To Infinity and Beyond
Title: To Infinity and Beyond
Pairing: Kradam, mentions of Cookleta
Rating: R-ish for language and a few other things
Word Count: about 4700. Glad this fic was planned to be about 2000 words :)
Summary: Adam and Kris get a hell of a lot more than they bargained for when they end up spending a weekend in Disney World to promote the American Idol Experience.
Disclaimer: Not mine, obviously!
Author's Note: Written for crushandburn90 in paintedboys's recent Kradam challenge, hope you enjoy! I've never written Archie before and barely written Cook, so that was a bit hard for me. And I'm sorry if Cook kind of comes off annoying (to Kris, anyways). It's weird, because Cook is absolutely my favorite idol. Also, I just went to Disney World, and my friend made a comment about the new Toy Story ride that kind of spawned this story, so I hope it makes sense for people who haven't been there on that ride! Anyway, yay first ficathon fic so hopefully this is something like you were looking for!
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Kris doesn’t really understand how he ended up babysitting David Archuleta. Okay, so maybe when he learned that the Idol Gods were springing to send all eight pairs of finalists to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the American Idol Experience in Disneyworld, he got kind of excited. Kris hadn’t seen Adam in one month, two weeks, five days, and about five hours, so that was just kind of too much.
Kris and Adam and David and David get flown in a day earlier than all the rest of the finalists, because the four of them are the most current (and therefore, relevant to 19) artists in the Idol Alumni Troupe. Kris is the first person to get there. He sends a cute little text to Adam telling him to come up to his room, so they can be reunited. So when Kris hears the private doorbell ringing, he gets a bit elated. That is, until Adam struts in. Walking arm in arm with David Cook.
Kris knew that Adam and Cook had gotten kind of close these past few months. Adam spent all season talking about how David Cook was his inspiration to try out. If Cook could be so successful but still true to himself, why couldn’t Adam? And yeah, they were both signed to RCA, and both based in LA. (Kris is still kind of pissed that Jive made him set up camp in New York, where all of his producers live. That doesn’t even make sense. Don’t they know Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world?) And yeah, Adam’s been mentioning Cook more and more in his texts, but Kris just wrote that off as Adam finding someone to hang out with because Kris wasn’t around. Surely when they were reunited Adam would drop Cook and reunite with his best friend?
So Adam has to stroll in and tell Kris that he and David were going down to the pool, because the Beach Club absolutely has the nicest pool on the Disneyworld property, and doesn’t Kris want to come down with them? But Kris can’t believe that Adam can’t even take one minute away from the AI7 winner, so he kind of just whines about how tired he is from his flight (even though Adam’s flight was like 6 hours and Kris’s was barely even 3).
Adam and Cook leave Kris alone in his room to sulk, and Kris just sits on the bed for an entire hour. Katy couldn’t make it, claiming she had an important deadline for work due Monday and wouldn’t Kris want quality time to spend with Adam alone, anyway? But obviously that’s not working out, until Kris hears another knock at his door. Good. Adam’s coming around and realizing what an ass he’s been.
And then Kris opens the door and finds a bashful looking David Archuleta on the other side.
“Um, hey, um, Kris. I hope you don’t mind me coming here, but I just got here, and Cook told me they were at the pool but you were alone, and I said I’d visit you instead. That’s okay, right…” Archie trails off before finishing, “Gosh, this is a nice hotel room!”
Kris nods, because Archie’s a good kid, and they’re sort of friends, because Archie was chosen to win, and Kris never was, but they’re both Jive and David visits New York a lot, so publicity happens, and why wasn’t Adam signed to Jive?
“Kris, are you okay? You seem, I don’t know, sad or something?” Archie asks with just a hint of confusion in his voice.
“No, David, I’m fine. It’s just, I’ve been under a lot of pressure this year, as I’m sure you understand, but it’s just catching up with me, I guess.”
“Are you sure?” David asks with naiveté that only a sheltered teenager can have.
“Well,” Kris begins, “I guess I just was surprised about Adam. I mean, it’s been like two months since we’ve seen each other, and well, all he wants to do is hang out with Cook, who he hangs out with all the time! I just want to be his first priority, I guess.”
“Are you in love with him?”
Yeah, because that’s a logical response to the confession Kris had just made. Suddenly, all Kris can do is gape. When his mouth opens wide to speak but absolutely no words come out, Kris actually starts to ponder Archie’s question. Sure, Kris would do anything in the world for Adam, but who wouldn’t say the same thing about their best friend? Not that Adam’s been acting all BFF-y lately.
“Now, Archie, where would you come up with a crazy idea like that? Adam’s just my best friend is all and I want to spend time with him.”
“Well, gee, I mean, I know it was totally different on my year, because like, I was the only teenager of the bunch, and yeah, you guys had Allison, and of course she’s the only teenager of the bunch too, but, she was one of you guys, like, you and Adam totally adopted her and your little sister/other best friend, but for me, it was like I was everyone’s little brother. Cook was the only one who actually treated me like an actual person instead of just a cute toy to play with.
Halfway through the finals, when it seemed inevitable that it was going to be a David vs David showdown, and even I started believing, which was weird for me, because, like, I didn’t want to be too presumptuous or anything, but especially after Michael got out, Cook, um, started paying lots of attention to me. When the group got smaller and smaller, gosh, well, we got closer and closer. By the end of the competition, I didn’t know how I was going to be able to live without him around all the time.
Well, I guess I kinda fell in love with him, and he was just so sweet and so hot sometimes, ohmigosh I can’t believe I just said that, but when I went to kiss him the night before the finale, he kissed me back for a few seconds before stopping and telling me he was sorry that I wasn’t just a few years older. And he was so, so nice about it, and well, being in the final two with someone you really cares about connects you forever.
And, like, you and Adam, well, you’re only four years apart, and Kris, you’re married, so that makes you mature in a way, and Adam seems kinda young for his age, so you’re practically like the same age, so that shouldn’t stop you from trying to figure out how you really feel about him.”
Archie got all of that from one little facial expression? Even though his logic was kind of faulty.
“And you think me being married makes Adam a good match for me?”
“Well, gee, when you put it like that, I guess it doesn’t make sense. But maybe Adam does mean more to you than you think, so I guess I’m just telling you that you should try to look at him in a different way.”
How did David Archuleta get to be so smart, anyways?
And then Kris and Archie turn to the door to hear the sound of plastic being swiped through the door. When it opens, Adam’s standing on the other side in his half naked glory, beaming at Kris.
“I convinced the hotel concierge to give me a key to your room. She said it was illegal and she could get fired, but then I flashed her a pretty smile, and she said she was a huge Kradam fan after all, so she guesses it was okay. Isn’t Kradam just like the most precious word you’ve ever heard?”
Thank god Adam waited until that second to walk in. Kris needs some time to process what Archie had just talked to him about, anyways. But why did Adam have to look so damn good in his swim trunks?
And then Archie took his as his cue to leave, and gives Kris a big, knowing smile before leaving the room.
“So, you had a good talk while I soaked up the Florida sun?” Adam asks with one of the biggest grins Kris had seen in a while.
“Yeah, sure, I guess. You have a good time with that new best friend of yours?”
“Touché, Allen. Just because Cook found me first and wanted to have some fun at the pool doesn’t mind I wouldn’t rather be spending time with you. After all, I haven’t seen you in one month, two weeks, and five days. Catch up time, before all the festivities start,” Adam declares as he jumps onto the nearest bed, the one that Kris happens to already be sprawled on.
Kris couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Adam had been counting how long it’s been since they were last together, too. And the fact that they were lying just a little too close together also made Kris happy. Could Archie have been right about what he was saying?
Hours later, when the seasons seven and eight finalists finished with their press for the evening, and Adam made a big point to spend much more time with Kris than with Cook (so much, in fact, that the season seven winner actually pouted to Archie for about six minutes straight), Kris had retired to his hotel room. Adam begged to be able to stay over, but Kris claimed they had a huge day ahead of them and he needed to get his sleep. And yes, okay, maybe because the huge day ahead required spending part of the day running around the theme parks trying to get on as many rides as possible and the Tower of Terror just cannot be enjoyed while asleep.
Still, Kris goes to sleep unable to think of anyone, anything besides Adam. And when he wakes up, his former roommate and tour-bunkbed-mate was the first thing on his mind. Of course.
*
So hours pass and Kris and Adam and David and David go to do press. Archie made sure to spend as much of his free time with Cook as possible, because the teenager thought it would make Kris feel better. But strangely enough, it didn’t help. At all. All Kris could focus on was how, whenever Cook put a hand on Archie’s shoulder, he held it there a bit too long, or whenever Archie looked up with adoring eyes, his gaze held steady for slightly longer than appropriate. Was it just a final two bond, or was there still something else there? Would he and Adam ever be like that? Were they already?
They were given a two hour break before the other twelve finalists were scheduled to arrive, but they weren’t allowed to leave MGM Studios, so of course Kris and Adam went straight to the new Toy Story ride. Neither of them had ever been on it, and the lines, albeit 90 minutes long, were nothing for the AI8 winner and runner-up who just happened to have VIP get-out-of-line passes. When they entered the ride and got situated into the car, they started to learn how the ride worked.
See, the Toy Story ride was interactive. You had to keep your hand on a string that you pulled towards you, as quickly and as rhythmically as possible, and a 3D electronic splash of paint would fly out, based on your hand movements.
About twenty seconds into the ride, Adam asks the question that pretty much changed Kris Allen’s life forever.
“Doesn’t this ride thingy kind of remind you of jerking off?”
“Um, what????” Of course Adam would go there. Of course Kris’s mouth would open as wide as possible in shock. And of course, Kris wouldn’t be able to handle it after his talk with Archie the previous night. Was Adam just fucking with him? Or was he not-so-subtly hiding what he really wants?
“Come on, Kris, I know you’re innocent and all, but I’ve heard you touch yourself before. Roommates and bunkmates, remember?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m a guy. Who’s been deprived for a long time. You know, without Katy around and everything. Because, like, she’s my wife. And that’s what husbands and wives do whenever they’re together. Especially in their first year of marriage, which, you know, I happened to just finish. Because, like…” Kris was only interrupted by the clunk the ride made when their car jerked to a stop. Apparently the ride had broken down.
“Calm down, Allen. I was just making an observation. But, you must get it, moving your hand so fast towards your crotch just so you can get the right angle, to get everything just right?”
Why did Adam have to have the most adorably cocky smile stuck on his face right now? The older man totally won this little conversation. But what did anything of this even mean? Kris was clearly going crazy by this point.
And then, suddenly, the ride starts up again. Adam immediately gets back to the game, trying even harder than before, but Kris, unsurprisingly, just couldn’t get into it. Kris just kind of holds the controller and waves his hand around wildly, not trying at all.
When the ride ends and the scores were tallied, Adam giggles in delight. Kris, however, was still kind of dazed from the conversation that just happened.
“Kris, did I really just beat you by 100,000 points?” Adam couldn’t appear to believe just how awesome he was on this ride.
“Well, it was only 87,000 points,” Kris starts to retort, trying to find some level of normal to act at. “Guess I just don’t have as much practice as you do.”
“Practice? I’ve never been on this ride before… oh, practice at the other thing. God, Kris, you can be dirty sometimes. You’re sexy when you get like that,” Adam practically purrs.
And finally, when the boys manage to turn the awkwardness into a joke like they always, always do, Kris goes back to normal.
*
When everyone’s arrived in Florida and all the appearances have been made, Kris goes back to his hotel room. It had been a fairly stressful afternoon, especially after the producer of the American Idol Experience decided it would be a great idea for all eight winners to give an impromptu show in front of a live audience. Of course the audience voted for David Cook to be the grand winner. It’s times like those that makes Kris wonder why he won over Adam.
Meanwhile, Kris went back to his hotel room alone, but only because he promised to find Adam immediately after his shower. In the steaming hot stall, Kris allows himself to reflect on the day that had just passed. Was Adam coming onto him as overtly as he seemed, or was that just Adam being Adam? More importantly, was Kris okay with that, if the former turned out to be true?
But all the while, all Kris could think about was how badly he wanted to get back to Adam. He showers and shaves as quickly as he can. Unfortunately, as soon as he finishes getting dressed, his cell phone (only sort-of-embarrassingly set to Adam’s version of Feelin’ Good) starts to ring with a smiling picture of Katy on the front. ‘Surely Katy will understand that I can’t talk for long,’ Kris began to think, ‘because I have to get back to Adam, right? Oh, fuck, Allen. That’s not how you’re supposed to think of your wife. Just an obstacle on the way to seeing your best friend.’
Anyway, Kris had to answer the phone before it went to voicemail. “Hey, babe. What’s up? Sorry I haven’t called since I landed, the last two days have just been crazy.”
“Um, Kris, well, there’s something I need to talk about,” Katy struggles to get out, her voice caught in her throat like she’s been crying.
“Katy, god, are you okay?”
“Yeah, Kris, everything’s fine? There’s just, well, there’s something I need to tell you. Please don’t interrupt me, okay?” she pauses, waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, sure, Katy-bear, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Kris, stop making this so hard. Okay,” she breathes deeply, “here goes. Um, well, a few weeks ago, maybe two months ago, this new guy, Robbie, was transferred into my office. He’s a little older than us, 26, and he was really sweet. Rhonda assigned me to orient him into the office, you know, take him out to lunch, make him feel comfortable, all that stuff. So I did, and at the end of our lunch, he pulled out my chair, like a gentleman, you know, all the while staring at my left hand. So he tells me he didn’t know I was married, and I asked him if he lived under a rock, so, you know, he glares at me like I’m crazy, and I tell well, my husband just won American Idol, hence the rock statement, and he gets this sad look on his face, like he’s disappointed, and that look just made me so sad. So before I realized what I was doing, I leaned into kiss him.”
All of a sudden, when Katy paused, Kris’s jaw dropped open. If Katy had been in the room, he would have stared so hard that it probably would have scared her. Was she kidding? Did she really do this? What did this mean for them? And then Kris’s eyes welled up with tears, wanting Katy to continue this story, but not actually wanting to know the rest. Had she really been cheating on him for this long? Two whole months and he didn’t realize anything?
(Un)fortunately, she started speaking again. “When I kissed Robbie, he stopped me. I mean, I just told him I was married, for god sakes! So he asked me to consider what I was doing, and I ran out of the restaurant. When I saw him at work for the next couple days, he was just so sweet and understanding, but nothing happened for a while. But you know, Kris, all the time I was wondering why I kissed him. And finally, I just realized, I don’t think I can do this anymore. I can’t be the wife of America’s greatest new singer-songwriter, one who’s taken up residence in New York and barely even comes back to Arkansas anymore.”
At this, Kris starts to protest. “Come on, Katy-bear, you know I would be home more if they would let me, right?”
“Of course, Kris, but that’s just the thing. They don’t let you. I have no idea what you’re going through. I wish I could be Adam sometimes, the only one who I feel truly knows what you’re going through right now.”
“Adam?”
“Yeah, Kris. I get the way you talk about him, the way you pout when it’s been over a week (or even a month) since you’ve seen him, the way you always want to be around him. He’s the one you should be with. So, eventually, I went back to Robbie. I told him I didn’t know what was going on at all, only that I couldn’t stay married for long. We slept together that night, and I felt so terrible about cheating on you, Kris, you know I love you, but this thing with Robbie, I think we actually have a chance. Nothing else has happened between us, yet, but I just can’t be married to you anymore. Kris, I’m so, so sorry.”
“Katy, fuck. I mean, I don’t even know what to say. What do you want me to say? I guess I’m sorry that I can’t be what you need anymore. I need to go now though. We’ll finish this conversation later.”
With that, Kris ends the conversation, pressing the END button as hard and as quickly as he can. Suddenly, all of the tears that had been collecting in his eyes begin to fall. He needs to get to Adam. Now.
*
Kris leaves his room almost immediately and runs down the hallway as quickly as he can. When he gets to Adam’s room, he notices that the door was slightly ajar, held open by tip of Adam’s least favorite eyeliner, a trick that Adam had done all the time on tour. When Kris enters the room, it’s empty. Adam must still be in the shower. And then, like Adam could feel Kris’s presence, the bathroom door opens. Adam’s wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his waist, and grins when he notices Kris sitting on his bed. The grin quickly disappears when he sees the completely distraught expression on Kris’s tear-stained face.
“Kris, honey, what happened to you in the thirty minutes since I’ve last seen you? All I’ve done in that time was take a short shower.”
“A short shower that lasts a half hour?” Despite himself, Kris manages to find himself cracking a small smile.
“You know me, when I have time and I’m not paying for the water bill. Not that I have a lot of time when I know you take the shortest showers ever and I want to spend as much time with you as humanly possibly before we’re forced back to separate coasts. But seriously, Kris, what happened to you?”
“Katy cheated on me. I think we’re getting divorced.”
“Oh god, Kris. Did she just call? What happened? Wait, do you even want to talk about it?” Adam runs to the closet to put on a fluffy robe the hotel provides. Even though he’s still kind of too wet to get dressed, this is not a conversation to be had completely naked.
Kris starts to smile appreciatively, like talking to Adam was exactly what he needed to feel better. “Um, she met a guy at work, he pursued her before realizing she was married…”
“Fuck, did he live under a rock or something? Did he not watch the most amazing American Idol contestant of all time?”
“Well, that’s a little egotistical, Adam, but weirdly enough, that rock comment, that’s exactly what Katy said.”
“You know, I was talking about you, Kris, right?”
“I mean, no, but yeah, you know, I guess,” Kris stumbles to get out as he wonders why Adam sometimes makes him so, so awkward. Adam think it’s adorable, though, so Kris doesn’t mind his stupid behavior.
“Anyway, this guy, Robbie,” Kris spits his name out, “made Katy realize that I wasn’t the guy for her anymore. She’s been so unhappy, and I didn’t even realize.” With that, Kris starts to cry again. That’s not supposed to happen.
Adam walks over to the bed and sits down right next to Kris, leans in real close, and says, “Kristoper Allen, this is not your fault. You did the best you could under the circumstances. If it’s any consolation, I know what you mean about not being the same person you were before.”
“That’s what Katy says. That only you, and not her, know how I feel, know what I’m going through. She says we’re too different to be together anymore.”
Adam, suddenly, leans in even closer, and envelops Kris into a huge bear hug before whispering into his ear, “Don’t worry, Kris, everything will be okay. I’ll help you get through this. We’ll get through this together.”
And then, something within Kris changes. His grief goes away. As long as Adam’s around, he’ll be okay. Adam can fix anything. When the older man leans back, Kris does the only thing he could possibly do in that moment. He kisses Adam.
Adam hesitates for only a second before responding hungrily. Kris is slightly surprised at the spark between them, but only a little bit. Every single moment since he’s been in Florida has been leading towards this.
Kris and Adam continue to kissing, needing, consuming each other until neither man can breathe, and Adam is the first to pull away. Luckily for Kris, though, he only pulls away about two inches, so their foreheads are still touching. Kris quickly notices when the expression in Adam’s eyes turns away from hunger into something much less wonderful - confusion, sadness? Why is Adam sad now? The last moment had been everything Kris never knew he wanted, but it was the thing that had been missing from his life since, well, Hollywood.
“Kris, you’re amazing. That kiss was amazing. More than anything I ever could have dreamt of. But I need to know that this is what you want. Not just something you’re settling for. I know this isn’t the time to put the focus on me, but I can’t handle being just a rebound.”
Oh god. That’s what Adam thought this was? Well, that makes sense, Kris thinks, considering Adam did just learn that Kris was getting divorced about ten seconds ago.
“Adam, I’m not good at being alone. I’ve been with Katy since I was sixteen, and even before that, I was constantly dating,” Kris starts to tell Adam, before being interrupted.
“That’s what’s worrying me, though. I can’t just fill the void Katy’s left with you.”
“Adam, let me get through this. Please don’t interrupt me,” Kris says, subconsciously echoing Katy’s plea from just a half hour before. “I’m not good at being alone. When Katy and I went to different schools, even though we stayed together the entire time, that was hard enough. I thought, well, that once Katy and I got married, I would never have to be alone again. But I was wrong. Days after our honeymoon, I met the person who would change my life forever. I met you. Even though I didn’t realize this until just now, you became my everything. I’ve been alone since the tour, because I’ve been without you. How I feel about you, Adam, just because I’m getting the opportunity now to express it, doesn’t mean my infatuation, my need to be around you, is artificial. I promise you, this is the real thing,” Kris finishes defiantly, waiting for a reaction from his best friend.
Adam’s reaction isn’t verbal, though. He responds by kissing Kris with even more hunger than before, if that was even possible. The kiss lasts even longer, before Kris breaks away this time, wearing an expression that Adam has only seen on his own face before - a totally cocky and yet completely adorable grin.
“Allen, what’s gotten into you?”
“There’s been something I’ve been imagining since earlier in the day that, well, I just can’t seem to get my mind off of.”
“Oh, yeah, what’s that?”
“Adam, I would like nothing more right now than to watch you touch yourself.”
Adam’s mouth falls open in shock. Did Kris Allen really just say that? Adam thinks it’s wonderful.
“Kris, I think I like this new side of you. I never even thought I could imagine it, but you’re pretty dirty.
“Well, just wait until you see me in bed. When Katy and I first started getting intimate, she said she could never cook for me again knowing what else that mouth of mine could do.”
“Fuck, Kris, you’re amazing. But first of all, intimate? You actually say that? But second, I cannot wait to discover for myself what you can do with that mouth of yours. We’re gonna have fun tonight. I’ve been told I have a pretty good mouth, myself.”
Kris smiles lazily before responding, “Well, I guess that is required for the two American Idol finalists, after all. Why are you still dressed? Didn’t I ask you to touch yourself?”
“Ooh, demanding, too. Why, Kris Allen, you’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Adam says in a high-pitched Southern accent, all the while untying his robe.
*
The next morning, when Kris finally wakes up (he did have a pretty intense night, ahem, discovering some more of Adam’s many talents), he finds himself completely enveloped in Adam’s arms and legs. How Adam man managed to sleep like that is a wonder to Kris, but Adam is amazing at everything, including sleeping. Kris unwraps himself from Adam’s embrace, trying as hard as he can to not to wake his new lover.
Unfortunately, Kris fails in his task as he gets out of the bed. Adam wakes to find Kris standing naked in front of the bed, a sight he hungrily takes in, practically ready for more (but not completely after the night the boys had).
“Hey, babe, morning. Why you out of bed so early?”
“Adam, it’s 10!”
“Like I said, early. We don’t have anywhere to be until our planes home tonight, do we? I’m gonna miss you.”
“Actually, I was thinking about that. I’m coming to LA with you. I’m the artist. The record company can’t tell me where I need to make my music. I need to be with my muse. But anyway, I need to call someone, and that’s why I’m up. I’ll go into the bathroom so I don’t bother you, though, okay?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Everything’s perfect,” Kris says with a smile as he walks into the bathroom and dials.
“Hey, momma.”
“Kris, honey, how are you? It’s early for you to be calling, is everything okay?”
Kris never gets over the sound of his mom on the other line. “Yeah, mom, everything is fine. Well, better than fine, actually. But I had a kind of a big night, and I want you to know about it before someone else tells you. Here goes. Katy and I are getting divorced. It’s kind of a mutual thing,” because there’s no reason to make Katy out to be the bad guy, “and I’m going to start dating Adam.”
“Kris, are you okay? Is this what you want?”
“Strangely enough, I don’t think I could ever imagine wanting anything, anyone, else. This is gonna be weird for me, but I’m positive it’s right.”
When Kris hangs up a few minutes later, he gets back into bed where Adam had already fallen back asleep. He’s quite a sight, completely naked with the covers only half thrown over his beautiful body. Kris wants to shake Adam awake so they can have more time together, but he decides to wake him up in a more creative way. When Adam does wake up again, he's not annoyed at Kris. There are worse ways to wake up than with a naked Kris Allen lying on top on you.
Pairing: Kradam, mentions of Cookleta
Rating: R-ish for language and a few other things
Word Count: about 4700. Glad this fic was planned to be about 2000 words :)
Summary: Adam and Kris get a hell of a lot more than they bargained for when they end up spending a weekend in Disney World to promote the American Idol Experience.
Disclaimer: Not mine, obviously!
Author's Note: Written for crushandburn90 in paintedboys's recent Kradam challenge, hope you enjoy! I've never written Archie before and barely written Cook, so that was a bit hard for me. And I'm sorry if Cook kind of comes off annoying (to Kris, anyways). It's weird, because Cook is absolutely my favorite idol. Also, I just went to Disney World, and my friend made a comment about the new Toy Story ride that kind of spawned this story, so I hope it makes sense for people who haven't been there on that ride! Anyway, yay first ficathon fic so hopefully this is something like you were looking for!
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Kris doesn’t really understand how he ended up babysitting David Archuleta. Okay, so maybe when he learned that the Idol Gods were springing to send all eight pairs of finalists to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the American Idol Experience in Disneyworld, he got kind of excited. Kris hadn’t seen Adam in one month, two weeks, five days, and about five hours, so that was just kind of too much.
Kris and Adam and David and David get flown in a day earlier than all the rest of the finalists, because the four of them are the most current (and therefore, relevant to 19) artists in the Idol Alumni Troupe. Kris is the first person to get there. He sends a cute little text to Adam telling him to come up to his room, so they can be reunited. So when Kris hears the private doorbell ringing, he gets a bit elated. That is, until Adam struts in. Walking arm in arm with David Cook.
Kris knew that Adam and Cook had gotten kind of close these past few months. Adam spent all season talking about how David Cook was his inspiration to try out. If Cook could be so successful but still true to himself, why couldn’t Adam? And yeah, they were both signed to RCA, and both based in LA. (Kris is still kind of pissed that Jive made him set up camp in New York, where all of his producers live. That doesn’t even make sense. Don’t they know Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world?) And yeah, Adam’s been mentioning Cook more and more in his texts, but Kris just wrote that off as Adam finding someone to hang out with because Kris wasn’t around. Surely when they were reunited Adam would drop Cook and reunite with his best friend?
So Adam has to stroll in and tell Kris that he and David were going down to the pool, because the Beach Club absolutely has the nicest pool on the Disneyworld property, and doesn’t Kris want to come down with them? But Kris can’t believe that Adam can’t even take one minute away from the AI7 winner, so he kind of just whines about how tired he is from his flight (even though Adam’s flight was like 6 hours and Kris’s was barely even 3).
Adam and Cook leave Kris alone in his room to sulk, and Kris just sits on the bed for an entire hour. Katy couldn’t make it, claiming she had an important deadline for work due Monday and wouldn’t Kris want quality time to spend with Adam alone, anyway? But obviously that’s not working out, until Kris hears another knock at his door. Good. Adam’s coming around and realizing what an ass he’s been.
And then Kris opens the door and finds a bashful looking David Archuleta on the other side.
“Um, hey, um, Kris. I hope you don’t mind me coming here, but I just got here, and Cook told me they were at the pool but you were alone, and I said I’d visit you instead. That’s okay, right…” Archie trails off before finishing, “Gosh, this is a nice hotel room!”
Kris nods, because Archie’s a good kid, and they’re sort of friends, because Archie was chosen to win, and Kris never was, but they’re both Jive and David visits New York a lot, so publicity happens, and why wasn’t Adam signed to Jive?
“Kris, are you okay? You seem, I don’t know, sad or something?” Archie asks with just a hint of confusion in his voice.
“No, David, I’m fine. It’s just, I’ve been under a lot of pressure this year, as I’m sure you understand, but it’s just catching up with me, I guess.”
“Are you sure?” David asks with naiveté that only a sheltered teenager can have.
“Well,” Kris begins, “I guess I just was surprised about Adam. I mean, it’s been like two months since we’ve seen each other, and well, all he wants to do is hang out with Cook, who he hangs out with all the time! I just want to be his first priority, I guess.”
“Are you in love with him?”
Yeah, because that’s a logical response to the confession Kris had just made. Suddenly, all Kris can do is gape. When his mouth opens wide to speak but absolutely no words come out, Kris actually starts to ponder Archie’s question. Sure, Kris would do anything in the world for Adam, but who wouldn’t say the same thing about their best friend? Not that Adam’s been acting all BFF-y lately.
“Now, Archie, where would you come up with a crazy idea like that? Adam’s just my best friend is all and I want to spend time with him.”
“Well, gee, I mean, I know it was totally different on my year, because like, I was the only teenager of the bunch, and yeah, you guys had Allison, and of course she’s the only teenager of the bunch too, but, she was one of you guys, like, you and Adam totally adopted her and your little sister/other best friend, but for me, it was like I was everyone’s little brother. Cook was the only one who actually treated me like an actual person instead of just a cute toy to play with.
Halfway through the finals, when it seemed inevitable that it was going to be a David vs David showdown, and even I started believing, which was weird for me, because, like, I didn’t want to be too presumptuous or anything, but especially after Michael got out, Cook, um, started paying lots of attention to me. When the group got smaller and smaller, gosh, well, we got closer and closer. By the end of the competition, I didn’t know how I was going to be able to live without him around all the time.
Well, I guess I kinda fell in love with him, and he was just so sweet and so hot sometimes, ohmigosh I can’t believe I just said that, but when I went to kiss him the night before the finale, he kissed me back for a few seconds before stopping and telling me he was sorry that I wasn’t just a few years older. And he was so, so nice about it, and well, being in the final two with someone you really cares about connects you forever.
And, like, you and Adam, well, you’re only four years apart, and Kris, you’re married, so that makes you mature in a way, and Adam seems kinda young for his age, so you’re practically like the same age, so that shouldn’t stop you from trying to figure out how you really feel about him.”
Archie got all of that from one little facial expression? Even though his logic was kind of faulty.
“And you think me being married makes Adam a good match for me?”
“Well, gee, when you put it like that, I guess it doesn’t make sense. But maybe Adam does mean more to you than you think, so I guess I’m just telling you that you should try to look at him in a different way.”
How did David Archuleta get to be so smart, anyways?
And then Kris and Archie turn to the door to hear the sound of plastic being swiped through the door. When it opens, Adam’s standing on the other side in his half naked glory, beaming at Kris.
“I convinced the hotel concierge to give me a key to your room. She said it was illegal and she could get fired, but then I flashed her a pretty smile, and she said she was a huge Kradam fan after all, so she guesses it was okay. Isn’t Kradam just like the most precious word you’ve ever heard?”
Thank god Adam waited until that second to walk in. Kris needs some time to process what Archie had just talked to him about, anyways. But why did Adam have to look so damn good in his swim trunks?
And then Archie took his as his cue to leave, and gives Kris a big, knowing smile before leaving the room.
“So, you had a good talk while I soaked up the Florida sun?” Adam asks with one of the biggest grins Kris had seen in a while.
“Yeah, sure, I guess. You have a good time with that new best friend of yours?”
“Touché, Allen. Just because Cook found me first and wanted to have some fun at the pool doesn’t mind I wouldn’t rather be spending time with you. After all, I haven’t seen you in one month, two weeks, and five days. Catch up time, before all the festivities start,” Adam declares as he jumps onto the nearest bed, the one that Kris happens to already be sprawled on.
Kris couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Adam had been counting how long it’s been since they were last together, too. And the fact that they were lying just a little too close together also made Kris happy. Could Archie have been right about what he was saying?
Hours later, when the seasons seven and eight finalists finished with their press for the evening, and Adam made a big point to spend much more time with Kris than with Cook (so much, in fact, that the season seven winner actually pouted to Archie for about six minutes straight), Kris had retired to his hotel room. Adam begged to be able to stay over, but Kris claimed they had a huge day ahead of them and he needed to get his sleep. And yes, okay, maybe because the huge day ahead required spending part of the day running around the theme parks trying to get on as many rides as possible and the Tower of Terror just cannot be enjoyed while asleep.
Still, Kris goes to sleep unable to think of anyone, anything besides Adam. And when he wakes up, his former roommate and tour-bunkbed-mate was the first thing on his mind. Of course.
*
So hours pass and Kris and Adam and David and David go to do press. Archie made sure to spend as much of his free time with Cook as possible, because the teenager thought it would make Kris feel better. But strangely enough, it didn’t help. At all. All Kris could focus on was how, whenever Cook put a hand on Archie’s shoulder, he held it there a bit too long, or whenever Archie looked up with adoring eyes, his gaze held steady for slightly longer than appropriate. Was it just a final two bond, or was there still something else there? Would he and Adam ever be like that? Were they already?
They were given a two hour break before the other twelve finalists were scheduled to arrive, but they weren’t allowed to leave MGM Studios, so of course Kris and Adam went straight to the new Toy Story ride. Neither of them had ever been on it, and the lines, albeit 90 minutes long, were nothing for the AI8 winner and runner-up who just happened to have VIP get-out-of-line passes. When they entered the ride and got situated into the car, they started to learn how the ride worked.
See, the Toy Story ride was interactive. You had to keep your hand on a string that you pulled towards you, as quickly and as rhythmically as possible, and a 3D electronic splash of paint would fly out, based on your hand movements.
About twenty seconds into the ride, Adam asks the question that pretty much changed Kris Allen’s life forever.
“Doesn’t this ride thingy kind of remind you of jerking off?”
“Um, what????” Of course Adam would go there. Of course Kris’s mouth would open as wide as possible in shock. And of course, Kris wouldn’t be able to handle it after his talk with Archie the previous night. Was Adam just fucking with him? Or was he not-so-subtly hiding what he really wants?
“Come on, Kris, I know you’re innocent and all, but I’ve heard you touch yourself before. Roommates and bunkmates, remember?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m a guy. Who’s been deprived for a long time. You know, without Katy around and everything. Because, like, she’s my wife. And that’s what husbands and wives do whenever they’re together. Especially in their first year of marriage, which, you know, I happened to just finish. Because, like…” Kris was only interrupted by the clunk the ride made when their car jerked to a stop. Apparently the ride had broken down.
“Calm down, Allen. I was just making an observation. But, you must get it, moving your hand so fast towards your crotch just so you can get the right angle, to get everything just right?”
Why did Adam have to have the most adorably cocky smile stuck on his face right now? The older man totally won this little conversation. But what did anything of this even mean? Kris was clearly going crazy by this point.
And then, suddenly, the ride starts up again. Adam immediately gets back to the game, trying even harder than before, but Kris, unsurprisingly, just couldn’t get into it. Kris just kind of holds the controller and waves his hand around wildly, not trying at all.
When the ride ends and the scores were tallied, Adam giggles in delight. Kris, however, was still kind of dazed from the conversation that just happened.
“Kris, did I really just beat you by 100,000 points?” Adam couldn’t appear to believe just how awesome he was on this ride.
“Well, it was only 87,000 points,” Kris starts to retort, trying to find some level of normal to act at. “Guess I just don’t have as much practice as you do.”
“Practice? I’ve never been on this ride before… oh, practice at the other thing. God, Kris, you can be dirty sometimes. You’re sexy when you get like that,” Adam practically purrs.
And finally, when the boys manage to turn the awkwardness into a joke like they always, always do, Kris goes back to normal.
*
When everyone’s arrived in Florida and all the appearances have been made, Kris goes back to his hotel room. It had been a fairly stressful afternoon, especially after the producer of the American Idol Experience decided it would be a great idea for all eight winners to give an impromptu show in front of a live audience. Of course the audience voted for David Cook to be the grand winner. It’s times like those that makes Kris wonder why he won over Adam.
Meanwhile, Kris went back to his hotel room alone, but only because he promised to find Adam immediately after his shower. In the steaming hot stall, Kris allows himself to reflect on the day that had just passed. Was Adam coming onto him as overtly as he seemed, or was that just Adam being Adam? More importantly, was Kris okay with that, if the former turned out to be true?
But all the while, all Kris could think about was how badly he wanted to get back to Adam. He showers and shaves as quickly as he can. Unfortunately, as soon as he finishes getting dressed, his cell phone (only sort-of-embarrassingly set to Adam’s version of Feelin’ Good) starts to ring with a smiling picture of Katy on the front. ‘Surely Katy will understand that I can’t talk for long,’ Kris began to think, ‘because I have to get back to Adam, right? Oh, fuck, Allen. That’s not how you’re supposed to think of your wife. Just an obstacle on the way to seeing your best friend.’
Anyway, Kris had to answer the phone before it went to voicemail. “Hey, babe. What’s up? Sorry I haven’t called since I landed, the last two days have just been crazy.”
“Um, Kris, well, there’s something I need to talk about,” Katy struggles to get out, her voice caught in her throat like she’s been crying.
“Katy, god, are you okay?”
“Yeah, Kris, everything’s fine? There’s just, well, there’s something I need to tell you. Please don’t interrupt me, okay?” she pauses, waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, sure, Katy-bear, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Kris, stop making this so hard. Okay,” she breathes deeply, “here goes. Um, well, a few weeks ago, maybe two months ago, this new guy, Robbie, was transferred into my office. He’s a little older than us, 26, and he was really sweet. Rhonda assigned me to orient him into the office, you know, take him out to lunch, make him feel comfortable, all that stuff. So I did, and at the end of our lunch, he pulled out my chair, like a gentleman, you know, all the while staring at my left hand. So he tells me he didn’t know I was married, and I asked him if he lived under a rock, so, you know, he glares at me like I’m crazy, and I tell well, my husband just won American Idol, hence the rock statement, and he gets this sad look on his face, like he’s disappointed, and that look just made me so sad. So before I realized what I was doing, I leaned into kiss him.”
All of a sudden, when Katy paused, Kris’s jaw dropped open. If Katy had been in the room, he would have stared so hard that it probably would have scared her. Was she kidding? Did she really do this? What did this mean for them? And then Kris’s eyes welled up with tears, wanting Katy to continue this story, but not actually wanting to know the rest. Had she really been cheating on him for this long? Two whole months and he didn’t realize anything?
(Un)fortunately, she started speaking again. “When I kissed Robbie, he stopped me. I mean, I just told him I was married, for god sakes! So he asked me to consider what I was doing, and I ran out of the restaurant. When I saw him at work for the next couple days, he was just so sweet and understanding, but nothing happened for a while. But you know, Kris, all the time I was wondering why I kissed him. And finally, I just realized, I don’t think I can do this anymore. I can’t be the wife of America’s greatest new singer-songwriter, one who’s taken up residence in New York and barely even comes back to Arkansas anymore.”
At this, Kris starts to protest. “Come on, Katy-bear, you know I would be home more if they would let me, right?”
“Of course, Kris, but that’s just the thing. They don’t let you. I have no idea what you’re going through. I wish I could be Adam sometimes, the only one who I feel truly knows what you’re going through right now.”
“Adam?”
“Yeah, Kris. I get the way you talk about him, the way you pout when it’s been over a week (or even a month) since you’ve seen him, the way you always want to be around him. He’s the one you should be with. So, eventually, I went back to Robbie. I told him I didn’t know what was going on at all, only that I couldn’t stay married for long. We slept together that night, and I felt so terrible about cheating on you, Kris, you know I love you, but this thing with Robbie, I think we actually have a chance. Nothing else has happened between us, yet, but I just can’t be married to you anymore. Kris, I’m so, so sorry.”
“Katy, fuck. I mean, I don’t even know what to say. What do you want me to say? I guess I’m sorry that I can’t be what you need anymore. I need to go now though. We’ll finish this conversation later.”
With that, Kris ends the conversation, pressing the END button as hard and as quickly as he can. Suddenly, all of the tears that had been collecting in his eyes begin to fall. He needs to get to Adam. Now.
*
Kris leaves his room almost immediately and runs down the hallway as quickly as he can. When he gets to Adam’s room, he notices that the door was slightly ajar, held open by tip of Adam’s least favorite eyeliner, a trick that Adam had done all the time on tour. When Kris enters the room, it’s empty. Adam must still be in the shower. And then, like Adam could feel Kris’s presence, the bathroom door opens. Adam’s wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his waist, and grins when he notices Kris sitting on his bed. The grin quickly disappears when he sees the completely distraught expression on Kris’s tear-stained face.
“Kris, honey, what happened to you in the thirty minutes since I’ve last seen you? All I’ve done in that time was take a short shower.”
“A short shower that lasts a half hour?” Despite himself, Kris manages to find himself cracking a small smile.
“You know me, when I have time and I’m not paying for the water bill. Not that I have a lot of time when I know you take the shortest showers ever and I want to spend as much time with you as humanly possibly before we’re forced back to separate coasts. But seriously, Kris, what happened to you?”
“Katy cheated on me. I think we’re getting divorced.”
“Oh god, Kris. Did she just call? What happened? Wait, do you even want to talk about it?” Adam runs to the closet to put on a fluffy robe the hotel provides. Even though he’s still kind of too wet to get dressed, this is not a conversation to be had completely naked.
Kris starts to smile appreciatively, like talking to Adam was exactly what he needed to feel better. “Um, she met a guy at work, he pursued her before realizing she was married…”
“Fuck, did he live under a rock or something? Did he not watch the most amazing American Idol contestant of all time?”
“Well, that’s a little egotistical, Adam, but weirdly enough, that rock comment, that’s exactly what Katy said.”
“You know, I was talking about you, Kris, right?”
“I mean, no, but yeah, you know, I guess,” Kris stumbles to get out as he wonders why Adam sometimes makes him so, so awkward. Adam think it’s adorable, though, so Kris doesn’t mind his stupid behavior.
“Anyway, this guy, Robbie,” Kris spits his name out, “made Katy realize that I wasn’t the guy for her anymore. She’s been so unhappy, and I didn’t even realize.” With that, Kris starts to cry again. That’s not supposed to happen.
Adam walks over to the bed and sits down right next to Kris, leans in real close, and says, “Kristoper Allen, this is not your fault. You did the best you could under the circumstances. If it’s any consolation, I know what you mean about not being the same person you were before.”
“That’s what Katy says. That only you, and not her, know how I feel, know what I’m going through. She says we’re too different to be together anymore.”
Adam, suddenly, leans in even closer, and envelops Kris into a huge bear hug before whispering into his ear, “Don’t worry, Kris, everything will be okay. I’ll help you get through this. We’ll get through this together.”
And then, something within Kris changes. His grief goes away. As long as Adam’s around, he’ll be okay. Adam can fix anything. When the older man leans back, Kris does the only thing he could possibly do in that moment. He kisses Adam.
Adam hesitates for only a second before responding hungrily. Kris is slightly surprised at the spark between them, but only a little bit. Every single moment since he’s been in Florida has been leading towards this.
Kris and Adam continue to kissing, needing, consuming each other until neither man can breathe, and Adam is the first to pull away. Luckily for Kris, though, he only pulls away about two inches, so their foreheads are still touching. Kris quickly notices when the expression in Adam’s eyes turns away from hunger into something much less wonderful - confusion, sadness? Why is Adam sad now? The last moment had been everything Kris never knew he wanted, but it was the thing that had been missing from his life since, well, Hollywood.
“Kris, you’re amazing. That kiss was amazing. More than anything I ever could have dreamt of. But I need to know that this is what you want. Not just something you’re settling for. I know this isn’t the time to put the focus on me, but I can’t handle being just a rebound.”
Oh god. That’s what Adam thought this was? Well, that makes sense, Kris thinks, considering Adam did just learn that Kris was getting divorced about ten seconds ago.
“Adam, I’m not good at being alone. I’ve been with Katy since I was sixteen, and even before that, I was constantly dating,” Kris starts to tell Adam, before being interrupted.
“That’s what’s worrying me, though. I can’t just fill the void Katy’s left with you.”
“Adam, let me get through this. Please don’t interrupt me,” Kris says, subconsciously echoing Katy’s plea from just a half hour before. “I’m not good at being alone. When Katy and I went to different schools, even though we stayed together the entire time, that was hard enough. I thought, well, that once Katy and I got married, I would never have to be alone again. But I was wrong. Days after our honeymoon, I met the person who would change my life forever. I met you. Even though I didn’t realize this until just now, you became my everything. I’ve been alone since the tour, because I’ve been without you. How I feel about you, Adam, just because I’m getting the opportunity now to express it, doesn’t mean my infatuation, my need to be around you, is artificial. I promise you, this is the real thing,” Kris finishes defiantly, waiting for a reaction from his best friend.
Adam’s reaction isn’t verbal, though. He responds by kissing Kris with even more hunger than before, if that was even possible. The kiss lasts even longer, before Kris breaks away this time, wearing an expression that Adam has only seen on his own face before - a totally cocky and yet completely adorable grin.
“Allen, what’s gotten into you?”
“There’s been something I’ve been imagining since earlier in the day that, well, I just can’t seem to get my mind off of.”
“Oh, yeah, what’s that?”
“Adam, I would like nothing more right now than to watch you touch yourself.”
Adam’s mouth falls open in shock. Did Kris Allen really just say that? Adam thinks it’s wonderful.
“Kris, I think I like this new side of you. I never even thought I could imagine it, but you’re pretty dirty.
“Well, just wait until you see me in bed. When Katy and I first started getting intimate, she said she could never cook for me again knowing what else that mouth of mine could do.”
“Fuck, Kris, you’re amazing. But first of all, intimate? You actually say that? But second, I cannot wait to discover for myself what you can do with that mouth of yours. We’re gonna have fun tonight. I’ve been told I have a pretty good mouth, myself.”
Kris smiles lazily before responding, “Well, I guess that is required for the two American Idol finalists, after all. Why are you still dressed? Didn’t I ask you to touch yourself?”
“Ooh, demanding, too. Why, Kris Allen, you’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Adam says in a high-pitched Southern accent, all the while untying his robe.
*
The next morning, when Kris finally wakes up (he did have a pretty intense night, ahem, discovering some more of Adam’s many talents), he finds himself completely enveloped in Adam’s arms and legs. How Adam man managed to sleep like that is a wonder to Kris, but Adam is amazing at everything, including sleeping. Kris unwraps himself from Adam’s embrace, trying as hard as he can to not to wake his new lover.
Unfortunately, Kris fails in his task as he gets out of the bed. Adam wakes to find Kris standing naked in front of the bed, a sight he hungrily takes in, practically ready for more (but not completely after the night the boys had).
“Hey, babe, morning. Why you out of bed so early?”
“Adam, it’s 10!”
“Like I said, early. We don’t have anywhere to be until our planes home tonight, do we? I’m gonna miss you.”
“Actually, I was thinking about that. I’m coming to LA with you. I’m the artist. The record company can’t tell me where I need to make my music. I need to be with my muse. But anyway, I need to call someone, and that’s why I’m up. I’ll go into the bathroom so I don’t bother you, though, okay?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Everything’s perfect,” Kris says with a smile as he walks into the bathroom and dials.
“Hey, momma.”
“Kris, honey, how are you? It’s early for you to be calling, is everything okay?”
Kris never gets over the sound of his mom on the other line. “Yeah, mom, everything is fine. Well, better than fine, actually. But I had a kind of a big night, and I want you to know about it before someone else tells you. Here goes. Katy and I are getting divorced. It’s kind of a mutual thing,” because there’s no reason to make Katy out to be the bad guy, “and I’m going to start dating Adam.”
“Kris, are you okay? Is this what you want?”
“Strangely enough, I don’t think I could ever imagine wanting anything, anyone, else. This is gonna be weird for me, but I’m positive it’s right.”
When Kris hangs up a few minutes later, he gets back into bed where Adam had already fallen back asleep. He’s quite a sight, completely naked with the covers only half thrown over his beautiful body. Kris wants to shake Adam awake so they can have more time together, but he decides to wake him up in a more creative way. When Adam does wake up again, he's not annoyed at Kris. There are worse ways to wake up than with a naked Kris Allen lying on top on you.