeks.
"So, check out?" Adam said, which Kris nodded at. "Yeah, right up front." They walked to the register, quieter now that they both realized that they'd have to part company. "So, um, where does your grandma live?" Adam asked, shifting nervously before leaning back on the counter. Kris blinked.
"Oh, just a couple miles into the woods. Normally I'd walk but, what with the groceries and my suitcase and everything I'm driving my truck out." And, wow, he'd only known this guy for ten minutes. But Kris can't really help it. It feels like he's known Adam, been friends with him, for awhile now. Kris never really clicked with anyone this quickly before, not even Katy. It was... weird. "How 'bout you?"
"Oh, it's pretty close." He gave this hand gesture which was probably supposed to indicate a direction but was really just a wave. "It's within walking distance." Kris nodded, gathering up his bags as Adam's things were rung up.
"So you don't need a lift?" Kris asked, tryng to prolong this, whatever this was. Adam didn't cooperate, though, shaking his head quickly.
"No I'll be fine. It's only like, ten, fifteen minutes from here. And walking's why I came here anyway, right? The fresh air." Adam took a deep breath, to show how much it was appreciated.
"Right." They reached his teal and white 1988 Ford pick-up, and Kris went to put his bags in the passenger side door. He turned to face Adam, "So I guess I'll see you around?" Adam nodded.
"Oh, definately." His eyes wandered over Kris again, inspiring yet another blush (really, Kristopher? Come on!). When they reached Kris' eyes Adam's mouth twitched into a smirk. "Really soon, hopefully." He took a few steps back. "So I'll see you later, Kris."
Kris blinked and had to swallow hard. "Yeah, see ya." He walked around the front of the cab and climbed into the driver's side. He started the engine and looked up. Adam hadn't moved. Kris waved, a little perfunctally. He saw Adam smirk again and wave back, still watching.
"Okay, Kris, time to wake up." Kris turned to look over his shoulder as he backed the truck up, then started forward toward the street. He really tried not to notice how Adam turned to watch him leave. After all, the guy was from LA. Why would he watch Kris Allen?
____