Fic: Colors of a Bruise [Cookleta, r, one-shot]
Title: Colors of a Bruise
Author: Zach //tinkertoo
Pairings: David Archuleta/OMC, David Cook/David Archuleta
Rating: R
Summary: David's boyfriend is a sweetheart...in public. When they're alone, David fears for his life. When he and Cook meet up again in Manilla, will things get better for him or will they only get worse?
Warnings: abuse and a shitload of angst
Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this is the words and the character James. This never happened, and I hope it doesn't because...poor Archie! Title & cut text come from the song Colors of a Bruise by Axium.
A/N: I'm cruel? Yeah, I know. This idea came to me randomly while listening to that song and I couldn't stop myself from writing it. I promise I'll (try to) come out with some fluff or non-kinky smut soon to make up for it.
David was shaking as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the large hotel building. He would know, David was sure of it. He always knew everything; he would notice in a second that something wasn’t right.
Despite the heat, he pulled the sleeves of his jacket down until his hands were completely covered and then pushed open the hotel doors.
Cook was waiting for him in the lobby. The instant that David walked inside, he saw the older man stand from his chair and come bounding toward him. He was pulled into a huge bear hug, the kind where you can barely breathe. He winced a bit when Cook’s hands touched particularly sore spots on his body, but tried to hide it as he wrapped his own arms around him.
“I missed you,” Cook whispered into his hair.
“I missed you too,” he replied when Cook finally released him and he could breathe again. “How’s the tour been going?” He tried to keep the nerves out of his voice; he could see Cook’s eyes looking him over. He absentmindedly tugged his sleeves even lower.
“It’s been good...” David could tell by his voice that he was distracted, mind probably far from thinking about his solo tour. “Is everything okay Archie? You seem...different.”
David forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah...yeah everything’s perfect!” He tried to make his voice sound happy, like things truly were going great for him, but something sounded off even to his own ears. “I guess I’m just tired. Touring has been taking a lot out of me.” He forced another smile and prayed Cook believed him.
Cook raised an eyebrow and, yeah, he didn’t believe him, David could tell. But he didn’t press the subject further because obviously it wasn’t something David wanted to discuss. “If you’re sure...”
Another cover up comment was on the tip of his tongue, but it never made it from his mouth as he felt arms snake around his waist. He tensed, though or maybe because he knew who it was.
“Hey baby. I thought I’d lost you.” There was a kiss to his cheek and he could feel the lips smiling as they pulled away from his skin. “You didn’t get back here before me on purpose to spend time alone with him, did you?” The statement should’ve sounded completely innocent, spoken in a playful tone. But David tensed more, sensing an underlying meaning, underlying jealousy. He let out a shaky laugh.
“Of course not.” No, his voice wasn’t trembling, not a bit. Really. “The driver just wanted to get here as quick as he could. Trying to avoid those fans trying to follow me from the airport. I’m sorry.” Head pointed directly at the ground, he hoped he didn’t read more into it than that, because that honestly was all that was going on.
He heard a laugh. “I know. Just messing with you.” Another kiss to his cheek and the hands left his waist as their owner stepped forward, one hand outstretched toward Cook. “It seems David has no manners in introducing anyone,” he spoke, in a completely calm and seemingly joking tone. “You’d think he’d want one of his best friends to meet his boyfriend. I’m James.”
Cook took his hand, a bit skeptically, of course. “David. Call me Cook though, it’s much less confusing with both of us around.”
David could sense both his boyfriend’s reaction to Cook and Cook’s reaction to James. Cook was untrusting, obviously just being polite because of David’s presence. And James was also untrusting, and he could tell already that he disliked Cook. David noted the way he positioned himself between them, almost completely blocking him off from Cook. Yet he spoke with kindness, no sense of malice in his voice at all. “It’s very nice to meet you Mr. Cook. David talked about you all the time.” The way he said “talked,” as in past tense, didn’t go unnoticed by David. But it was true, he never even mentioned Cook anymore until the concert came up; he had learned not to.
Cook smiled, feigning politeness. “Yeah, we were really close after the show.” He tried to get a good look at David again, but James still blocked him. Always so possessive. After a minute he heard Cook sigh. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you two alone. I should get some rest.” He tried one last attempt to get to David, but with no luck. Another defeated sigh fell from his lips and he turned to leave. “I’ll guess I’ll see you later Archie.”
When the elevator doors closed and he was out of sight, James turned to David. “I don’t like him.” It was a simple statement, but it hurt David a lot more than he’d like to admit. He knew the reason though, and he hated it. He and Cook were just friends, no matter what David may’ve felt for him in the past.
“Come on,” James tugged on him arm, leading him toward the elevator, “let’s get settled in. You need your rest too.”
------------
Who would’ve thought just seeing him would bring back so many feelings and thoughts that he’d tried to repress, tried to ignore? He hadn’t thought anything would come of this trip other than an amazing concert. He couldn’t have predicted what he would feel.
”Nnnhhh... Cook...” Cook was over him, kissing him and touching him everywhere and he was in heaven. “Cookie...more...please...”
A sharp kick to his side and he opened his eyes to find himself not on the bed with Cook like in his dream, but instead on the floor with a horrible pain in his side and, he also realized, on the side of his head. He felt a warm liquid dripping down his cheek and didn’t even have to feel to know that it was blood. He groped for some sort of leverage to pull himself up: the dresser, the bed, anything. His hands found the frame of the bed, but just as he was pulling himself from the ground, he was roughly pushed back down. Moments later, he felt a hand in his hair, jerking his head up, surely ripping strands of black out in the process.
“You said you were over him,” James growled into his ear. “Lying little slut...” He felt another kick, this time to his back, and he was on the ground again crying out in agony. He bit his lip, trying to stifle his cries.
He heard James kneel beside him again and instinctively flinched away. His hands went around David’s arm, touch gentle, such a contrast from only moments before. “David come on, get up. Your show’s tomorrow, you need sleep.” Reluctantly, he let James help him to his feet and then to sit on the bed. He tried to turn away again as James leaned closer, fingers grazing over the wound on his temple. “Aww, you’re still bleeding.” His fingers grazed over the wound again and David would swear he was doing it deliberately just to hurt him more. “I’ll get something to clean you up.” He placed a kiss to David’s forehead before standing and walking to the bathroom.
David curled up on the bed once he was out of sight, cuddling the pillow close to his chest as he just let the tears fall.
What did he ever do to deserve this?
------------
It wasn’t much of a surprise to David when he awoke the next morning and could barely move. His back was killing him, he could still feel the exact place that James’s foot had met his body, and he swore some ribs were either cracked or broken as it hurt to breath in too deep. He groaned, rolled over, and buried his face into the pillow again, fighting off a second round of tears.
“David, wake up,” James’s voice cooed from beside him, almost as if he was taunting him. “Big concert today, you need to get ready.” James moved closer, arms going around him. A small whining sound left his throat when hands touched bruises.
“I’m sorry baby,” James whispered into his ear, rubbing the bruises but that only made it worse and he felt a strong urge to pull away from him but he knew that would only end in more bruises. “If you just acted a bit better, I wouldn’t have to lose my temper like that. You know I hate hurting you.”
David didn’t believe him, but nodded in response. “Yeah, I know,” he said through fresh tears that he just couldn’t hold back.
“Aw, come on, none of that today. Be happy today, go out there and blow that crowd away.” He felt James shift even closer and brush his lips against his neck. “Knock ‘em dead.”
-------------
Hours later, after much make-up (the cut on his temple was still so visible, and he just knew that everyone out there in the crowd and all the crew would know how horrible he was for such a thing to have to happen to him), he found himself walking up the steps at the stadium to prepare for the concert. He dreaded when it ended - James was pissed as hell that he wasn’t allowed backstage with him. He was actually relieved though, at least he didn’t have to worry about him and his stupid jealousy while performing. But after...well, he didn’t want to think about it. Not when he needed to focus on the show.
“Hey Archie.” Cook’s voice wasn’t as open, as friendly as usual. More like a formal greeting used with business associates. David’s heart dropped even more. Now Cook was just speaking to him as someone he was working with, not as a friend? Still, he forced a smile and turned to see Cook smiling back at him. Which quickly faded as Cook looked him over again, eyes resting on the side of his head. “What happened?” His voice this time was laced with concern that David knew he didn’t deserve.
“Nothing,” he replied in a quiet tone, eyes again locked on the floor. “Just fell last night. Hit the dresser. No big deal.” He couldn’t meet Cook’s eyes. His song was true, eyes don’t lie, and he knew that if Cook even caught a glimpse of his then he would know for sure that he wasn’t being honest.
“Archie...” He stepped forward, and David took a step back.
“It’s nothing Cook, really. Just drop it.” Cook stepped forward again, and again David stepped back. He really didn’t need this right now, not right before he performed.
“I’m just worried about you David. You’re not acting like you at all, and that doesn’t look like the kind of wound you get from just ‘falling.’ Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Don’t worry about me,” David replied bitterly, still refusing to meet Cook’s eyes. “Don’t be worried or anything, I’m fine. Just clumsy is all.” Oh how he wished he could just tell Cook the truth, but he knew it would lead to no good. Cook would leave after this show and David would be left with James and...
“I’m fine,” he repeated again, blinking tears from his eyes. “Fine.” He knew he was trying to convince himself of that fact too, it was evident in his voice. Cook stepped toward him again, cautiously, and he just couldn’t find it in himself back away.
“David...” A cautious hand reached toward him. He didn’t fight him away as he was pulled against Cook’s chest, arms wrapping around him, touching his sides and his back, brand new bruises. That whining sound came from his throat again before he could stop it. Cook’s arms eased up a bit, but still held him close. “What’s he doing to you?”
He couldn’t even find it in him to speak. To let it known what he was letting happen. What he deserved. He just held onto Cook, afraid to let go and go back to reality where no one really cared about him.
But reality came back. The stage manager stepped back backstage, took in the sight of them, and then spoke. “Uhm...hate to break this up but, we’re ready to start. The crowd’s getting kind of anxious.”
------------
Sweat poured from his face, fake smile left his lips and eyelids blinked away the stinging water collected behind them. Not again, he told himself.
Arms wrapped around him, gentle yet they prevented him from leaving. “Don’t go back to him.” Cook, of course. He relaxed into the older man, but shook his head.
“I have to. He’s my boyfriend, I have to.” He tried to pull free from Cook’s grip, but either Cook was stronger than he looked, or David really didn’t want him to let go.
“No you don’t. Not if he’s hurting you. You can go back with me. End things with him for good, I’ll be right there if he tries anything.”
Perfect fairytale ending. Except the part when David ended up alone and Cook went back to chasing the princesses. Or where David went crawling back to the evil prince because he just couldn’t stand to be alone no matter what else happened to him.
“You can’t protect me forever. You won’t.” His voice was soft, breaking into an almost whisper that couldn’t have been heard by anyone. Anyone but Cook, of course.
“I can try,” was whispered into his ear. But he’d learned not to believe in fairy tales and fake promises. He’d learned not to believe it when someone said they’d give you the world, all that you ever wanted. When they said they’d protect you for good. They always failed. Cook was no different.
“You won’t,” he said again and finally pulled himself from Cook’s arms. His feet touched the ground outside and, before Cook could catch up to him, a different set of arms were around him.
“About time baby, what happ--- did he hurt you?” The sullen look on his face and those damned tears must’ve given him away.
“No,” he could barely find it in himself to talk, but he forced the word out.
“I swear I’ll kill him David. No one hurts you.” David wanted to laugh at the statement and respond with ’No one but you?’ but of course he kept his mouth shut.
“You’re right, no one hurts him.” Cook’s voice filled his ears in the same second that James were jerked away from him and hit the ground, cheek already swelling up from Cook’s punch.
David watched them without moving. James stood again, seeming ready to attack back until he realized how much bigger than him Cook was and that he wasn’t a match for the older man. Cook kept his eyes on James, in case he made another move, and also moved toward David. His arms went around his shoulders again while he kept his eyes locked ahead.
“You have problems,” this was obviously directed at James, so David just kept quiet. “You have the most perfect boy in the world, and look what you did to him! How could you even...” James looked ready to answer, but Cook stopped him. “No, you know what, I don’t want to know. Just know this, if you come near David again, I’ll personally kill you.”
------------
He was still pretty much in shock as Cook led him back into the hotel and to his room to pack. He sat on the edge of his bed, watching Cook as he sat beside him.
After a few minutes of not so awkward silence, he decided to chance speaking. See where things were now. “Why did you...I didn’t deserve that.”
Cook looked shocked by that, and proceeded to throw his arm over David’s shoulders and pull him close again.
“You didn’t deserve what he did to you. You deserve the absolute best. I know that’s not me but...”
“Wait, what?” He looked up at Cook like did he seriously just say that?
“I know I’m not the best guy in the world Archie. But I’d take care of you. I’d never hurt you. I know you deserve better than me even but...”
“I....” David didn’t really know what to say, but he had to cut Cook off there. He couldn’t listen to anymore, anymore of him putting himself down and putting him up on a pedestal. That wasn’t the way it should be at all.
“I love you Archie.” Wait, wait, did Cook really just say that. “I know it’s not much, I know there’s a ton of better guys out there ---“
“Cook.” He quieted, looking down at David. “I love you too. I’ve always loved you.”
Author: Zach //tinkertoo
Pairings: David Archuleta/OMC, David Cook/David Archuleta
Rating: R
Summary: David's boyfriend is a sweetheart...in public. When they're alone, David fears for his life. When he and Cook meet up again in Manilla, will things get better for him or will they only get worse?
Warnings: abuse and a shitload of angst
Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this is the words and the character James. This never happened, and I hope it doesn't because...poor Archie! Title & cut text come from the song Colors of a Bruise by Axium.
A/N: I'm cruel? Yeah, I know. This idea came to me randomly while listening to that song and I couldn't stop myself from writing it. I promise I'll (try to) come out with some fluff or non-kinky smut soon to make up for it.
David was shaking as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the large hotel building. He would know, David was sure of it. He always knew everything; he would notice in a second that something wasn’t right.
Despite the heat, he pulled the sleeves of his jacket down until his hands were completely covered and then pushed open the hotel doors.
Cook was waiting for him in the lobby. The instant that David walked inside, he saw the older man stand from his chair and come bounding toward him. He was pulled into a huge bear hug, the kind where you can barely breathe. He winced a bit when Cook’s hands touched particularly sore spots on his body, but tried to hide it as he wrapped his own arms around him.
“I missed you,” Cook whispered into his hair.
“I missed you too,” he replied when Cook finally released him and he could breathe again. “How’s the tour been going?” He tried to keep the nerves out of his voice; he could see Cook’s eyes looking him over. He absentmindedly tugged his sleeves even lower.
“It’s been good...” David could tell by his voice that he was distracted, mind probably far from thinking about his solo tour. “Is everything okay Archie? You seem...different.”
David forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah...yeah everything’s perfect!” He tried to make his voice sound happy, like things truly were going great for him, but something sounded off even to his own ears. “I guess I’m just tired. Touring has been taking a lot out of me.” He forced another smile and prayed Cook believed him.
Cook raised an eyebrow and, yeah, he didn’t believe him, David could tell. But he didn’t press the subject further because obviously it wasn’t something David wanted to discuss. “If you’re sure...”
Another cover up comment was on the tip of his tongue, but it never made it from his mouth as he felt arms snake around his waist. He tensed, though or maybe because he knew who it was.
“Hey baby. I thought I’d lost you.” There was a kiss to his cheek and he could feel the lips smiling as they pulled away from his skin. “You didn’t get back here before me on purpose to spend time alone with him, did you?” The statement should’ve sounded completely innocent, spoken in a playful tone. But David tensed more, sensing an underlying meaning, underlying jealousy. He let out a shaky laugh.
“Of course not.” No, his voice wasn’t trembling, not a bit. Really. “The driver just wanted to get here as quick as he could. Trying to avoid those fans trying to follow me from the airport. I’m sorry.” Head pointed directly at the ground, he hoped he didn’t read more into it than that, because that honestly was all that was going on.
He heard a laugh. “I know. Just messing with you.” Another kiss to his cheek and the hands left his waist as their owner stepped forward, one hand outstretched toward Cook. “It seems David has no manners in introducing anyone,” he spoke, in a completely calm and seemingly joking tone. “You’d think he’d want one of his best friends to meet his boyfriend. I’m James.”
Cook took his hand, a bit skeptically, of course. “David. Call me Cook though, it’s much less confusing with both of us around.”
David could sense both his boyfriend’s reaction to Cook and Cook’s reaction to James. Cook was untrusting, obviously just being polite because of David’s presence. And James was also untrusting, and he could tell already that he disliked Cook. David noted the way he positioned himself between them, almost completely blocking him off from Cook. Yet he spoke with kindness, no sense of malice in his voice at all. “It’s very nice to meet you Mr. Cook. David talked about you all the time.” The way he said “talked,” as in past tense, didn’t go unnoticed by David. But it was true, he never even mentioned Cook anymore until the concert came up; he had learned not to.
Cook smiled, feigning politeness. “Yeah, we were really close after the show.” He tried to get a good look at David again, but James still blocked him. Always so possessive. After a minute he heard Cook sigh. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you two alone. I should get some rest.” He tried one last attempt to get to David, but with no luck. Another defeated sigh fell from his lips and he turned to leave. “I’ll guess I’ll see you later Archie.”
When the elevator doors closed and he was out of sight, James turned to David. “I don’t like him.” It was a simple statement, but it hurt David a lot more than he’d like to admit. He knew the reason though, and he hated it. He and Cook were just friends, no matter what David may’ve felt for him in the past.
“Come on,” James tugged on him arm, leading him toward the elevator, “let’s get settled in. You need your rest too.”
------------
Who would’ve thought just seeing him would bring back so many feelings and thoughts that he’d tried to repress, tried to ignore? He hadn’t thought anything would come of this trip other than an amazing concert. He couldn’t have predicted what he would feel.
”Nnnhhh... Cook...” Cook was over him, kissing him and touching him everywhere and he was in heaven. “Cookie...more...please...”
A sharp kick to his side and he opened his eyes to find himself not on the bed with Cook like in his dream, but instead on the floor with a horrible pain in his side and, he also realized, on the side of his head. He felt a warm liquid dripping down his cheek and didn’t even have to feel to know that it was blood. He groped for some sort of leverage to pull himself up: the dresser, the bed, anything. His hands found the frame of the bed, but just as he was pulling himself from the ground, he was roughly pushed back down. Moments later, he felt a hand in his hair, jerking his head up, surely ripping strands of black out in the process.
“You said you were over him,” James growled into his ear. “Lying little slut...” He felt another kick, this time to his back, and he was on the ground again crying out in agony. He bit his lip, trying to stifle his cries.
He heard James kneel beside him again and instinctively flinched away. His hands went around David’s arm, touch gentle, such a contrast from only moments before. “David come on, get up. Your show’s tomorrow, you need sleep.” Reluctantly, he let James help him to his feet and then to sit on the bed. He tried to turn away again as James leaned closer, fingers grazing over the wound on his temple. “Aww, you’re still bleeding.” His fingers grazed over the wound again and David would swear he was doing it deliberately just to hurt him more. “I’ll get something to clean you up.” He placed a kiss to David’s forehead before standing and walking to the bathroom.
David curled up on the bed once he was out of sight, cuddling the pillow close to his chest as he just let the tears fall.
What did he ever do to deserve this?
------------
It wasn’t much of a surprise to David when he awoke the next morning and could barely move. His back was killing him, he could still feel the exact place that James’s foot had met his body, and he swore some ribs were either cracked or broken as it hurt to breath in too deep. He groaned, rolled over, and buried his face into the pillow again, fighting off a second round of tears.
“David, wake up,” James’s voice cooed from beside him, almost as if he was taunting him. “Big concert today, you need to get ready.” James moved closer, arms going around him. A small whining sound left his throat when hands touched bruises.
“I’m sorry baby,” James whispered into his ear, rubbing the bruises but that only made it worse and he felt a strong urge to pull away from him but he knew that would only end in more bruises. “If you just acted a bit better, I wouldn’t have to lose my temper like that. You know I hate hurting you.”
David didn’t believe him, but nodded in response. “Yeah, I know,” he said through fresh tears that he just couldn’t hold back.
“Aw, come on, none of that today. Be happy today, go out there and blow that crowd away.” He felt James shift even closer and brush his lips against his neck. “Knock ‘em dead.”
-------------
Hours later, after much make-up (the cut on his temple was still so visible, and he just knew that everyone out there in the crowd and all the crew would know how horrible he was for such a thing to have to happen to him), he found himself walking up the steps at the stadium to prepare for the concert. He dreaded when it ended - James was pissed as hell that he wasn’t allowed backstage with him. He was actually relieved though, at least he didn’t have to worry about him and his stupid jealousy while performing. But after...well, he didn’t want to think about it. Not when he needed to focus on the show.
“Hey Archie.” Cook’s voice wasn’t as open, as friendly as usual. More like a formal greeting used with business associates. David’s heart dropped even more. Now Cook was just speaking to him as someone he was working with, not as a friend? Still, he forced a smile and turned to see Cook smiling back at him. Which quickly faded as Cook looked him over again, eyes resting on the side of his head. “What happened?” His voice this time was laced with concern that David knew he didn’t deserve.
“Nothing,” he replied in a quiet tone, eyes again locked on the floor. “Just fell last night. Hit the dresser. No big deal.” He couldn’t meet Cook’s eyes. His song was true, eyes don’t lie, and he knew that if Cook even caught a glimpse of his then he would know for sure that he wasn’t being honest.
“Archie...” He stepped forward, and David took a step back.
“It’s nothing Cook, really. Just drop it.” Cook stepped forward again, and again David stepped back. He really didn’t need this right now, not right before he performed.
“I’m just worried about you David. You’re not acting like you at all, and that doesn’t look like the kind of wound you get from just ‘falling.’ Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Don’t worry about me,” David replied bitterly, still refusing to meet Cook’s eyes. “Don’t be worried or anything, I’m fine. Just clumsy is all.” Oh how he wished he could just tell Cook the truth, but he knew it would lead to no good. Cook would leave after this show and David would be left with James and...
“I’m fine,” he repeated again, blinking tears from his eyes. “Fine.” He knew he was trying to convince himself of that fact too, it was evident in his voice. Cook stepped toward him again, cautiously, and he just couldn’t find it in himself back away.
“David...” A cautious hand reached toward him. He didn’t fight him away as he was pulled against Cook’s chest, arms wrapping around him, touching his sides and his back, brand new bruises. That whining sound came from his throat again before he could stop it. Cook’s arms eased up a bit, but still held him close. “What’s he doing to you?”
He couldn’t even find it in him to speak. To let it known what he was letting happen. What he deserved. He just held onto Cook, afraid to let go and go back to reality where no one really cared about him.
But reality came back. The stage manager stepped back backstage, took in the sight of them, and then spoke. “Uhm...hate to break this up but, we’re ready to start. The crowd’s getting kind of anxious.”
------------
Sweat poured from his face, fake smile left his lips and eyelids blinked away the stinging water collected behind them. Not again, he told himself.
Arms wrapped around him, gentle yet they prevented him from leaving. “Don’t go back to him.” Cook, of course. He relaxed into the older man, but shook his head.
“I have to. He’s my boyfriend, I have to.” He tried to pull free from Cook’s grip, but either Cook was stronger than he looked, or David really didn’t want him to let go.
“No you don’t. Not if he’s hurting you. You can go back with me. End things with him for good, I’ll be right there if he tries anything.”
Perfect fairytale ending. Except the part when David ended up alone and Cook went back to chasing the princesses. Or where David went crawling back to the evil prince because he just couldn’t stand to be alone no matter what else happened to him.
“You can’t protect me forever. You won’t.” His voice was soft, breaking into an almost whisper that couldn’t have been heard by anyone. Anyone but Cook, of course.
“I can try,” was whispered into his ear. But he’d learned not to believe in fairy tales and fake promises. He’d learned not to believe it when someone said they’d give you the world, all that you ever wanted. When they said they’d protect you for good. They always failed. Cook was no different.
“You won’t,” he said again and finally pulled himself from Cook’s arms. His feet touched the ground outside and, before Cook could catch up to him, a different set of arms were around him.
“About time baby, what happ--- did he hurt you?” The sullen look on his face and those damned tears must’ve given him away.
“No,” he could barely find it in himself to talk, but he forced the word out.
“I swear I’ll kill him David. No one hurts you.” David wanted to laugh at the statement and respond with ’No one but you?’ but of course he kept his mouth shut.
“You’re right, no one hurts him.” Cook’s voice filled his ears in the same second that James were jerked away from him and hit the ground, cheek already swelling up from Cook’s punch.
David watched them without moving. James stood again, seeming ready to attack back until he realized how much bigger than him Cook was and that he wasn’t a match for the older man. Cook kept his eyes on James, in case he made another move, and also moved toward David. His arms went around his shoulders again while he kept his eyes locked ahead.
“You have problems,” this was obviously directed at James, so David just kept quiet. “You have the most perfect boy in the world, and look what you did to him! How could you even...” James looked ready to answer, but Cook stopped him. “No, you know what, I don’t want to know. Just know this, if you come near David again, I’ll personally kill you.”
------------
He was still pretty much in shock as Cook led him back into the hotel and to his room to pack. He sat on the edge of his bed, watching Cook as he sat beside him.
After a few minutes of not so awkward silence, he decided to chance speaking. See where things were now. “Why did you...I didn’t deserve that.”
Cook looked shocked by that, and proceeded to throw his arm over David’s shoulders and pull him close again.
“You didn’t deserve what he did to you. You deserve the absolute best. I know that’s not me but...”
“Wait, what?” He looked up at Cook like did he seriously just say that?
“I know I’m not the best guy in the world Archie. But I’d take care of you. I’d never hurt you. I know you deserve better than me even but...”
“I....” David didn’t really know what to say, but he had to cut Cook off there. He couldn’t listen to anymore, anymore of him putting himself down and putting him up on a pedestal. That wasn’t the way it should be at all.
“I love you Archie.” Wait, wait, did Cook really just say that. “I know it’s not much, I know there’s a ton of better guys out there ---“
“Cook.” He quieted, looking down at David. “I love you too. I’ve always loved you.”