The Newsboy - Part 3/3
Title: The Newsboy
Part 3: Extra, Extra, Read all About it
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Adam/Kris
Summary: Adam and Kris strike up a casual relationship on the streets of New York City but when one of them falls on hard times, the other comes to the rescue, refusing to take “no” for an answer.
Disclaimer: Pure fiction. I do not own anyone.
Warnings: angst
Part 2 - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/96436.html
Part 1 - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/96023.html
“Sir, can I interest you in an Empire State paper weight?”
“No thanks.”
“How about a Lady Liberty crown for your daughter?”
“No thank you.”
“Postcards … everyone loves postcards.”
“Sorry, if I want to see my city I just go for a walk.”
The pushy salesman shrugged and tried his spiel on another potential customer.
A cold blast of December whipped around the corner of the intersection and Kris drew his favorite winter coat tighter around himself. He hadn’t come from the tropics but it wasn’t this brisk either when he left yesterday. The weight of his backpack and the pressure of his guitar case resting on his sneakered foot kept him anchored against the blast. He’d last been here on this very spot over two years ago but standing here, on the street corner that changed everything for him, it felt like yesterday.
Kris had been delivering the news for two hours. He wasn’t crazy about the job but it was a job that paid and that’s what counted. The first fifty or so customers muttered their orders, handed over money with eyes down, and scurried off without so much as a thank you.
Then he arrived.
Kris actually saw him coming at the other end of the block; he was that ray of sunshine that nearly blinded him. His heart going 500 miles an hour, he somehow held it together so he wouldn’t come off like a complete idiot if the guy stopped and spoke to him.
‘Unusual usual’ … was that clever or stupid? And referencing the Dwarfs? Where the fuck did that come from?! And then that hippie telling them to stop flirting. Was that what they were doing? No … no, there was no way a guy that gorgeous would have been interested in him.
Well, time proved the hippie right but that was jumping ahead.
Another cold blast of air hit him and Kris slipped into the café on the corner and ordered a chi tea.
To say meeting Adam changed his life might be a cliché but it was the God’s honest truth. It took nearly a year for Kris to get over his fear and allow his feelings to change from friendship to love. Seeing the advertising exec was the highlight of each day; they even found excuses to meet after work and on weekends. When Kris was told Adam and Tony had split up, he did an entire Cirque du Soliel acrobatic routine in his head while offering his condolences.
So, if Adam had become such a great friend and Kris had such strong feeling for him, why had he acted like such a dick every time Adam tried to help him?
The answer was embarrassingly simple ….
Pride and fear.
Discovering at a college frat party that he liked boys more than girls was a shock and he was sober at the time so he couldn’t blame it on the booze. It terrified him to realize there was a part of himself he didn’t know at all. Growing up in a Christian home, it had always been understood that he’d marry a nice girl and raise babies. He still wanted to be a dad, one day, but there wasn’t going to be a pretty young female at this side. He couldn’t face his parents or his girlfriend so he just disappeared.
He’d kept his emotions - and hormones - in check until he met Adam. At first he didn’t know if Adam was even gay but by the time the truth came out, Kris was in deep; as much as that little voice in his head told him to keep his distance, he just couldn’t. Kris leaned back and reached down to caress the arm of his coat as it rested over the back of his chair. Thinking back, it was kinda stupid how much he’d protested his first ever gift from his love. Even though it was practical, it was kinda romantic too. I mean, it was true he’d been freezing in his thin-bare jacket and missing work cause he was sick wasn’t an option, but he didn’t want to accept something so expensive. He didn’t know how much it had cost - still doesn’t know til this day - but it kept him warm that winter and when he’d given it back to Adam for “storage” until the next snow, it had been a promise that Adam would still be in his life a year from then. One night, after they’d been together officially for a few months, winter returned and Adam brought out Kris’ coat. Bashfully, he admitted that after Kris had “disappeared” for a while, he’d slept with the coat for three days. Kris’ heart had nearly beaten out of his chest at how sweet that was. As he remembered how he’d expressed his thoughts that night, Kris felt his cheeks redden.
There was a big clock across the street and Kris realized he had to get going. He slipped on his coat and backpack, scooped up his guitar and headed back onto the street. Trying to find an empty taxi this time of year wasn’t easy so he started walking and would flag one down when he could. As he walked, he found himself passing Central Park. Despite the cold, he stopped and sat on a bench, watching kids make snowmen and families skate in the distance.
Many days had been spent in this park but right now, since Kris was reminiscing, the one time that popped to mind was when Adam asked Kris to move in with him. It was right after Doc shut down the newsstand and Kris was existing off the occasional gig and odd jobs. He wasn’t doing too good and the time and Adam had been concerned. It was an offer he’d be an idiot to turn down and he was an idiot. Here was the opportunity to stop worrying about rent and where his next meal was coming from and concentrate on his love of music. But again, his pride kicked in and he turned Adam down. Actually, Kris rudely ran off without an explanation. As if his life wasn’t screwed up enough, he’d hurt Adam’s feelings and later made a rash decision and quit his last remaining gig. It was so sudden that he couldn’t even recall now why he’d done that. Adam’s business card had been burning a hole in his wallet and he refused to call him, determined to be his own man.
And he was his own man, for about two months, and then he got the stupid idea to be anybody’s “man” for a price.
That had undoubtedly been the most reckless, stupidest, idiotic idea he’d ever had. Kris had seen enough TV and read plenty of news so he wasn’t ignorant about the danger he was putting himself in. Still, he was desperate to get rent money and save his belongings, especially his precious guitar … but to sell your body?!!!
And he’d never had sex with a man before either!!!!
He moved himself as far from Manhattan as he could and picked a corner that wasn’t crowded with hookers but had enough to tell him there’d be customers around. Kris was turned down by three guys and one lady before he got in that car. He had been asking for the full amount of his rent and got laughs in his face instead. When he realized he was asking way too much for what he could offer up, he settled for a quarter of his rent, even if it meant having sex with four strangers instead of one.
In that car, the john said nothing until they stopped at a red light. The guy groped his own crotch and said he was rock hard and better get his money’s worth. Kris almost jumped out of the car but it started moving and he lost his nerve. At the flea-bag motel, he followed the guy up the stairs and into a dump of a room. Being a novice, Kris thought there would be the standard making out stuff first - kissing, touching - but the guy poured himself a drink and told Kris to strip. Kris slowly undid his shirt. His hands were shaking so much he could barely grip the buttons. The guy downed his drink then accused Kris of taking his time so he could charge more. He ripped open Kris’ shirt, yanked down the pant zipper and stuffed his hand down the young man’s briefs, grabbing his bare cock.
That’s when all hell had broken loose. Out of nowhere, Kris struck out and decked the guy. Moments after that bastard hit the floor the door crashed open and someone else hit the floor. It was a blur really and he vaguely remembered being dragged down the stairs to the parking lot where all this anger and emotion poured out of him into the night. When he’d run out of swear words to spew at himself, he felt a gentle hand on his elbow leading him into another car and Adam’s calm voice stating: “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Hey!”
“Oh my God … I’m so, so sorry!!!”
Kris laughed and wiped the snow off his cheek.
“I’m okay … really. Just watch where you’re aiming next time,” he told the teen.
It was time to leave the past behind anyway, and concentrate on the here and now.
Eventually Kris flagged down a taxi and headed home. The journey through the grid of Manhattan and over the Brooklyn Bridge took some time. The young man used the time to reflect on how his life had changed.
After professing their love for each other, Kris stopped fighting the help Adam so desperately wanted to give him. That same day, just as Adam had “ordered”, they tracked down Kris’ landlord and the rent was paid. Adam once again invited him to move in - no strings attached, especially now - and this time Kris agreed only if he stayed in the guest room. This love thing was new to him and he wasn’t ready to move into Adam’s bed just yet. Adam agreed, promising no pressure.
Adam had been right. Kris quit is non-musical side jobs and concentrated on his craft. He picked up more gigs and Adam gave him heads-up on various calls when he heard about them. It was actually singing on a jingle that caught the attention of a talent scout. She came to see Kris perform and offered him a development deal. He was thrilled beyond relief and Adam was more thrilled if possible.
Spending countless hours working in studios and attending meetings was hard but nothing compared to finally facing his parents. He’d been booked to appear at a fundraiser in Nashville and Adam suggested it would be a good time for him to take a trip home to Arkansas and face his family. Kris was scared shitless until Adam said he’d come along. With Adam on his side, Kris was ready to deal with anything.
Thinking it best not to give his family a warning - he didn’t want a fuss, good or bad - he just showed up on the doorstep. Adam stayed at the hotel at Kris’ request. He had no idea how his parents would react and he didn’t want Adam caught in the line of fire. What happened shocked him to his core. Instead of anger, he was met with tears and hugs. In all the time he’d been gone, he’d only reached out once with a nondescript card and no return address just to let them know he was alive. His folks brought him to the kitchen, the heart of their home, and they spent hours catching up. Eventually he had to tell them about the turn his life had taken, after all that was why he came back. They were shocked and he expected to be tossed out on his ass but he should have trusted the love he was raised with. Momma and daddy didn’t quite understand but they wanted him back in their lives and they loved him, no matter what. When he got around to mentioning Adam, his mom insisted on meeting him. As soon as Kris told them his boyfriend was in town with him, she insisted her son go get him and bring him back for dinner. It didn’t long for the Allen’s to fall in love with Adam too. That night, when he got back to the hotel, he wept in his love’s arms.
With that weight off his shoulders, Kris poured his energies into his music career. It took a couple of years of hard work but his debut album was going to be released early next year. He’d been in Nashville for a month and was happy to be home. Before coming back to NYC, he stopped to see his family again. He was actually a little jealous his mom was more interested in what Adam was doing than him. Kris laughed it off though, thrilled his parents had accepted Adam so warmly.
He’d been on quite a journey, figuratively and literally, and he couldn’t wait to take a break with his man.
The street was quiet as Kris got out of the taxi. He looked up and down the row of brownstones decorated simply and elegantly with lights, wreaths and garlands. Hanging on the door to his home was a wreath and an inviting glow shone behind the thin curtains in the bay window. Drawing on his last bits of energy, he climbed the stairs and dug his key out of his pocket. He hung up his coat and kicked off his shoes in the vestibule and headed inside.
A warm fire was crackling in the fireplace and the aroma of hot coffee permeated the air. Soft humming came from the back of the first floor so setting his things down, he padded over the wooden floors to find Adam working at the desk in his home office.
“Hey.”
Adam slowly turned and the smile he gave Kris warmed the young man’s heart more than a thousand bonfires.
“I thought you’d be in at your office downtown.”
“I knew you were coming home so I decided to work from here.”
“How could you know? I’m a day early.”
“Your momma called. You left your pajamas behind. She sending them by FedEx.”
Kris stepped further into the office and flashed a crooked grin, “She needn’t of bothered; it’s not like I wear them at home anyhome.”
“Speaking of which,” Adam got up and drew Kris into an all-encompassing hug, “welcome home baby.”
The two kissed tenderly. Being home was great but being in his lover’s arms was perfect. When they finally let go, Kris headed upstairs to shower and change while Adam fixed them a bite to eat. They stretched out in front of the fire and talked about what had gone on in their lives while apart. Adam was getting close to a junior partnership and Kris was in the midst of setting up a promo tour for his debut CD.
That night the two men made love slowly, relishing their time back in the same bed. Sometime in the middle of night, Kris awoke and found himself under a warm body blanket. He found it hard to believe he’d ever existed without Adam at his side. The newsboy thought he knew love growing up but the love he shared with this man was beyond anything he’d ever known. In the faint glow of the clock radio beside their bed, he held out his hand and watched the faint shimmer of gold adorning his ring finger.
Part 3: Extra, Extra, Read all About it
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Adam/Kris
Summary: Adam and Kris strike up a casual relationship on the streets of New York City but when one of them falls on hard times, the other comes to the rescue, refusing to take “no” for an answer.
Disclaimer: Pure fiction. I do not own anyone.
Warnings: angst
Part 2 - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/96436.html
Part 1 - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/96023.html
“Sir, can I interest you in an Empire State paper weight?”
“No thanks.”
“How about a Lady Liberty crown for your daughter?”
“No thank you.”
“Postcards … everyone loves postcards.”
“Sorry, if I want to see my city I just go for a walk.”
The pushy salesman shrugged and tried his spiel on another potential customer.
A cold blast of December whipped around the corner of the intersection and Kris drew his favorite winter coat tighter around himself. He hadn’t come from the tropics but it wasn’t this brisk either when he left yesterday. The weight of his backpack and the pressure of his guitar case resting on his sneakered foot kept him anchored against the blast. He’d last been here on this very spot over two years ago but standing here, on the street corner that changed everything for him, it felt like yesterday.
Kris had been delivering the news for two hours. He wasn’t crazy about the job but it was a job that paid and that’s what counted. The first fifty or so customers muttered their orders, handed over money with eyes down, and scurried off without so much as a thank you.
Then he arrived.
Kris actually saw him coming at the other end of the block; he was that ray of sunshine that nearly blinded him. His heart going 500 miles an hour, he somehow held it together so he wouldn’t come off like a complete idiot if the guy stopped and spoke to him.
‘Unusual usual’ … was that clever or stupid? And referencing the Dwarfs? Where the fuck did that come from?! And then that hippie telling them to stop flirting. Was that what they were doing? No … no, there was no way a guy that gorgeous would have been interested in him.
Well, time proved the hippie right but that was jumping ahead.
Another cold blast of air hit him and Kris slipped into the café on the corner and ordered a chi tea.
To say meeting Adam changed his life might be a cliché but it was the God’s honest truth. It took nearly a year for Kris to get over his fear and allow his feelings to change from friendship to love. Seeing the advertising exec was the highlight of each day; they even found excuses to meet after work and on weekends. When Kris was told Adam and Tony had split up, he did an entire Cirque du Soliel acrobatic routine in his head while offering his condolences.
So, if Adam had become such a great friend and Kris had such strong feeling for him, why had he acted like such a dick every time Adam tried to help him?
The answer was embarrassingly simple ….
Pride and fear.
Discovering at a college frat party that he liked boys more than girls was a shock and he was sober at the time so he couldn’t blame it on the booze. It terrified him to realize there was a part of himself he didn’t know at all. Growing up in a Christian home, it had always been understood that he’d marry a nice girl and raise babies. He still wanted to be a dad, one day, but there wasn’t going to be a pretty young female at this side. He couldn’t face his parents or his girlfriend so he just disappeared.
He’d kept his emotions - and hormones - in check until he met Adam. At first he didn’t know if Adam was even gay but by the time the truth came out, Kris was in deep; as much as that little voice in his head told him to keep his distance, he just couldn’t. Kris leaned back and reached down to caress the arm of his coat as it rested over the back of his chair. Thinking back, it was kinda stupid how much he’d protested his first ever gift from his love. Even though it was practical, it was kinda romantic too. I mean, it was true he’d been freezing in his thin-bare jacket and missing work cause he was sick wasn’t an option, but he didn’t want to accept something so expensive. He didn’t know how much it had cost - still doesn’t know til this day - but it kept him warm that winter and when he’d given it back to Adam for “storage” until the next snow, it had been a promise that Adam would still be in his life a year from then. One night, after they’d been together officially for a few months, winter returned and Adam brought out Kris’ coat. Bashfully, he admitted that after Kris had “disappeared” for a while, he’d slept with the coat for three days. Kris’ heart had nearly beaten out of his chest at how sweet that was. As he remembered how he’d expressed his thoughts that night, Kris felt his cheeks redden.
There was a big clock across the street and Kris realized he had to get going. He slipped on his coat and backpack, scooped up his guitar and headed back onto the street. Trying to find an empty taxi this time of year wasn’t easy so he started walking and would flag one down when he could. As he walked, he found himself passing Central Park. Despite the cold, he stopped and sat on a bench, watching kids make snowmen and families skate in the distance.
Many days had been spent in this park but right now, since Kris was reminiscing, the one time that popped to mind was when Adam asked Kris to move in with him. It was right after Doc shut down the newsstand and Kris was existing off the occasional gig and odd jobs. He wasn’t doing too good and the time and Adam had been concerned. It was an offer he’d be an idiot to turn down and he was an idiot. Here was the opportunity to stop worrying about rent and where his next meal was coming from and concentrate on his love of music. But again, his pride kicked in and he turned Adam down. Actually, Kris rudely ran off without an explanation. As if his life wasn’t screwed up enough, he’d hurt Adam’s feelings and later made a rash decision and quit his last remaining gig. It was so sudden that he couldn’t even recall now why he’d done that. Adam’s business card had been burning a hole in his wallet and he refused to call him, determined to be his own man.
And he was his own man, for about two months, and then he got the stupid idea to be anybody’s “man” for a price.
That had undoubtedly been the most reckless, stupidest, idiotic idea he’d ever had. Kris had seen enough TV and read plenty of news so he wasn’t ignorant about the danger he was putting himself in. Still, he was desperate to get rent money and save his belongings, especially his precious guitar … but to sell your body?!!!
And he’d never had sex with a man before either!!!!
He moved himself as far from Manhattan as he could and picked a corner that wasn’t crowded with hookers but had enough to tell him there’d be customers around. Kris was turned down by three guys and one lady before he got in that car. He had been asking for the full amount of his rent and got laughs in his face instead. When he realized he was asking way too much for what he could offer up, he settled for a quarter of his rent, even if it meant having sex with four strangers instead of one.
In that car, the john said nothing until they stopped at a red light. The guy groped his own crotch and said he was rock hard and better get his money’s worth. Kris almost jumped out of the car but it started moving and he lost his nerve. At the flea-bag motel, he followed the guy up the stairs and into a dump of a room. Being a novice, Kris thought there would be the standard making out stuff first - kissing, touching - but the guy poured himself a drink and told Kris to strip. Kris slowly undid his shirt. His hands were shaking so much he could barely grip the buttons. The guy downed his drink then accused Kris of taking his time so he could charge more. He ripped open Kris’ shirt, yanked down the pant zipper and stuffed his hand down the young man’s briefs, grabbing his bare cock.
That’s when all hell had broken loose. Out of nowhere, Kris struck out and decked the guy. Moments after that bastard hit the floor the door crashed open and someone else hit the floor. It was a blur really and he vaguely remembered being dragged down the stairs to the parking lot where all this anger and emotion poured out of him into the night. When he’d run out of swear words to spew at himself, he felt a gentle hand on his elbow leading him into another car and Adam’s calm voice stating: “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Hey!”
“Oh my God … I’m so, so sorry!!!”
Kris laughed and wiped the snow off his cheek.
“I’m okay … really. Just watch where you’re aiming next time,” he told the teen.
It was time to leave the past behind anyway, and concentrate on the here and now.
Eventually Kris flagged down a taxi and headed home. The journey through the grid of Manhattan and over the Brooklyn Bridge took some time. The young man used the time to reflect on how his life had changed.
After professing their love for each other, Kris stopped fighting the help Adam so desperately wanted to give him. That same day, just as Adam had “ordered”, they tracked down Kris’ landlord and the rent was paid. Adam once again invited him to move in - no strings attached, especially now - and this time Kris agreed only if he stayed in the guest room. This love thing was new to him and he wasn’t ready to move into Adam’s bed just yet. Adam agreed, promising no pressure.
Adam had been right. Kris quit is non-musical side jobs and concentrated on his craft. He picked up more gigs and Adam gave him heads-up on various calls when he heard about them. It was actually singing on a jingle that caught the attention of a talent scout. She came to see Kris perform and offered him a development deal. He was thrilled beyond relief and Adam was more thrilled if possible.
Spending countless hours working in studios and attending meetings was hard but nothing compared to finally facing his parents. He’d been booked to appear at a fundraiser in Nashville and Adam suggested it would be a good time for him to take a trip home to Arkansas and face his family. Kris was scared shitless until Adam said he’d come along. With Adam on his side, Kris was ready to deal with anything.
Thinking it best not to give his family a warning - he didn’t want a fuss, good or bad - he just showed up on the doorstep. Adam stayed at the hotel at Kris’ request. He had no idea how his parents would react and he didn’t want Adam caught in the line of fire. What happened shocked him to his core. Instead of anger, he was met with tears and hugs. In all the time he’d been gone, he’d only reached out once with a nondescript card and no return address just to let them know he was alive. His folks brought him to the kitchen, the heart of their home, and they spent hours catching up. Eventually he had to tell them about the turn his life had taken, after all that was why he came back. They were shocked and he expected to be tossed out on his ass but he should have trusted the love he was raised with. Momma and daddy didn’t quite understand but they wanted him back in their lives and they loved him, no matter what. When he got around to mentioning Adam, his mom insisted on meeting him. As soon as Kris told them his boyfriend was in town with him, she insisted her son go get him and bring him back for dinner. It didn’t long for the Allen’s to fall in love with Adam too. That night, when he got back to the hotel, he wept in his love’s arms.
With that weight off his shoulders, Kris poured his energies into his music career. It took a couple of years of hard work but his debut album was going to be released early next year. He’d been in Nashville for a month and was happy to be home. Before coming back to NYC, he stopped to see his family again. He was actually a little jealous his mom was more interested in what Adam was doing than him. Kris laughed it off though, thrilled his parents had accepted Adam so warmly.
He’d been on quite a journey, figuratively and literally, and he couldn’t wait to take a break with his man.
The street was quiet as Kris got out of the taxi. He looked up and down the row of brownstones decorated simply and elegantly with lights, wreaths and garlands. Hanging on the door to his home was a wreath and an inviting glow shone behind the thin curtains in the bay window. Drawing on his last bits of energy, he climbed the stairs and dug his key out of his pocket. He hung up his coat and kicked off his shoes in the vestibule and headed inside.
A warm fire was crackling in the fireplace and the aroma of hot coffee permeated the air. Soft humming came from the back of the first floor so setting his things down, he padded over the wooden floors to find Adam working at the desk in his home office.
“Hey.”
Adam slowly turned and the smile he gave Kris warmed the young man’s heart more than a thousand bonfires.
“I thought you’d be in at your office downtown.”
“I knew you were coming home so I decided to work from here.”
“How could you know? I’m a day early.”
“Your momma called. You left your pajamas behind. She sending them by FedEx.”
Kris stepped further into the office and flashed a crooked grin, “She needn’t of bothered; it’s not like I wear them at home anyhome.”
“Speaking of which,” Adam got up and drew Kris into an all-encompassing hug, “welcome home baby.”
The two kissed tenderly. Being home was great but being in his lover’s arms was perfect. When they finally let go, Kris headed upstairs to shower and change while Adam fixed them a bite to eat. They stretched out in front of the fire and talked about what had gone on in their lives while apart. Adam was getting close to a junior partnership and Kris was in the midst of setting up a promo tour for his debut CD.
That night the two men made love slowly, relishing their time back in the same bed. Sometime in the middle of night, Kris awoke and found himself under a warm body blanket. He found it hard to believe he’d ever existed without Adam at his side. The newsboy thought he knew love growing up but the love he shared with this man was beyond anything he’d ever known. In the faint glow of the clock radio beside their bed, he held out his hand and watched the faint shimmer of gold adorning his ring finger.