A Matter of Time Part 1
Pairing: echelonlove.livejournal.com/5781.htmlKradam
Rating: R (swearing, violence, and allusions to sexytimes)
Summary: Adam and Kris are in the same bar when they both flashback to a different time. They try to figure out what the flashbacks mean whilst having a budding relationship and many more flashbacks.
Author's Note: This story has been bouncing around my head for two years now!!! Thanks to the Kradam Big Bang for FINALLY providing the motivation for me to write it. I LOVE history, so this story was SO much fun to write. The time periods are heavily researched, so most of the facts here are straight from research. :)
Thanks: Thanks SO much to va_bites for creating such wonderful and beautiful art for me! I LOVE it!! :D Also thanks to the people who volunteered to be betas for me: escribej , love_mcgregor , lady_michaelis .You helped a lot. I'm still not real good at the showing and not telling thing though :P
A Matter of Time
Adam Lambert was going to be the next big thing. He had worked for years to get signed. He was in play after play. He recorded several of his own EPs. He had even been in The Citizen Vein, a rock band, with his close friend Monte. Adam was in the musical Wicked. He was just an understudy for Fiyero, but he had big dreams of getting the lead someday. One day when the man who played Fiyero was sick, Adam got to perform. Lucky for him, there was a talent scout in the audience. He was immediately signed and was currently in the process of recording his first album. It was something he had wanted to do since he was a little boy. Finally, he was realizing his dream!
That night, he was going out to celebrate with his best friends: Brad, Danielle, and Alisan. They usually frequented the clubs in West Hollywood, but Adam was known by almost everyone their already. Because of this, they decided to go to a small bar in a completely different part of LA. Adam just wanted a low key celebration with friends. It was a place called Heaven on Earth. It was only half full and the patrons were mostly businessmen who were grabbing a drink after work. No one would recognize them here.
Adam grabbed a beer and joined his group at a table in the back of the bar. There was a stage right next to them, but no one was performing at the moment. “So, how does it feel to be signed?” Dani asked.
“It feels amazing!” Adam replied, taking a sip of his drink. “Like nothing I could have ever imagined.”
Brad snuggled up close to him. “Even better than when you were with me?” he asked.
“Of course not, baby.” Brad had been Adam’s first love before their lives took separate paths. Adam didn’t think he would ever feel anything like he did when he was with Brad.
“To Adam!” Ali proposed a toast. “And for all he’s accomplished.” They drank. “And not to mention we have a famous friend now. We’re totally connected!” Everyone laughed and drank again.
They continued to joke around until the lights dimmed. There was a small commotion on stage as the singer set up his equipment. Adam couldn't see what the person looked like, but the looks on his friend's faces confirmed that it was someone hot. When he heard the man's voice, Adam recognized the tone. He didn’t know from where. He thought deeper and deeper until he blacked out and was taken to a time long ago.
Kris Allen was never going to be the next big thing. He was okay with that. He loved to share his music with others, but he didn't need a record contract to do it. He played in small bars on his nights off from working at a record store and in a small band with his friends. His life was music 24/7 and he couldn't be happier.
He didn't have very many friends, but the ones he did have were really close to him. Cale and Charles were old friends from Arkansas. They all moved to LA together three years ago to escape the small town life. Cale and Kris were currently recording an EP together. Kris did the singing and some guitar work, while Cale did the other instruments. Matt was his LA friend. He owned the bar Heaven on Earth and let Kris sing there when he wanted. He also played the piano on Kris and Cale’s EP. He had been a dueling piano player before buying the bar from a close friend. Charles was the little band’s manager. He did all the marketing work and got them gigs from time to time. They played music for fun; they didn’t even think about being signed, as they never expected it to happen anyway.
Tonight, he had gotten off early, his boss having agreed to close up for him. He headed straight for the bar to sing. Whenever he had a free night, it was spent singing. He didn't have very many other hobbies. Music was his entire life, and he couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else. When he came in, he asked Matt if there was an opening for him to sing before the night’s scheduled performer.
“Of course, man!” Matt agreed. “There’s always time for Kris Allen to play here. Everyone loves you.”
“Thanks Matt.” Kris hurried backstage to get ready for his performance. He grabbed his guitar from the back room and went to the stage to set up. When he began singing, the bar began to get really fuzzy. It was like there was something poking at the back of his mind that he couldn’t remember. He didn’t know why, but he needed to remember whatever it was. He thought and thought until the bar completely disappeared and became a scene from a time long past.
Adam was an all-powerful Pharaoh during the 12th Dynasty in Egypt. He ruled over his subjects with an iron fist. Disobedience was not tolerated, and people who defied him were thrown into the Nile for the crocodiles. His subjects were very scared of him, and that's the way he liked it.
Behind closed doors, however, his life was one giant party. Instead of the traditional animal skin skirt and the crown of the Pharaoh, he opted to wear a loose wool skirt. He still wore all of his gold jewelry set with precious stones. He drank and mingled freely with the Egyptian nobility. Every night, he had a different boy in his bed.
Kris, on the other hand, was at the bottom of the social hierarchy. He was a lowly servant in the Pharaoh's household, and his job was to clean up after Adam's lavish celebrations, which happened regularly. He rarely had any time to himself to visit his family, a wife and two children who lived in a small village a few miles outside of Amenemhat-itj-tawy, the capital of Egypt.
This particular night, Adam had been especially rowdy. All the partiers had gone to bed, so Kris entered the party hall. He began cleaning up the massive mess, singing a song he had heard the Hnr singing for the party's entertainment earlier. He gathered all the used dishes and stacked them on a table to be carted away by the kitchen servants.
A rustling and quick movement caught Kris's eye. He turned and saw the curtain that separated the hall from the Pharaoh's dorms fluttering, as if someone had slipped out of the hall quickly. Kris paid it no heed; it was probably just one of the Pharaoh's guests, sleeping after an exhausting party. Kris must have woken him up.
Adam had been dozing in the party hall when the servant-boy had started to clean up. He had ducked behind the curtain and watched the boy tidy the room. The servant was quite beautiful. He didn't wear any of the traditional make-up and his skirt was made of the cheapest linen. His brown hair stuck up in all directions and was the same color as his chocolate brown eyes. He was short, but he made up for it with rippling muscles. Adam knew the boy was special the moment he saw him. He wanted him in his bed more than any boy before him. He wouldn't summon him tonight though. No, he wanted to be ready so that he could show the boy the night of his life.
The following day for Adam involved a lot of boring political stuff. His advisers updated him on the status of the delicate peace with Wawat. Throughout the meeting, Adam found it was harder to focus than usual. His thoughts kept drifting to the servant and the preparations that were being made for their rendezvous. He had dispatched two of his personal attendants to fetch the boy while his other attendants were getting his room ready.
Finally (finally!), the meeting was over. He shook hands with his men and dismissed them quickly. He nearly ran to his room, excited to see the changes that had been done in his absence. He walked in and grinned delightedly. His bed was in the center of the room, gauze veils were hung from the ceiling to surround it. On a small table sat a casing of his finest and favorite wine and two elaborate gold goblets set with rubies. A plate with bushels of green and purple grapes stood next to the wine. Black rose petals, bought from some nomadic traders, were scattered throughout the room. Incense was lit to provide a pleasant vanilla smell and a few candles added a flickering nuance to the atmosphere.
"Perfect," Adam whispered to himself as he walked over to his wardrobe. He wanted to look good to match the room. He pulled out his finest linen skirt and slipped it on. It was made of the most expensive linen and was nearly see-through. He took off all of his jewelry (in exchange for convenience later), and took out his make-up supplies. He looked in the mirror as he lined his eyes and darkened his eyelashes and eyebrows with a dark black kohl. Then, he took out his eyeshadow and blended the blue shade with the green to make the perfect aquamarine coloring on his eyelids. He used a deep red henna dye to stain his lips and a pitch black dye to stain his fingernails. Then, he worked on his hair until it fell loose, free, and sculpted in his face. "I'm ready," he declared to the attendants waiting outside his door. "Bring me the boy."
Kris had started his day like any other day. He woke up, got dressed, and reported to the servant overseer, Ranutet, for his tasks. He was surprised to find, instead of Ranutet, two of the Pharaoh's attendants were waiting for him. "You are to be escorted to the Pharaoh's chambers tonight upon his bidding, do you understand?" the boy on the right asked.
"Why does the Pharaoh want to see me?" Kris asked warily. Usually, when boys were picked to go to the Pharaoh's quarters, they left their jobs and fled the city afterward. The servants all had their own theories as to what happened to them. The most gruesome of these came to mind and Kris shuddered in fear of the possibilities.
"He wishes for you to be his bed mate for the evening and possibly indefinitely." the other boy answered. "You will be prepped for his enjoyment and he will do with you as he pleases when he summons you."
Kris's heart rate sped up. Bed mate? But he was married, for goodness sake. That should have protected him from the Pharaoh's desires. He told the servants of his family. "So, you see, I can't go to the Pharaoh's chambers. I already belong to another."
The attendants laughed in unison. "All the Pharaoh's subjects belong to him. Marriage does not overrule his rights as our complete ruler."
"B-but, p-please," Kris begged, voice shaky. "You can't make me do this. I've heard the stories. I don't want to be forced out of a job and run out of the city like the others. My income is all my family has to live on."
The attendant on the left sighed. "Do not worry about your family. They will be taken care of through extra food supplies and an increase in your income if you do this. Being the Pharaoh's bed slave certainly has its advantages. And besides, I don't think you'll be rejected. You're exactly his type."
Kris pondered that for a minute. In letters written to Kris, his wife had told him of their financial hardships. They were barely able to afford enough food and the astronomical rent the Pharaoh had imposed on all the properties in Egypt. A pay raise would definitely work miracles for his little family. Maybe being the Pharaoh's bed slave wouldn't be too bad of a job. Plus, he wouldn't have to clean up the party hall anymore. "Fine. What do I need to do?"
He only had two jobs, apparently: look pretty and do as the Pharaoh commanded. Kris was brought to a small room directly attached to the royal bedchamber. "This is where you are to sleep," one of the many attendants said to him. Kris nodded and quickly scanned his new room. It consisted of merely a bedroll in the corner and a small desk with a chair against the wall. It was his though, which was what made Kris beam in delight. For the five years he had worked as a servant, he never had his own room.
He was quickly shuffled to another room filled with many garments. "Wear this," the attendant demanded as he shoved a skirt at Kris. It was made of the almost see-through linen often worn by the rich and powerful. Kris slid it on, reveling in the way the cool, smooth fabric seemed to caress his skin as if he were wearing a cloud. "That's all the preparation the Pharaoh said you would need. You can wait in your room until he summons you."
Kris nodded his thanks and went back to his room to wait. He didn't have long to wait, it appeared, as what seemed like only a short time later, two new servants came to collect him. They appeared to be the Pharaoh's bodyguards; they had swords hanging around their waists and they were very muscular. "Time to go," the largest one said.
Kris followed them silently into the Pharaoh's room. They exited and Kris was left alone with the Pharaoh. His eyes immediately dropped to the floor. Servants were discouraged from looking at the Pharaoh. They were deemed unworthy of gazing upon his excellence. "Look at me," the Pharaoh commanded. Kris obeyed and slowly raised his eyes up. He took in the length of the Pharaoh's body. He admired the long tanned legs, the muscled and shining torso, the soft freckled arms. Finally, he examined the Pharaoh's face. It was a beautiful face. His nose was long and straight, his lips were bow-shaped and plush, freckles were scattered everywhere (including on his lips). His eyes were the best, though. They were a deep, clear blue and the kohl made them stand out even more. Kris found himself getting lost. The Pharaoh cleared his throat to attract Kris's attention. "Come here," he said seductively with an added flick of his tongue over his lips.
Kris could do nothing but obey. He was rendered helpless under a siren's blue-gazed spell. "What can I do for you, my Pharaoh?" Kris croaked out in a shaky voice. He reached the Pharaoh, hands twitching at his sides, itching to reach out and touch. "I'll do anything you wish." Just by setting eyes on this amazing man, Kris was effectively relegated to a pile of goo. He was instantly in love; all knowledge that others beside the two of them existed was lost.
"I wish for you to call me Adam," the Pharaoh...Adam said. "And I also wish for you to not hold yourself back. In this room, we'll be equals. Treat me like you would a normal man."
Kris wanted nothing but to obey, so he did. He reached out and ran his hands over Adam's chest like he had been wanting to do since he raised his eyes. "You're beautiful, Adam, so amazing." Kris could feel Adam's heart speed up.
Adam's hands came up to rest on Kris's shoulder. "You're beautiful, Kris," he said reverently
"Wait." Kris stopped the gentle exploration of his hands. "How do you know my name?"
"I make it a point to know my servants. Especially the ones as cute as you. Too bad you're the only one this adorable." Kris blushed a cherry-red. "Like I said, adorable." Adam caressed Kris's arms.
Kris moved closer to him, molding their bodies together seamlessly. "I really want to kiss you," he whispered into Adam's neck, where he was currently nuzzled.
Adam placed his hand under Kris's chin and made him look up. He slowly brought his face down until their lips connected. The kiss was brief but meaningful. "I love you," Kris breathed out unthinkingly as they parted. When he realized he had said it, he began internally freaking out. Why had he said that? He didn't even know Adam. Why would he think he was in...oh, that's why. Adam had dragged him close again until he was snug against Adam's hard (in more ways than one) body. He leaned down and captured Kris's lips in a bruising, breath-taking kiss.
They stumbled over to the bed, still intertwined. Adam reached out and tore away the hanging gauze that was hindering their progress. He picked Kris up and deposited him among the many pillows. "I love you too," he said huskily. He climbed atop Kris and started kissing him again. Kris welcomed the very comfortable weight above him. Kris's hips bucked upward against his will. He was hard, painfully so, and he could tell Adam was too. Adam moaned into his arm and began grinding their erections together. "So pretty," Adam was saying mindlessly as he kissed down Kris's throat. He brought his hands to their clothes to remove the obstacle of the linen. Just then, the bodyguards burst into the room. Adam growled and glared daggers at them. "What is so very important that you have to interrupt me?"
"We can't let you go any further," the guards said simultaneously. It creeped Kris out. He looked at the guards' eyes. They were pitch black and seemingly deep pits to nowhere. Kris choked back a frightened scream.
Adam stood up by the bed and drew himself up to his full regal height. "Leave us. Now." When the guards made no move to leave, Adam advanced towards them. "I am the Pharaoh. You must do as I command and I have commanded you to leave." That seemed to be the wrong thing to say, however, as Adam was thrown on the bed next to Kris within a blink of an eye. The guards hadn't moved an inch. Kris tried to get up, but he was held down by some invisible force. Adam was too, it seemed, because he was flailing around trying to move with little success. "What's going on?" Adam demanded.
"The two of you must not be allowed to mate. It would be disastrous."
"What are you talking about?" Kris squeaked.
The guards waved their hands and memories flooded Kris and Adam's mind. All the memories of their past lives together were returned. "Oh my Ra," Adam said. He turned to look at Kris with wide eyes. "I knew I remembered you from somewhere. Oh, my love, we are reunited only to be split apart once again." He began crying softly.
Kris followed suit. "Don't cry, baby," he said as he sobbed himself. "We shall be together in the next life. It'll feel like no time at all."
"Enough!" one of the guards screamed. Kris's memories told him that one was possessed by Leviathan, a demon. "I'm ending this now." The other guard nodded (that one possessed by Sama'el, an angel). Leviathan walked over to the bed and stood above Kris. A sword was held in his hands positioned above Kris's stomach. He plunged it downward, but it encountered an obstacle before hitting its target. At the last second, Adam had broken from the bonds holding him down and thrown himself over Kris to protect him. The sword went through his back, out of his stomach, and straight into Kris's abdomen.
Looking into Adam's eyes, Kris couldn't feel any pain. He just felt a sense of calm wash over him. He smiled at Adam and uttered the words he always said at the end of their lives. "I'll see you on the other side, my love."
Adam smiled back and kissed Kris gently. "It's only a matter of time." He collapsed unto Kris and they breathed their last breath together as the world faded to black.
When Kris came to, he freaked out. He had no idea what just happened. One minute, he had started to play one of his songs, and the next, he was in ancient Egypt. He could still feel Adam's lips on his, his hands ghosting across his skin, the sword plunging through his body. He quickly jumped off stage and ran to the bar for a drink.
“Hey man, you ok?” Matt asked him as he slid Kris a beer. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I'm fine,” Kris replied shortly before taking a deep pull of the alcohol. “I just remembered something, that's all.”
“Whatever you say.” Matt turned to help his other customers.
Adam came to face down on the table. He was so confused about what had just happened. The moment he heard the singer's voice, he had been taken to ancient Egypt. Kris was still fresh in his mind. He remembered almost everything in perfect detail. The beauty of Kris's body, the way his eyes darkened as they kissed, the sword impaling both him and his beloved. The only thing he didn't remember was the memories that Leviathan and Sama'el had given to them.
He raised his head to look at his friends. They were all staring at him strangely. “Adam, what the hell was that?” Brad asked.
“Sweetie, are you sure you're feeling ok?” Danielle asked compassionately.
“Yeah, I'm fine. I just....” Adam trailed off, debating whether he should tell his friends about the bizarre flashback. He decided against it. “My head's just been killing me all day. Do you guys mind if I cut the celebration a little short? We can go out some other time.”
“Of course we can, Adam,” Alisan assured. “Your health is more important than celebrating. Do you need a lift home?”
“No, I've got it,” Adam replied. They all stood up and walked out of the bar together. “See you guys later,” he said, unlocking his car and getting in.
“Bye, Adam,” Brad, Danielle, and Alisan said in unison.
“Feel better soon,” Brad added.
Adam waved and then drove quickly to his apartment. He really needed to think about what had just happened.
After drinking a beer to calm his nerves, Kris headed back onstage. He would think about what happened later, but for now, he wanted to finish his set. Singing always managed to calm him down. He sang several songs before deciding to head home for the night.
He didn't sleep much. The flashback in the bar ran through his head all night. He couldn't seem to shake it. He tried to think of an explanation for it. Finally, he decided that it must have been from lack of sleep. He had been going into work early and coming home late recently, and he was bone tired every day. Apparently, his mind was misfiring on him and causing him to see things. Satisfied with his solution, Kris fell asleep.
The next day was like any other day. He went into work early to open up. He chatted with a few regular customers. He sold a few records. Once again, his boss told him he could go home early. He had noticed that Kris was working too hard and wanted to take it easy on him. Kris didn't argue, he was happy for the break. He headed to Heaven on Earth to play another set.
When he got there, he waved to Matt and began to set up his things. His back was to the bar when all of a sudden, he had the urge to look at the table to his right. The man that was sitting there choose that moment to look at the stage. When their eyes met, Kris's vision went fuzzy and he was thrust backwards in time again.
The morning after the bar incident, Adam woke up still disoriented. He had no explanation for what had happened to him. He could think of nothing else as he got ready to go into the studio to start recording. He obsessed over the memory during his shower, while he ate breakfast, while he was putting on his makeup, on the drive to the studio, even all the way through his recording session. The thoughts just wouldn't go away. He had to return to the bar to see if he could figure out what was going on.
He walked into Heaven on Earth and immediately grabbed a drink. It had been a long day and he needed to unwind a little before thinking too hard about last night. He sat down at the same table, in the same seat, and drank.
Thirty minutes later, he was no closer to figuring out the answer. He was about to leave when a he heard someone setting up behind him. It was the same guy that had been singing last night. Adam stared at the singer as he apparently got ready for his set. The man looked up at him and their eyes locked. Adam felt a little dizzy before once again being brought to another time.
Adam entered the arena to deafening applause. He was a Roman gladiator- one of the best. He had fought in and won over 30 matches. Being a Retiarius, that was quite the feat. No one survived long as a Retiarius. All he had for weapons were a weighted fishing net, a three-pronged trident, and a small dagger. For armor, he was allowed arm and shoulder guards. Usually, Retiarius fighters wore a loincloth fastened with a wide belt. However, today he had opted for a much more interesting ensemble. There were rumors that he would be granted manumission (freedom) from having to fight, and he wanted to go out with a bang for his final performance. In addition to the usual armor, he wore a woman's dress and a strange conical hat. When the audience noticed his outfit, they erupted into louder screams and a few of them gave catcalls. Adam smiled and blew kisses into the stands. His eyes caught those of his horn player husband, Titus, and he blew him an extra special kiss. Titus mouthed "I love you," and caught the kiss before blowing one back.
Adam turned back to the arena to watch his competitor enter. His opponent walked out and Adam swore internally. He was a Secutor, a gladiator specifically trained to fight a Retiarius. He wore heavy armor, had a short sword, and carried a scutum- a curved, rectangular shield. On his head he had a helmet with a rounded top and only two small eye-slits. The round top protected him from getting caught in Adam's net and the lack of holes stopped Adam's trident from spearing his face. However, the heavy weight of the helmet quickly exhausted Secutors. He would have to finish Adam off within the first ten minutes or else Adam would have a definite advantage. Adam was confident he could beat the Secutor; it would just take a little more effort than usual. He approached his competitor with the perfect plan.
They bowed to each other and faced the Emperor's box. Emperor Allen had just taken the throne a week before. Adam's match was meant to be the start of a great rule. Allen stood up and looked down at the gladiators. He wore a simple white toga and a gold crown in the shape of laurel leaves on his head. Adam was instantly enthralled. Allen was more beautiful than any boy Adam had ever seen. Adam wanted to run his fingers through the fluffy, brown hair sticking up from the crown. He wanted to explore the Emperor's body with his hands. He was dragged out of his reverie by the Emperor's voice. "Gentlemen, fight well and fight honorably." Adam and the Secutor saluted and turned to begin the battle. He smirked at his opponent. Oh, this was going to be a grand battle.
Kris watched the mysterious black-haired man as he began to fight. He was lithe and nimble. Kris admired the muscles that rippled in his arms and back as he ducked and dodged. "Who's the Retiarius?" he asked his military adviser.
"That's Adam Lambert. He's the greatest gladiator of our time. He hasn't lost a fight yet, and he's been in 30 of them. Tonight may be his last, too. His new husband has requested we grant him manumission, as marriage nullifies slave hood."
Kris scowled. "He's married?"
"Yes, your highness, but if he catches your fancy, you are the emperor after all. You can have him if you want him."
Kris thought for a minute. He didn't want to break up a marriage, but he really wanted Adam. He was the emperor; he was entitled to whatever he wanted; he wanted Adam. "We'll hold a banquet tonight in honor of his manumission. Afterward, he will be delivered to my room. Alone. Understood?"
"Of course, sir." Kris's military adviser turned to the servants and told them to begin preparations. They nodded and left to get started.
Kris turned his attention back to the field, and he was surprised at what he saw. Adam continuously taunted the Secutor by advancing towards him before skipping away and returning to repeat the process. The crowd was cackling in gleeful laughter. Kris joined in. The poor Secutor was receiving the humiliation of a lifetime. He couldn't even defeat a man clad in a dress who skipped (skipped!) around. The match continued for another 15 minutes with Adam parrying every blow that came his way. Finally, the Secutor got tired and began stumbling around the field. Adam went in for the final blow. He captured the Secutor in his net and pulled him until he tumbled to the ground. He sat atop the Secutor and put his trident to his opponent's throat. The crowd screamed in delight and rose to their feet. Kris followed suit and clapped wildly. He couldn't wait to get the fierce warrior in his bed.
After the winner's ceremony where Adam received the customary palm branch and laurel crown for being the victor, he learned of the banquet to be held in his honor. What an exhilarating day! He'd had the fight of his life, seen the prettiest boy in all the world, and was to be granted his freedom at a banquet held by the Emperor. His day could not get any better.
He walked into the banquet hall with his husband hanging on his arm. "Can you believe this?" Titus asked. "This is the highest honor ever given a gladiator. You've hit the big time, babe."
Adam smiled and Titus leaned over to kiss him. "I love you, sweetie," he said to clear his conscience of thinking of Emperor Allen in a less than platonic way. He loved his husband, he truly did. "I'm so happy to share this with you." Titus took his hand and walked him to their seats. Adam was seated directly to the left of the Emperor, and Titus sat next to Adam. "Thank-you for your grand hospitality, Emperor Allen. We appreciate it very much."
"It really is no trouble. I'm happy to honor a great man such as yourself," the Emperor said. "And, please, call me Kris. I hate formalities."
"Thank-you, Kris," Adam replied with a grateful smile. They looked at each other and their eyes locked; identical smiles were on their faces. Titus cleared his throat and squeezed Adam's hand tightly. Adam was broken from the spell that held him captive. "Oh, right. This is my husband, Titus Gracchi."
"Nice to meet you, Titus," Kris said icily as he glared daggers at Titus. "It is a pleasure to have you here today."
Titus smiled predatorily and wrapped his arm around Adam. "We're happy to be here."
They glared at each other until the kitchen staff entered with their food. As he ate, Titus talked with the many important people at the table. This left Kris and Adam free to converse quietly. "I really am quite grateful for this, Kris," Adam said.
"Enough of that," Kris replied good-naturedly. "It really is no trouble at all. I'm glad to do this for you. You're an extraordinary gladiator and an amazing man." Kris set his hand lightly on Adam's arm.
Adam was pleasantly surprised. Kris was openly flirting with him. He really liked Kris. Titus was just an unpleasant presence on his side. He had dismissed his husband and was focused heart, mind, body, and soul on Kris. "You're a great man, too," he said smoothly. "It takes great strength to run a country."
"Indeed it does," Kris looked straight into Adam's eyes and said, voice like honey, "If you ever wanted to find out how strong I am, just let me know."
"I would be delighted. How about tonight?" This had now gone much farther than mere flirting. Adam was blatantly asking Kris to help him cheat on his husband. Adam couldn't take the question back, though, even if he had wanted to. He craved Kris like a fire craves oxygen.
"My servants will talk to you after the manumission ceremony. They'll show you where to go."
"Excellent," Adam said, leering at Kris as he took a sip of wine. He watched Kris's throat as he swallowed. He couldn't wait until tonight when he would be able to lick and suck that beautiful skin. Titus cleared his throat and pulled on Adam's arm. Adam turned to look at him and was swept into conversation for the rest of the meal. He stole occasional glances at Kris and noticed that Kris was doing the same thing. Kris winked at Adam and continued his conversation with one of his advisers
The meal came to an end, and everyone shuffled out to the courtyard for the manumission ceremony. Adam and Kris faced each other. Kris was handed a wooden sword. "With this sword, I grand you total freedom from slave hood and warriorship. I also grant you full citizenship status in the great land of Rome. Congratulations, Adam."
Adam accepted the sword from Kris. "Thank-you for you kindness, your greatness. I appreciate it deeply." A few more ceremonial things were done before everything was over. Adam ran directly to the servants to get his directions for the night.
After parting from Titus ("The emperor invited me to stay at the palace, but the bed's really small, and the invitation is only for one."), Adam headed quickly to Kris's room. He undressed down to just his loincloth. The servants had instructed him to do this and then to oil himself up and light a few candles. He did everything and stood in the middle of the room, hands clasped in front of him.
A few minutes later, Kris arrived and stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Adam. The gladiator was absolutely stunning. The candlelight flickered across his glistening body. The oil caused all of Adam's muscles to be defined. The moved fluidly as Adam shifted under Kris's hot gaze. Kris walked over to Adam, stripping of most of his clothes on the way. He ran gentle, trembling hands over Adam's chest. Some strange feeling began to build deep within Kris's heart. He couldn't take the time to identify it because Adam leaned down and pressed his lips to Kris's, effectively shutting down his capacity for thought. Still connected, Kris pushed Adam gently backwards to the bed. They got there and tumbled onto it together.
Kris pulled away and reached to the bowl of grapes he had instructed his servants to place on the bedside table. He took one off the vine and placed it in his mouth. He didn't bite down. Instead, he pressed his lips to Adam's and coaxed them open with his tongue. He then passed the grape from his own mouth and into Adam's. He pulled away with a pop and reached for another as Adam swallowed the first. This one he rubbed over Adam's lips and down Adam's chest before eating it himself.
The gentle grape teasing continued for awhile before Adam couldn't wait any longer. He lightly nipped Kris's fingertip as Kris fed him another grape. He then flipped Kris over onto his back, covering him with his long body. "Enough," he whispered into Kris's neck. He accompanied the words with a gentle bite to the strip of skin where Kris's neck met his shoulder. "I want you," he said simply.
"Adam, yes," Kris hissed. He ran his fingers down Adam's back. He ground his hips up into Adam's. The door to the room burst open. "What in Hades is going on?" Kris asked.
Titus and the Secutor that Adam had fought earlier walked into the room. Adam quickly jumped off of Kris. "Titus, baby, I can explain...."
He was cut off by the two invaders saying simultaneously saying, "We're here to stop you. You must not be allowed to restore the balance."
Kris got off the bed and clung tightly to Adam in fear. "What are you talking about?" he asked warily.
Titus moved forward and the Secutor unsheathed his sword. "We must destroy you," they said.
Adam shoved Kris behind him for protection. "Don't you dare come any closer. I won't let you harm the Emperor." An invisible force began to choke Adam. He collapsed to the ground; his hands clutching his throat.
"Adam!" Kris screamed. He knelt down by Adam and tried to find a way to help him. "Stop! Whatever you're doing, please stop!" he begged. Adam was released as fast as he had been grabbed. He gasped for air. Big tears rolled down Kris's face as he hugged Adam close. "Why are you doing this?" he asked between sobs. "What did we do to deserve this?"
Titus walked over and touched both Kris and Adam on the top of the head. Memories came flooding back of previous lives. "K-kris," Adam gasped. "We're together again, but not for very long. Why must we always be ripped apart?" He held Kris tight against his body. "Just this once, I want to live a lifetime with you. Only one lifetime. Is that too much to ask?"
"Adam," Kris said, stroking Adam's cheek with his hand. "I love you so much. One of these times we'll figure out how to stay together. This just isn't our time."
"I wish it were."
"I know, me too. But this lifetime was not meant to be our lifetime."
"I'll always love you, my Kris. Always."
"And I, you." They kissed sweetly, smiling, and gazed into each others eyes.
The Secutor (who was possessed by the demon Leviathan) stabbed his sword into Kris's back and through Adam's stomach. Titus (possessed by the angel Sama'el) stood by the door and watched with a satisfied smirk.
The love shared between Kris and Adam's locked eyes served to numb the pain. A calming feeling flooded both of their bodies. "I'll see you on the other side, my love," Kris said, echoing his other lives.
"It's only a matter of time," Adam whispered. He kissed Kris gently. They fell sideways onto the floor, wrapped up in each others arms. The room faded to black as the last breath passed between their lips.
Kris came to once again on stage. This time, he recognized the man that was sitting at the table next to the stage as the same one from the flashback. He didn't understand what it meant that he was seeing himself with this man in different times. He decided to ignore Adam, lest he get another flashback. He finished setting up and began to play his set.
When he was done, he jumped off the stage to avoid a run-in with Adam. He hurried into the backroom to store his guitar and tried to leave the bar quickly. He didn't want to talk to Adam. He was scared of what would happen if he did.
He had almost reached the door, when someone called his name. “Kris! Wait!” He recognized the voice as Adam's from the flashbacks. He turned reluctantly to face the man.
When Adam came to, he couldn't believe that he had had another flashback. He didn't understand why this kept happening to him. However, there was one thing he did finally understand. He recognized the singer as the Kris from his past. He knew he had to talk to Kris about what was happening to him and to see if it was happening to Kris too. He decided to do it after Kris was done singing.
Kris was amazing. His singing voice was absolutely incredible. One of the best Adam had ever heard. He sat enthralled throughout the entire performance. When Kris was done, Adam was too lost in awe to notice him leaving the stage. He cursed himself for allowing Kris to get away without talking to him. He sat and hoped that Kris would return after maybe getting a drink or using the restroom or something.
He didn't have to wait long. Kris emerged from a door on the opposite side of the stage and headed straight for the exit. Adam jumped to his feet and ran after him. When Kris had almost reached the door and escaped from Adam's sight, Adam shouted, “Kris! Wait!” Thankfully, Kris stopped and turned to look at him. Adam held out his hand. “Hi, I'm Adam,” he introduced himself. “And you're Kris, right?”
Kris's eyes widened in shock. “How do you know my name? Have you been having the flashbacks too?” he asked.
“As a matter of fact, I have. I was wondering if we could talk about what's going on.” Adam's hand was still extended. He was about to pull it back when Kris reached out and took it. A burst of energy ran through the two, starting from the connection of their palms. The sensation took over their entire bodies and they were transported yet again.
Part 2: echelonlove.livejournal.com/5781.html
Rating: R (swearing, violence, and allusions to sexytimes)
Summary: Adam and Kris are in the same bar when they both flashback to a different time. They try to figure out what the flashbacks mean whilst having a budding relationship and many more flashbacks.
Author's Note: This story has been bouncing around my head for two years now!!! Thanks to the Kradam Big Bang for FINALLY providing the motivation for me to write it. I LOVE history, so this story was SO much fun to write. The time periods are heavily researched, so most of the facts here are straight from research. :)
Thanks: Thanks SO much to va_bites for creating such wonderful and beautiful art for me! I LOVE it!! :D Also thanks to the people who volunteered to be betas for me: escribej , love_mcgregor , lady_michaelis .You helped a lot. I'm still not real good at the showing and not telling thing though :P
A Matter of Time
Adam Lambert was going to be the next big thing. He had worked for years to get signed. He was in play after play. He recorded several of his own EPs. He had even been in The Citizen Vein, a rock band, with his close friend Monte. Adam was in the musical Wicked. He was just an understudy for Fiyero, but he had big dreams of getting the lead someday. One day when the man who played Fiyero was sick, Adam got to perform. Lucky for him, there was a talent scout in the audience. He was immediately signed and was currently in the process of recording his first album. It was something he had wanted to do since he was a little boy. Finally, he was realizing his dream!
That night, he was going out to celebrate with his best friends: Brad, Danielle, and Alisan. They usually frequented the clubs in West Hollywood, but Adam was known by almost everyone their already. Because of this, they decided to go to a small bar in a completely different part of LA. Adam just wanted a low key celebration with friends. It was a place called Heaven on Earth. It was only half full and the patrons were mostly businessmen who were grabbing a drink after work. No one would recognize them here.
Adam grabbed a beer and joined his group at a table in the back of the bar. There was a stage right next to them, but no one was performing at the moment. “So, how does it feel to be signed?” Dani asked.
“It feels amazing!” Adam replied, taking a sip of his drink. “Like nothing I could have ever imagined.”
Brad snuggled up close to him. “Even better than when you were with me?” he asked.
“Of course not, baby.” Brad had been Adam’s first love before their lives took separate paths. Adam didn’t think he would ever feel anything like he did when he was with Brad.
“To Adam!” Ali proposed a toast. “And for all he’s accomplished.” They drank. “And not to mention we have a famous friend now. We’re totally connected!” Everyone laughed and drank again.
They continued to joke around until the lights dimmed. There was a small commotion on stage as the singer set up his equipment. Adam couldn't see what the person looked like, but the looks on his friend's faces confirmed that it was someone hot. When he heard the man's voice, Adam recognized the tone. He didn’t know from where. He thought deeper and deeper until he blacked out and was taken to a time long ago.
Kris Allen was never going to be the next big thing. He was okay with that. He loved to share his music with others, but he didn't need a record contract to do it. He played in small bars on his nights off from working at a record store and in a small band with his friends. His life was music 24/7 and he couldn't be happier.
He didn't have very many friends, but the ones he did have were really close to him. Cale and Charles were old friends from Arkansas. They all moved to LA together three years ago to escape the small town life. Cale and Kris were currently recording an EP together. Kris did the singing and some guitar work, while Cale did the other instruments. Matt was his LA friend. He owned the bar Heaven on Earth and let Kris sing there when he wanted. He also played the piano on Kris and Cale’s EP. He had been a dueling piano player before buying the bar from a close friend. Charles was the little band’s manager. He did all the marketing work and got them gigs from time to time. They played music for fun; they didn’t even think about being signed, as they never expected it to happen anyway.
Tonight, he had gotten off early, his boss having agreed to close up for him. He headed straight for the bar to sing. Whenever he had a free night, it was spent singing. He didn't have very many other hobbies. Music was his entire life, and he couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else. When he came in, he asked Matt if there was an opening for him to sing before the night’s scheduled performer.
“Of course, man!” Matt agreed. “There’s always time for Kris Allen to play here. Everyone loves you.”
“Thanks Matt.” Kris hurried backstage to get ready for his performance. He grabbed his guitar from the back room and went to the stage to set up. When he began singing, the bar began to get really fuzzy. It was like there was something poking at the back of his mind that he couldn’t remember. He didn’t know why, but he needed to remember whatever it was. He thought and thought until the bar completely disappeared and became a scene from a time long past.
Adam was an all-powerful Pharaoh during the 12th Dynasty in Egypt. He ruled over his subjects with an iron fist. Disobedience was not tolerated, and people who defied him were thrown into the Nile for the crocodiles. His subjects were very scared of him, and that's the way he liked it.
Behind closed doors, however, his life was one giant party. Instead of the traditional animal skin skirt and the crown of the Pharaoh, he opted to wear a loose wool skirt. He still wore all of his gold jewelry set with precious stones. He drank and mingled freely with the Egyptian nobility. Every night, he had a different boy in his bed.
Kris, on the other hand, was at the bottom of the social hierarchy. He was a lowly servant in the Pharaoh's household, and his job was to clean up after Adam's lavish celebrations, which happened regularly. He rarely had any time to himself to visit his family, a wife and two children who lived in a small village a few miles outside of Amenemhat-itj-tawy, the capital of Egypt.
This particular night, Adam had been especially rowdy. All the partiers had gone to bed, so Kris entered the party hall. He began cleaning up the massive mess, singing a song he had heard the Hnr singing for the party's entertainment earlier. He gathered all the used dishes and stacked them on a table to be carted away by the kitchen servants.
A rustling and quick movement caught Kris's eye. He turned and saw the curtain that separated the hall from the Pharaoh's dorms fluttering, as if someone had slipped out of the hall quickly. Kris paid it no heed; it was probably just one of the Pharaoh's guests, sleeping after an exhausting party. Kris must have woken him up.
Adam had been dozing in the party hall when the servant-boy had started to clean up. He had ducked behind the curtain and watched the boy tidy the room. The servant was quite beautiful. He didn't wear any of the traditional make-up and his skirt was made of the cheapest linen. His brown hair stuck up in all directions and was the same color as his chocolate brown eyes. He was short, but he made up for it with rippling muscles. Adam knew the boy was special the moment he saw him. He wanted him in his bed more than any boy before him. He wouldn't summon him tonight though. No, he wanted to be ready so that he could show the boy the night of his life.
The following day for Adam involved a lot of boring political stuff. His advisers updated him on the status of the delicate peace with Wawat. Throughout the meeting, Adam found it was harder to focus than usual. His thoughts kept drifting to the servant and the preparations that were being made for their rendezvous. He had dispatched two of his personal attendants to fetch the boy while his other attendants were getting his room ready.
Finally (finally!), the meeting was over. He shook hands with his men and dismissed them quickly. He nearly ran to his room, excited to see the changes that had been done in his absence. He walked in and grinned delightedly. His bed was in the center of the room, gauze veils were hung from the ceiling to surround it. On a small table sat a casing of his finest and favorite wine and two elaborate gold goblets set with rubies. A plate with bushels of green and purple grapes stood next to the wine. Black rose petals, bought from some nomadic traders, were scattered throughout the room. Incense was lit to provide a pleasant vanilla smell and a few candles added a flickering nuance to the atmosphere.
"Perfect," Adam whispered to himself as he walked over to his wardrobe. He wanted to look good to match the room. He pulled out his finest linen skirt and slipped it on. It was made of the most expensive linen and was nearly see-through. He took off all of his jewelry (in exchange for convenience later), and took out his make-up supplies. He looked in the mirror as he lined his eyes and darkened his eyelashes and eyebrows with a dark black kohl. Then, he took out his eyeshadow and blended the blue shade with the green to make the perfect aquamarine coloring on his eyelids. He used a deep red henna dye to stain his lips and a pitch black dye to stain his fingernails. Then, he worked on his hair until it fell loose, free, and sculpted in his face. "I'm ready," he declared to the attendants waiting outside his door. "Bring me the boy."
Kris had started his day like any other day. He woke up, got dressed, and reported to the servant overseer, Ranutet, for his tasks. He was surprised to find, instead of Ranutet, two of the Pharaoh's attendants were waiting for him. "You are to be escorted to the Pharaoh's chambers tonight upon his bidding, do you understand?" the boy on the right asked.
"Why does the Pharaoh want to see me?" Kris asked warily. Usually, when boys were picked to go to the Pharaoh's quarters, they left their jobs and fled the city afterward. The servants all had their own theories as to what happened to them. The most gruesome of these came to mind and Kris shuddered in fear of the possibilities.
"He wishes for you to be his bed mate for the evening and possibly indefinitely." the other boy answered. "You will be prepped for his enjoyment and he will do with you as he pleases when he summons you."
Kris's heart rate sped up. Bed mate? But he was married, for goodness sake. That should have protected him from the Pharaoh's desires. He told the servants of his family. "So, you see, I can't go to the Pharaoh's chambers. I already belong to another."
The attendants laughed in unison. "All the Pharaoh's subjects belong to him. Marriage does not overrule his rights as our complete ruler."
"B-but, p-please," Kris begged, voice shaky. "You can't make me do this. I've heard the stories. I don't want to be forced out of a job and run out of the city like the others. My income is all my family has to live on."
The attendant on the left sighed. "Do not worry about your family. They will be taken care of through extra food supplies and an increase in your income if you do this. Being the Pharaoh's bed slave certainly has its advantages. And besides, I don't think you'll be rejected. You're exactly his type."
Kris pondered that for a minute. In letters written to Kris, his wife had told him of their financial hardships. They were barely able to afford enough food and the astronomical rent the Pharaoh had imposed on all the properties in Egypt. A pay raise would definitely work miracles for his little family. Maybe being the Pharaoh's bed slave wouldn't be too bad of a job. Plus, he wouldn't have to clean up the party hall anymore. "Fine. What do I need to do?"
He only had two jobs, apparently: look pretty and do as the Pharaoh commanded. Kris was brought to a small room directly attached to the royal bedchamber. "This is where you are to sleep," one of the many attendants said to him. Kris nodded and quickly scanned his new room. It consisted of merely a bedroll in the corner and a small desk with a chair against the wall. It was his though, which was what made Kris beam in delight. For the five years he had worked as a servant, he never had his own room.
He was quickly shuffled to another room filled with many garments. "Wear this," the attendant demanded as he shoved a skirt at Kris. It was made of the almost see-through linen often worn by the rich and powerful. Kris slid it on, reveling in the way the cool, smooth fabric seemed to caress his skin as if he were wearing a cloud. "That's all the preparation the Pharaoh said you would need. You can wait in your room until he summons you."
Kris nodded his thanks and went back to his room to wait. He didn't have long to wait, it appeared, as what seemed like only a short time later, two new servants came to collect him. They appeared to be the Pharaoh's bodyguards; they had swords hanging around their waists and they were very muscular. "Time to go," the largest one said.
Kris followed them silently into the Pharaoh's room. They exited and Kris was left alone with the Pharaoh. His eyes immediately dropped to the floor. Servants were discouraged from looking at the Pharaoh. They were deemed unworthy of gazing upon his excellence. "Look at me," the Pharaoh commanded. Kris obeyed and slowly raised his eyes up. He took in the length of the Pharaoh's body. He admired the long tanned legs, the muscled and shining torso, the soft freckled arms. Finally, he examined the Pharaoh's face. It was a beautiful face. His nose was long and straight, his lips were bow-shaped and plush, freckles were scattered everywhere (including on his lips). His eyes were the best, though. They were a deep, clear blue and the kohl made them stand out even more. Kris found himself getting lost. The Pharaoh cleared his throat to attract Kris's attention. "Come here," he said seductively with an added flick of his tongue over his lips.
Kris could do nothing but obey. He was rendered helpless under a siren's blue-gazed spell. "What can I do for you, my Pharaoh?" Kris croaked out in a shaky voice. He reached the Pharaoh, hands twitching at his sides, itching to reach out and touch. "I'll do anything you wish." Just by setting eyes on this amazing man, Kris was effectively relegated to a pile of goo. He was instantly in love; all knowledge that others beside the two of them existed was lost.
"I wish for you to call me Adam," the Pharaoh...Adam said. "And I also wish for you to not hold yourself back. In this room, we'll be equals. Treat me like you would a normal man."
Kris wanted nothing but to obey, so he did. He reached out and ran his hands over Adam's chest like he had been wanting to do since he raised his eyes. "You're beautiful, Adam, so amazing." Kris could feel Adam's heart speed up.
Adam's hands came up to rest on Kris's shoulder. "You're beautiful, Kris," he said reverently
"Wait." Kris stopped the gentle exploration of his hands. "How do you know my name?"
"I make it a point to know my servants. Especially the ones as cute as you. Too bad you're the only one this adorable." Kris blushed a cherry-red. "Like I said, adorable." Adam caressed Kris's arms.
Kris moved closer to him, molding their bodies together seamlessly. "I really want to kiss you," he whispered into Adam's neck, where he was currently nuzzled.
Adam placed his hand under Kris's chin and made him look up. He slowly brought his face down until their lips connected. The kiss was brief but meaningful. "I love you," Kris breathed out unthinkingly as they parted. When he realized he had said it, he began internally freaking out. Why had he said that? He didn't even know Adam. Why would he think he was in...oh, that's why. Adam had dragged him close again until he was snug against Adam's hard (in more ways than one) body. He leaned down and captured Kris's lips in a bruising, breath-taking kiss.
They stumbled over to the bed, still intertwined. Adam reached out and tore away the hanging gauze that was hindering their progress. He picked Kris up and deposited him among the many pillows. "I love you too," he said huskily. He climbed atop Kris and started kissing him again. Kris welcomed the very comfortable weight above him. Kris's hips bucked upward against his will. He was hard, painfully so, and he could tell Adam was too. Adam moaned into his arm and began grinding their erections together. "So pretty," Adam was saying mindlessly as he kissed down Kris's throat. He brought his hands to their clothes to remove the obstacle of the linen. Just then, the bodyguards burst into the room. Adam growled and glared daggers at them. "What is so very important that you have to interrupt me?"
"We can't let you go any further," the guards said simultaneously. It creeped Kris out. He looked at the guards' eyes. They were pitch black and seemingly deep pits to nowhere. Kris choked back a frightened scream.
Adam stood up by the bed and drew himself up to his full regal height. "Leave us. Now." When the guards made no move to leave, Adam advanced towards them. "I am the Pharaoh. You must do as I command and I have commanded you to leave." That seemed to be the wrong thing to say, however, as Adam was thrown on the bed next to Kris within a blink of an eye. The guards hadn't moved an inch. Kris tried to get up, but he was held down by some invisible force. Adam was too, it seemed, because he was flailing around trying to move with little success. "What's going on?" Adam demanded.
"The two of you must not be allowed to mate. It would be disastrous."
"What are you talking about?" Kris squeaked.
The guards waved their hands and memories flooded Kris and Adam's mind. All the memories of their past lives together were returned. "Oh my Ra," Adam said. He turned to look at Kris with wide eyes. "I knew I remembered you from somewhere. Oh, my love, we are reunited only to be split apart once again." He began crying softly.
Kris followed suit. "Don't cry, baby," he said as he sobbed himself. "We shall be together in the next life. It'll feel like no time at all."
"Enough!" one of the guards screamed. Kris's memories told him that one was possessed by Leviathan, a demon. "I'm ending this now." The other guard nodded (that one possessed by Sama'el, an angel). Leviathan walked over to the bed and stood above Kris. A sword was held in his hands positioned above Kris's stomach. He plunged it downward, but it encountered an obstacle before hitting its target. At the last second, Adam had broken from the bonds holding him down and thrown himself over Kris to protect him. The sword went through his back, out of his stomach, and straight into Kris's abdomen.
Looking into Adam's eyes, Kris couldn't feel any pain. He just felt a sense of calm wash over him. He smiled at Adam and uttered the words he always said at the end of their lives. "I'll see you on the other side, my love."
Adam smiled back and kissed Kris gently. "It's only a matter of time." He collapsed unto Kris and they breathed their last breath together as the world faded to black.
When Kris came to, he freaked out. He had no idea what just happened. One minute, he had started to play one of his songs, and the next, he was in ancient Egypt. He could still feel Adam's lips on his, his hands ghosting across his skin, the sword plunging through his body. He quickly jumped off stage and ran to the bar for a drink.
“Hey man, you ok?” Matt asked him as he slid Kris a beer. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I'm fine,” Kris replied shortly before taking a deep pull of the alcohol. “I just remembered something, that's all.”
“Whatever you say.” Matt turned to help his other customers.
Adam came to face down on the table. He was so confused about what had just happened. The moment he heard the singer's voice, he had been taken to ancient Egypt. Kris was still fresh in his mind. He remembered almost everything in perfect detail. The beauty of Kris's body, the way his eyes darkened as they kissed, the sword impaling both him and his beloved. The only thing he didn't remember was the memories that Leviathan and Sama'el had given to them.
He raised his head to look at his friends. They were all staring at him strangely. “Adam, what the hell was that?” Brad asked.
“Sweetie, are you sure you're feeling ok?” Danielle asked compassionately.
“Yeah, I'm fine. I just....” Adam trailed off, debating whether he should tell his friends about the bizarre flashback. He decided against it. “My head's just been killing me all day. Do you guys mind if I cut the celebration a little short? We can go out some other time.”
“Of course we can, Adam,” Alisan assured. “Your health is more important than celebrating. Do you need a lift home?”
“No, I've got it,” Adam replied. They all stood up and walked out of the bar together. “See you guys later,” he said, unlocking his car and getting in.
“Bye, Adam,” Brad, Danielle, and Alisan said in unison.
“Feel better soon,” Brad added.
Adam waved and then drove quickly to his apartment. He really needed to think about what had just happened.
After drinking a beer to calm his nerves, Kris headed back onstage. He would think about what happened later, but for now, he wanted to finish his set. Singing always managed to calm him down. He sang several songs before deciding to head home for the night.
He didn't sleep much. The flashback in the bar ran through his head all night. He couldn't seem to shake it. He tried to think of an explanation for it. Finally, he decided that it must have been from lack of sleep. He had been going into work early and coming home late recently, and he was bone tired every day. Apparently, his mind was misfiring on him and causing him to see things. Satisfied with his solution, Kris fell asleep.
The next day was like any other day. He went into work early to open up. He chatted with a few regular customers. He sold a few records. Once again, his boss told him he could go home early. He had noticed that Kris was working too hard and wanted to take it easy on him. Kris didn't argue, he was happy for the break. He headed to Heaven on Earth to play another set.
When he got there, he waved to Matt and began to set up his things. His back was to the bar when all of a sudden, he had the urge to look at the table to his right. The man that was sitting there choose that moment to look at the stage. When their eyes met, Kris's vision went fuzzy and he was thrust backwards in time again.
The morning after the bar incident, Adam woke up still disoriented. He had no explanation for what had happened to him. He could think of nothing else as he got ready to go into the studio to start recording. He obsessed over the memory during his shower, while he ate breakfast, while he was putting on his makeup, on the drive to the studio, even all the way through his recording session. The thoughts just wouldn't go away. He had to return to the bar to see if he could figure out what was going on.
He walked into Heaven on Earth and immediately grabbed a drink. It had been a long day and he needed to unwind a little before thinking too hard about last night. He sat down at the same table, in the same seat, and drank.
Thirty minutes later, he was no closer to figuring out the answer. He was about to leave when a he heard someone setting up behind him. It was the same guy that had been singing last night. Adam stared at the singer as he apparently got ready for his set. The man looked up at him and their eyes locked. Adam felt a little dizzy before once again being brought to another time.
Adam entered the arena to deafening applause. He was a Roman gladiator- one of the best. He had fought in and won over 30 matches. Being a Retiarius, that was quite the feat. No one survived long as a Retiarius. All he had for weapons were a weighted fishing net, a three-pronged trident, and a small dagger. For armor, he was allowed arm and shoulder guards. Usually, Retiarius fighters wore a loincloth fastened with a wide belt. However, today he had opted for a much more interesting ensemble. There were rumors that he would be granted manumission (freedom) from having to fight, and he wanted to go out with a bang for his final performance. In addition to the usual armor, he wore a woman's dress and a strange conical hat. When the audience noticed his outfit, they erupted into louder screams and a few of them gave catcalls. Adam smiled and blew kisses into the stands. His eyes caught those of his horn player husband, Titus, and he blew him an extra special kiss. Titus mouthed "I love you," and caught the kiss before blowing one back.
Adam turned back to the arena to watch his competitor enter. His opponent walked out and Adam swore internally. He was a Secutor, a gladiator specifically trained to fight a Retiarius. He wore heavy armor, had a short sword, and carried a scutum- a curved, rectangular shield. On his head he had a helmet with a rounded top and only two small eye-slits. The round top protected him from getting caught in Adam's net and the lack of holes stopped Adam's trident from spearing his face. However, the heavy weight of the helmet quickly exhausted Secutors. He would have to finish Adam off within the first ten minutes or else Adam would have a definite advantage. Adam was confident he could beat the Secutor; it would just take a little more effort than usual. He approached his competitor with the perfect plan.
They bowed to each other and faced the Emperor's box. Emperor Allen had just taken the throne a week before. Adam's match was meant to be the start of a great rule. Allen stood up and looked down at the gladiators. He wore a simple white toga and a gold crown in the shape of laurel leaves on his head. Adam was instantly enthralled. Allen was more beautiful than any boy Adam had ever seen. Adam wanted to run his fingers through the fluffy, brown hair sticking up from the crown. He wanted to explore the Emperor's body with his hands. He was dragged out of his reverie by the Emperor's voice. "Gentlemen, fight well and fight honorably." Adam and the Secutor saluted and turned to begin the battle. He smirked at his opponent. Oh, this was going to be a grand battle.
Kris watched the mysterious black-haired man as he began to fight. He was lithe and nimble. Kris admired the muscles that rippled in his arms and back as he ducked and dodged. "Who's the Retiarius?" he asked his military adviser.
"That's Adam Lambert. He's the greatest gladiator of our time. He hasn't lost a fight yet, and he's been in 30 of them. Tonight may be his last, too. His new husband has requested we grant him manumission, as marriage nullifies slave hood."
Kris scowled. "He's married?"
"Yes, your highness, but if he catches your fancy, you are the emperor after all. You can have him if you want him."
Kris thought for a minute. He didn't want to break up a marriage, but he really wanted Adam. He was the emperor; he was entitled to whatever he wanted; he wanted Adam. "We'll hold a banquet tonight in honor of his manumission. Afterward, he will be delivered to my room. Alone. Understood?"
"Of course, sir." Kris's military adviser turned to the servants and told them to begin preparations. They nodded and left to get started.
Kris turned his attention back to the field, and he was surprised at what he saw. Adam continuously taunted the Secutor by advancing towards him before skipping away and returning to repeat the process. The crowd was cackling in gleeful laughter. Kris joined in. The poor Secutor was receiving the humiliation of a lifetime. He couldn't even defeat a man clad in a dress who skipped (skipped!) around. The match continued for another 15 minutes with Adam parrying every blow that came his way. Finally, the Secutor got tired and began stumbling around the field. Adam went in for the final blow. He captured the Secutor in his net and pulled him until he tumbled to the ground. He sat atop the Secutor and put his trident to his opponent's throat. The crowd screamed in delight and rose to their feet. Kris followed suit and clapped wildly. He couldn't wait to get the fierce warrior in his bed.
After the winner's ceremony where Adam received the customary palm branch and laurel crown for being the victor, he learned of the banquet to be held in his honor. What an exhilarating day! He'd had the fight of his life, seen the prettiest boy in all the world, and was to be granted his freedom at a banquet held by the Emperor. His day could not get any better.
He walked into the banquet hall with his husband hanging on his arm. "Can you believe this?" Titus asked. "This is the highest honor ever given a gladiator. You've hit the big time, babe."
Adam smiled and Titus leaned over to kiss him. "I love you, sweetie," he said to clear his conscience of thinking of Emperor Allen in a less than platonic way. He loved his husband, he truly did. "I'm so happy to share this with you." Titus took his hand and walked him to their seats. Adam was seated directly to the left of the Emperor, and Titus sat next to Adam. "Thank-you for your grand hospitality, Emperor Allen. We appreciate it very much."
"It really is no trouble. I'm happy to honor a great man such as yourself," the Emperor said. "And, please, call me Kris. I hate formalities."
"Thank-you, Kris," Adam replied with a grateful smile. They looked at each other and their eyes locked; identical smiles were on their faces. Titus cleared his throat and squeezed Adam's hand tightly. Adam was broken from the spell that held him captive. "Oh, right. This is my husband, Titus Gracchi."
"Nice to meet you, Titus," Kris said icily as he glared daggers at Titus. "It is a pleasure to have you here today."
Titus smiled predatorily and wrapped his arm around Adam. "We're happy to be here."
They glared at each other until the kitchen staff entered with their food. As he ate, Titus talked with the many important people at the table. This left Kris and Adam free to converse quietly. "I really am quite grateful for this, Kris," Adam said.
"Enough of that," Kris replied good-naturedly. "It really is no trouble at all. I'm glad to do this for you. You're an extraordinary gladiator and an amazing man." Kris set his hand lightly on Adam's arm.
Adam was pleasantly surprised. Kris was openly flirting with him. He really liked Kris. Titus was just an unpleasant presence on his side. He had dismissed his husband and was focused heart, mind, body, and soul on Kris. "You're a great man, too," he said smoothly. "It takes great strength to run a country."
"Indeed it does," Kris looked straight into Adam's eyes and said, voice like honey, "If you ever wanted to find out how strong I am, just let me know."
"I would be delighted. How about tonight?" This had now gone much farther than mere flirting. Adam was blatantly asking Kris to help him cheat on his husband. Adam couldn't take the question back, though, even if he had wanted to. He craved Kris like a fire craves oxygen.
"My servants will talk to you after the manumission ceremony. They'll show you where to go."
"Excellent," Adam said, leering at Kris as he took a sip of wine. He watched Kris's throat as he swallowed. He couldn't wait until tonight when he would be able to lick and suck that beautiful skin. Titus cleared his throat and pulled on Adam's arm. Adam turned to look at him and was swept into conversation for the rest of the meal. He stole occasional glances at Kris and noticed that Kris was doing the same thing. Kris winked at Adam and continued his conversation with one of his advisers
The meal came to an end, and everyone shuffled out to the courtyard for the manumission ceremony. Adam and Kris faced each other. Kris was handed a wooden sword. "With this sword, I grand you total freedom from slave hood and warriorship. I also grant you full citizenship status in the great land of Rome. Congratulations, Adam."
Adam accepted the sword from Kris. "Thank-you for you kindness, your greatness. I appreciate it deeply." A few more ceremonial things were done before everything was over. Adam ran directly to the servants to get his directions for the night.
After parting from Titus ("The emperor invited me to stay at the palace, but the bed's really small, and the invitation is only for one."), Adam headed quickly to Kris's room. He undressed down to just his loincloth. The servants had instructed him to do this and then to oil himself up and light a few candles. He did everything and stood in the middle of the room, hands clasped in front of him.
A few minutes later, Kris arrived and stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Adam. The gladiator was absolutely stunning. The candlelight flickered across his glistening body. The oil caused all of Adam's muscles to be defined. The moved fluidly as Adam shifted under Kris's hot gaze. Kris walked over to Adam, stripping of most of his clothes on the way. He ran gentle, trembling hands over Adam's chest. Some strange feeling began to build deep within Kris's heart. He couldn't take the time to identify it because Adam leaned down and pressed his lips to Kris's, effectively shutting down his capacity for thought. Still connected, Kris pushed Adam gently backwards to the bed. They got there and tumbled onto it together.
Kris pulled away and reached to the bowl of grapes he had instructed his servants to place on the bedside table. He took one off the vine and placed it in his mouth. He didn't bite down. Instead, he pressed his lips to Adam's and coaxed them open with his tongue. He then passed the grape from his own mouth and into Adam's. He pulled away with a pop and reached for another as Adam swallowed the first. This one he rubbed over Adam's lips and down Adam's chest before eating it himself.
The gentle grape teasing continued for awhile before Adam couldn't wait any longer. He lightly nipped Kris's fingertip as Kris fed him another grape. He then flipped Kris over onto his back, covering him with his long body. "Enough," he whispered into Kris's neck. He accompanied the words with a gentle bite to the strip of skin where Kris's neck met his shoulder. "I want you," he said simply.
"Adam, yes," Kris hissed. He ran his fingers down Adam's back. He ground his hips up into Adam's. The door to the room burst open. "What in Hades is going on?" Kris asked.
Titus and the Secutor that Adam had fought earlier walked into the room. Adam quickly jumped off of Kris. "Titus, baby, I can explain...."
He was cut off by the two invaders saying simultaneously saying, "We're here to stop you. You must not be allowed to restore the balance."
Kris got off the bed and clung tightly to Adam in fear. "What are you talking about?" he asked warily.
Titus moved forward and the Secutor unsheathed his sword. "We must destroy you," they said.
Adam shoved Kris behind him for protection. "Don't you dare come any closer. I won't let you harm the Emperor." An invisible force began to choke Adam. He collapsed to the ground; his hands clutching his throat.
"Adam!" Kris screamed. He knelt down by Adam and tried to find a way to help him. "Stop! Whatever you're doing, please stop!" he begged. Adam was released as fast as he had been grabbed. He gasped for air. Big tears rolled down Kris's face as he hugged Adam close. "Why are you doing this?" he asked between sobs. "What did we do to deserve this?"
Titus walked over and touched both Kris and Adam on the top of the head. Memories came flooding back of previous lives. "K-kris," Adam gasped. "We're together again, but not for very long. Why must we always be ripped apart?" He held Kris tight against his body. "Just this once, I want to live a lifetime with you. Only one lifetime. Is that too much to ask?"
"Adam," Kris said, stroking Adam's cheek with his hand. "I love you so much. One of these times we'll figure out how to stay together. This just isn't our time."
"I wish it were."
"I know, me too. But this lifetime was not meant to be our lifetime."
"I'll always love you, my Kris. Always."
"And I, you." They kissed sweetly, smiling, and gazed into each others eyes.
The Secutor (who was possessed by the demon Leviathan) stabbed his sword into Kris's back and through Adam's stomach. Titus (possessed by the angel Sama'el) stood by the door and watched with a satisfied smirk.
The love shared between Kris and Adam's locked eyes served to numb the pain. A calming feeling flooded both of their bodies. "I'll see you on the other side, my love," Kris said, echoing his other lives.
"It's only a matter of time," Adam whispered. He kissed Kris gently. They fell sideways onto the floor, wrapped up in each others arms. The room faded to black as the last breath passed between their lips.
Kris came to once again on stage. This time, he recognized the man that was sitting at the table next to the stage as the same one from the flashback. He didn't understand what it meant that he was seeing himself with this man in different times. He decided to ignore Adam, lest he get another flashback. He finished setting up and began to play his set.
When he was done, he jumped off the stage to avoid a run-in with Adam. He hurried into the backroom to store his guitar and tried to leave the bar quickly. He didn't want to talk to Adam. He was scared of what would happen if he did.
He had almost reached the door, when someone called his name. “Kris! Wait!” He recognized the voice as Adam's from the flashbacks. He turned reluctantly to face the man.
When Adam came to, he couldn't believe that he had had another flashback. He didn't understand why this kept happening to him. However, there was one thing he did finally understand. He recognized the singer as the Kris from his past. He knew he had to talk to Kris about what was happening to him and to see if it was happening to Kris too. He decided to do it after Kris was done singing.
Kris was amazing. His singing voice was absolutely incredible. One of the best Adam had ever heard. He sat enthralled throughout the entire performance. When Kris was done, Adam was too lost in awe to notice him leaving the stage. He cursed himself for allowing Kris to get away without talking to him. He sat and hoped that Kris would return after maybe getting a drink or using the restroom or something.
He didn't have to wait long. Kris emerged from a door on the opposite side of the stage and headed straight for the exit. Adam jumped to his feet and ran after him. When Kris had almost reached the door and escaped from Adam's sight, Adam shouted, “Kris! Wait!” Thankfully, Kris stopped and turned to look at him. Adam held out his hand. “Hi, I'm Adam,” he introduced himself. “And you're Kris, right?”
Kris's eyes widened in shock. “How do you know my name? Have you been having the flashbacks too?” he asked.
“As a matter of fact, I have. I was wondering if we could talk about what's going on.” Adam's hand was still extended. He was about to pull it back when Kris reached out and took it. A burst of energy ran through the two, starting from the connection of their palms. The sensation took over their entire bodies and they were transported yet again.
Part 2: echelonlove.livejournal.com/5781.html