Fic: On The Road (Neal/Archie)
Title: On The Road
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Neal/Archie
Summary: Neal tries to get used to dating while on tour.
Word Count: 1,700 words
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in this story.
The Anthemic's second tour was very different from the Declaration tour. They had a new album, a new bass player, and a hell of a lot less dates. But most importantly (to Neal anyway,) he had a boyfriend. He'd never toured before and had someone to call at night, someone to say they missed him, someone to remind him via voicemail to take an asprin when he woke up with a killer hangover. Neal guessed the most unexpected piece of the entire thing was that this person was David Archuleta.
They weren't out, but they weren't in the closet. It was this strange place, where their friends and family knew. Where if anybody asked, they agreed they wouldn't lie. The thing was, nobody had asked. Neither Neal nor Archie were the type for going out a lot, so it wasn't like people saw them around town on a daily basis. No one even questioned the month he spent in Utah, holed up in Archie's apartment, writing snippets of songs, melodies that couldn't seem to come to light in the harshness of L.A.
Neal didn't expect any of that to change when Archie decided to come out on the road with them for a couple of days. Everybody knew Cook and Archie were friends. And even if Neal and Archie were seen out at lunch together, just the two of them, he doubted anyone would catch on. It just seemed too fucking unlikely.
Sometimes Neal thinks that was what made him want Archie the most at first. He wasn't like anything Neal had ever wanted, had ever possessed. And Archie wasn't the kind of guy who should want Neal in return. Neal knew Archie deserved better than him; he knew it would probably end with one of them (probably Neal) fucking up and driving the other away. But one look at Archie's smile, at the way his eyelashes fluttered against his perfect skin, at the way he stumbled over his words whenever he caught Neal looking at him too long, and Neal just couldn't resist. He never did say he wasn't a selfish bastard.
Neal met Archie and his mom outside the venue, hands shoved in his pockets, a vest and tie on despite the September heat. Lupe kissed his cheek, hugged him, the way she always did with Cook or with Benton or with anyone else important to Archie. For a first meeting after finding out he was fucking her son, Neal thought it went pretty okay. She stayed for the show, and every time Neal looked up, he knew he would find at least two pairs of eyes always watching.
The first night on the bus, was awkward at first, the other guys not sure how much they could curse or act like themselves with Neal's boyfriend in a confined space. Even Cook was walking on eggshells until Neal had pulled Archie against his side, hand on his neck and told Kyle to change the fucking channel to something they all could watch. After that, it was okay. Neal and Archie crammed themselves into his bunk that night even though Neal almost always stayed up late. He ran his hands through Archie's hair until he fell asleep, and spent the rest of the night composing a song in his head. He knew they would both be there in the morning.
The real test came the next day. Neal had to accompany Cook to some radio gigs, leaving Archie alone with the guys. The fifth time Neal texted him, asking if he was okay or bored, or what the fuck ever, Andy had texted him back with a picture of Archie and Kyle, Archie with a game controller in one hand, and his phone in the other. It was complete with the caption "I'm blaming you if Kyle wins."
When they returned back to the bus, Neal's eyes had fallen first onto Archie, relaxing on the couch beside Andy. Neal didn't quite know what to do with the way Archie's face lit up when he saw him, as if he had been gone for weeks and not just hours. He plopped down beside, their thighs and arms touching. "So, did you win?"
Archie shook his head, but was still smiling. "No, but there's always next time, right?"
Neal kissed him, not quite as quick and chaste as he had planned, only pulling back when Andy made a groaning sound. "Fuck yeah there is," Neal said, one middle finger raised, and the other cradling Archie's cheek. Andy would just have to fucking get used to it.
It was ridiculous how quickly the time passed. They spent one day off locked in their hotel room, cellphones shoved deep away, and their attention only on each other. Another day, exploring a city Archie had somehow missed in all his travels. Until finally, it was the last day, the last show. Neal played hard that night, forgetting about the audience, and everything else that usually consumed him at a show. That night was all about Archie. He made sure to keep him in his line of sight the entire time, made sure the set list had all of his favorite songs, but most of all, he made sure Archie knew it was for him. Back to the audience, eyes on Archie, he let his fingers cascade from fret to fret, the music saying much more than he ever could with words. After today it would be at least two months until he saw Archie again. He needed him to somehow know, through this, through anything but words what that meant.
After the show, Archie went to the bus ahead of the band, while they showered and changed. Neal had skipped meeting fans for three shows in a row, and even though all he wanted was to be back on that bus with Archie savoring every moment they had, one look from Andy and he knew he was fucked if he did. These days, they never let Cook go out to sign alone, and with Kyle and Andy catching colds and wanting extra long showers, and Matt still being new, Neal knew it fell on him that night.
It was their usual crowd, a lot of familiar faces. Neal braced himself before throwing himself into the well organized mayhem, accepting gifts, and taking pictures. And yeah, he wanted to be with Archie, but there was something to be said for playing your heart out and being rewarded with praise and thanks. In the end, Neal was a narcissist like every other rock star out there; no apologies needed.
"You were great tonight Neal! So much better than the last four shows!"
"Thanks sweetheart!" Neal grinned at her, moving closer to take a picture, her arm falling around his waist, and her head tilted onto his shoulder.
A second later and Cook was by his side, saying dude over and over like a mantra. "What the fuck are you rambling about now?" Neal exclaimed. He'd had too much beers to deal with Cook's drunken yammering in front of fans. Then he saw it; Archie heading over, a stern look on his face.
"Neal, I need you on the bus." He looked so small next to the crowd of people, and he wasn't even wearing a coat.
Neal pulled away from the girl, handing his drink over to Cook, who nodded at him, mouthing, 'I'll be right beind you,' and instantly moved to Archie's side. "Sorry girls! Next time, okay? Thanks for coming out!"
Neither said a word to each other as they walked quickly back to the bus, Archie's hand a warm weight against Neal's back. The bus was quiet, so Neal knew the other were all still inside, waiting for the 2AM bus call.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing...I just, she seemed to be getting kind of...handsy."
Neal paused, giving Archie a blank look. "Handsy?" At first, he wanted to be pissed, because he kind of fucking was. He thought something had been wrong. But then he thought of Archie, hand tight against his waist leading him to the bus a couple of times, and he couldn't stop the smile from breaking out, small at first, enough that if he bit his lip he could hide it. It wasn't just that though. It was a sense of want, stronger than he had ever felt before. Archie wanted him, really wanted him. Enough to go out there in public and claim Neal as his.
Neal put one finger below Archie's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "I can't stop going out there you know. They're my fans."
Archie nodded. "I know."
Neal leaned down, kissed him, soft and light, and thank fucking God the other guys were still out there. Thank God the shades to the bus were drawn and it was just them. He didn't think he could do this any other way. "And you have your meet and greets," he added.
Archie looked confused for a second, shaking his head, his hands breaking away from Neal's waist, the way they always did when he had too many thoughts and had no words to express them with. "But my fans aren't, I mean...they don't-"
"Touch you? Want you?" Neal pulled Archie against him, face buried in his neck so the words vibrated against his skin when he spoke. "I think you're wrong about that." Neal ran a hand down Archie's spine, savored in the shiver he felt at the simple action.
"It's not like that. It's not like them. They look at you like." Archie paused, his bottom lip disappearing behind his teeth. "They look at you like they think they can have you."
Neal let Archie slip from his embrace, enough that he could really look at him, take in the weight of his words. "So, next time, let's prove to them they can't."
"We can do that," Archie said, his fingers curling around Neal's own.
It was a whole two months until he saw Archie again, until they would get that chance, but Neal was a man of his word.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Neal/Archie
Summary: Neal tries to get used to dating while on tour.
Word Count: 1,700 words
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in this story.
The Anthemic's second tour was very different from the Declaration tour. They had a new album, a new bass player, and a hell of a lot less dates. But most importantly (to Neal anyway,) he had a boyfriend. He'd never toured before and had someone to call at night, someone to say they missed him, someone to remind him via voicemail to take an asprin when he woke up with a killer hangover. Neal guessed the most unexpected piece of the entire thing was that this person was David Archuleta.
They weren't out, but they weren't in the closet. It was this strange place, where their friends and family knew. Where if anybody asked, they agreed they wouldn't lie. The thing was, nobody had asked. Neither Neal nor Archie were the type for going out a lot, so it wasn't like people saw them around town on a daily basis. No one even questioned the month he spent in Utah, holed up in Archie's apartment, writing snippets of songs, melodies that couldn't seem to come to light in the harshness of L.A.
Neal didn't expect any of that to change when Archie decided to come out on the road with them for a couple of days. Everybody knew Cook and Archie were friends. And even if Neal and Archie were seen out at lunch together, just the two of them, he doubted anyone would catch on. It just seemed too fucking unlikely.
Sometimes Neal thinks that was what made him want Archie the most at first. He wasn't like anything Neal had ever wanted, had ever possessed. And Archie wasn't the kind of guy who should want Neal in return. Neal knew Archie deserved better than him; he knew it would probably end with one of them (probably Neal) fucking up and driving the other away. But one look at Archie's smile, at the way his eyelashes fluttered against his perfect skin, at the way he stumbled over his words whenever he caught Neal looking at him too long, and Neal just couldn't resist. He never did say he wasn't a selfish bastard.
Neal met Archie and his mom outside the venue, hands shoved in his pockets, a vest and tie on despite the September heat. Lupe kissed his cheek, hugged him, the way she always did with Cook or with Benton or with anyone else important to Archie. For a first meeting after finding out he was fucking her son, Neal thought it went pretty okay. She stayed for the show, and every time Neal looked up, he knew he would find at least two pairs of eyes always watching.
The first night on the bus, was awkward at first, the other guys not sure how much they could curse or act like themselves with Neal's boyfriend in a confined space. Even Cook was walking on eggshells until Neal had pulled Archie against his side, hand on his neck and told Kyle to change the fucking channel to something they all could watch. After that, it was okay. Neal and Archie crammed themselves into his bunk that night even though Neal almost always stayed up late. He ran his hands through Archie's hair until he fell asleep, and spent the rest of the night composing a song in his head. He knew they would both be there in the morning.
The real test came the next day. Neal had to accompany Cook to some radio gigs, leaving Archie alone with the guys. The fifth time Neal texted him, asking if he was okay or bored, or what the fuck ever, Andy had texted him back with a picture of Archie and Kyle, Archie with a game controller in one hand, and his phone in the other. It was complete with the caption "I'm blaming you if Kyle wins."
When they returned back to the bus, Neal's eyes had fallen first onto Archie, relaxing on the couch beside Andy. Neal didn't quite know what to do with the way Archie's face lit up when he saw him, as if he had been gone for weeks and not just hours. He plopped down beside, their thighs and arms touching. "So, did you win?"
Archie shook his head, but was still smiling. "No, but there's always next time, right?"
Neal kissed him, not quite as quick and chaste as he had planned, only pulling back when Andy made a groaning sound. "Fuck yeah there is," Neal said, one middle finger raised, and the other cradling Archie's cheek. Andy would just have to fucking get used to it.
It was ridiculous how quickly the time passed. They spent one day off locked in their hotel room, cellphones shoved deep away, and their attention only on each other. Another day, exploring a city Archie had somehow missed in all his travels. Until finally, it was the last day, the last show. Neal played hard that night, forgetting about the audience, and everything else that usually consumed him at a show. That night was all about Archie. He made sure to keep him in his line of sight the entire time, made sure the set list had all of his favorite songs, but most of all, he made sure Archie knew it was for him. Back to the audience, eyes on Archie, he let his fingers cascade from fret to fret, the music saying much more than he ever could with words. After today it would be at least two months until he saw Archie again. He needed him to somehow know, through this, through anything but words what that meant.
After the show, Archie went to the bus ahead of the band, while they showered and changed. Neal had skipped meeting fans for three shows in a row, and even though all he wanted was to be back on that bus with Archie savoring every moment they had, one look from Andy and he knew he was fucked if he did. These days, they never let Cook go out to sign alone, and with Kyle and Andy catching colds and wanting extra long showers, and Matt still being new, Neal knew it fell on him that night.
It was their usual crowd, a lot of familiar faces. Neal braced himself before throwing himself into the well organized mayhem, accepting gifts, and taking pictures. And yeah, he wanted to be with Archie, but there was something to be said for playing your heart out and being rewarded with praise and thanks. In the end, Neal was a narcissist like every other rock star out there; no apologies needed.
"You were great tonight Neal! So much better than the last four shows!"
"Thanks sweetheart!" Neal grinned at her, moving closer to take a picture, her arm falling around his waist, and her head tilted onto his shoulder.
A second later and Cook was by his side, saying dude over and over like a mantra. "What the fuck are you rambling about now?" Neal exclaimed. He'd had too much beers to deal with Cook's drunken yammering in front of fans. Then he saw it; Archie heading over, a stern look on his face.
"Neal, I need you on the bus." He looked so small next to the crowd of people, and he wasn't even wearing a coat.
Neal pulled away from the girl, handing his drink over to Cook, who nodded at him, mouthing, 'I'll be right beind you,' and instantly moved to Archie's side. "Sorry girls! Next time, okay? Thanks for coming out!"
Neither said a word to each other as they walked quickly back to the bus, Archie's hand a warm weight against Neal's back. The bus was quiet, so Neal knew the other were all still inside, waiting for the 2AM bus call.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing...I just, she seemed to be getting kind of...handsy."
Neal paused, giving Archie a blank look. "Handsy?" At first, he wanted to be pissed, because he kind of fucking was. He thought something had been wrong. But then he thought of Archie, hand tight against his waist leading him to the bus a couple of times, and he couldn't stop the smile from breaking out, small at first, enough that if he bit his lip he could hide it. It wasn't just that though. It was a sense of want, stronger than he had ever felt before. Archie wanted him, really wanted him. Enough to go out there in public and claim Neal as his.
Neal put one finger below Archie's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "I can't stop going out there you know. They're my fans."
Archie nodded. "I know."
Neal leaned down, kissed him, soft and light, and thank fucking God the other guys were still out there. Thank God the shades to the bus were drawn and it was just them. He didn't think he could do this any other way. "And you have your meet and greets," he added.
Archie looked confused for a second, shaking his head, his hands breaking away from Neal's waist, the way they always did when he had too many thoughts and had no words to express them with. "But my fans aren't, I mean...they don't-"
"Touch you? Want you?" Neal pulled Archie against him, face buried in his neck so the words vibrated against his skin when he spoke. "I think you're wrong about that." Neal ran a hand down Archie's spine, savored in the shiver he felt at the simple action.
"It's not like that. It's not like them. They look at you like." Archie paused, his bottom lip disappearing behind his teeth. "They look at you like they think they can have you."
Neal let Archie slip from his embrace, enough that he could really look at him, take in the weight of his words. "So, next time, let's prove to them they can't."
"We can do that," Archie said, his fingers curling around Neal's own.
It was a whole two months until he saw Archie again, until they would get that chance, but Neal was a man of his word.