Fic: April (Chapter 12)
So school has been a little hectic, but anyway <3
This is definitely my longest chapter yet, and hope it goes over as well as the others.
Title: April
Author: Brainzz_Insanee
Pairing: David/Kelly(OC), David/Kimberly, eventual David/Michael
Status: 12/14
Word Count: 7053
Rating: R
Summary: David Cook has reached the feat everyone wants to achieve: He’s got a great girlfriend, a supporting and loving family, amazing friends as well as a continually booming singing career. So with all this going for him, what could jeopardize what he’s strived so hard for? And could it be something from the beginning of his journey?
Author’s Note: My appreciation never ends for my readers. Hope you enjoy.
Challenge Info / Ch.1 / Ch.2 / Ch.3 / Ch.4 / Ch.5 / Ch.6 / Ch.7 / Ch.8 / Ch.9 / Ch.10 / Ch. 11
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There are moments that do more than take your breath away, they freeze you entirely and suspend you as if you’re floating. Your feet are far from touching the ground.
“You-- you’re in love with me?”
David swallows thickly, “Yeah… I am.”
A tremor runs through him, especially when Michael comes closer to him until he’s backed up against one of the porch posts. He bites at the bottom left corner of his lip, gripping the post behind him with white knuckles. The other man’s right hand raises and his eyes follow it, closing them when those fingers ghost along his cheek.
Half-lidded eyes stare up into unidentifiable brown, “What are you doing?”
His shaking voice does nothing to take away his uneasiness, just reminds him the situation he got himself in; the one that will likely doom him for the rest of his life.
Michael cups both of his cheeks in warm palms, smallest of smiles on his face and there’s a glimmer inside chocolate orbs. David’s hands move from the post behind him to the Australian’s chest, pushing against the solid form with the small amount of strength he’s possessing at the moment despite it dwindling away by the second.
Dave shifts around in the hold that he’s in, body desperate for flight and escape. He’s never been great at the whole confronting thing. It’s so natural for him to get away from whatever or even whoever is causing him inner turmoil.
The other man interrupts his desire to flee, “Will you just hold still?”
He sees it in slow motion, Michael’s mouth approaching his own. It’s not something he ever thought to see because it’s far from his views on what is and not possible. A kiss with Michael is or rather was highest on his impossible in happening list.
It hits him like a feeling he’s never experienced when Michael’s lips first touch his own, a shock shooting through his joints even though the contact is light. His body instinctively moves closer as his hands drift up and into the Australian’s curly hair, fingers gripping the brown strands as if they are the only rope keeping him from falling into nothingness.
His body shakes to its own accord when he feels hands move down from his face, fingertips graze along his neck and hands grip his waist tight. Michael pulls him flush against his form and it’s really then that he tells himself not to open his eyes. His dreams have never been this vivid and god does he want to believe in this moment more than anything in the world but even the most realistic visions have fooled him.
Everything flies through his presently offline thought process, and he debates on whether or not to pull away. He wants this to be true, so much so and he’s not sure if he can take it if it isn’t; his final suspension would crumble. He immerses himself in this intoxication; indulging in the desired apple in the garden, pushing against that solid figure until there’s no room for anything to fit between.
David pants against the other’s mouth, helplessly continuing his motions despite his body’s requirement for air. He tries to convince himself that his lungs don’t need to be sated, that they can last as long as he wills them to but denial is not infinite.
The loss happens far sooner than he expects, eyes clenching as a small bead of liquid makes its way straight down his face from the edge of his eye. He doesn’t even feel it escape his eye but his skin jumps from warmth on his cheek, lips kissing the tear away as if it had never made its journey.
“David, look at me.”
The eyes don’t open immediately but when they do, they shine with unshed tears and the man’s irises are such a light green that they look a shade of gray. David’s brows scrunch, unmoving under the concerned gaze and he feels boneless when Michael leans down, lips pressing onto his pulse point with arms around him to keep him standing. He feels fingers work up into his hair, threading through the strands and he can’t hold back the pathetic groan that leaves his lips.
“Are you… actually here?” He whispers, just barely audible.
David sees a small smile grace the other man’s features before a broken look passes by his face. It’s only for a couple seconds but he sees it.
“Michael, what’s wrong?” His own emotions begin to show, eyes widening slightly because doubt is a creature that will never remove its claws from his soul.
The Australian shakes his head with a smile, reaching to caress his cheek and run his thumb along the younger man’s jaw line. David keeps his eyes on the dark brown ones in front of him, searching for answers despite knowing that Michael hardly lies.
“It can--”
Dave places a finger on the Aussie’s lips, eyes unfaltering with weakened limbs.
“There won’t be any waiting... I‘ve done enough of it.”
He struggles to be strong even though he has such a craving to collapse against Michael, blur away all his questions and doubts. He wants one moment with no hesitation or thinking… he searches for it because using his brain has done enough damage to his psyche. Waiting so long with those emotions for Michael bottled kept him on a dilapidated balance beam.
He had never truly lost those feelings; that permanent grip on his heart that always reminded him that he was foolish and cruel, especially when the thought of Stacey came to mind. It destroyed him whenever Michael brought her to the hotel to see everyone periodically during the show. He always had a protective arm around her waist and placed those sweet, repetitive kisses to the side of her head all the while looking in his direction as if he knew what he was breaking inside David.
Sometimes he wondered if all that acting when he was younger was meant to prepare him for Michael and the feelings he’d hide from the other man. It scared him at times how easily he was able to stuff away his urge to scream or succumb into a mess of cries because that Australian brought out the best and worst in him.
His desire for Michael had even shown him sides of himself that he’d never seen. Before the other man, he had found it easy to keep himself in line and ease back any wants he had but with the Aussie, sometimes he’d get up earlier than Castro and Johns just to pleasure away the evidence of the forbidden dream he so desperately wanted to be real.
Now, having the sight of what he so long ago confirmed to solely exist in thought, to be everything but fake before his eyes, was more than mind-blowing.
“David, I need to tell you something…”
The younger bites his lip, resisting the negative phrases running in his head and attempting to grasp onto his flicker of better things to come. He has to keep the light on even though it’s sinking into a dank puddle. He sucks at being Mr. Positive.
“Michael, just tell me if this won’t work for you because I don’t--”
“I’m sorry.”
He does a double-take, “Wait… what?”
A rush of relief floods over him before the ocean of pure confusion takes over.
“For you to say that you… that you love me” Michael pauses, lips pressing together and gradually forming into a smile before continuing with a more serious face.
“It made me realize a things, a few that I didn’t want to become clear…”
David wraps his arms around Michael‘s neck, tilting his head up with head on the other man’s shoulder.
“Can you fill me in? I‘m missing something.”
It kills him to see Michael look to the side suddenly, especially when there’s a shine to those knee-buckling brown eyes. The man’s response comes out in a broken whisper.
“I tortured you.”
He parts from Michael, cupping the stubble cheeks in his palms and looking up into the eyes of the man who usually raises him from his pits of self-doom.
“Michael, you didn’t--”
“Yes… I did, god David… I’m so sorry. I never used to see how you felt about me… I was so naive. Whenever I kissed her…”
Dave works his fingers into the mess of brown curls, bringing them to the top of the Australian’s head and pressing down on Michael’s head so that the older bows it forward by David’s chin. Leaning forward, he kisses the man’s forehead.
“You were madly in love with Stacey… things were perfect between you two. It’s not your fault in the slightest. It’s mine. I did this to myself… please don’t be sorry for me.”
Michael goes quiet and he takes the moment to tilt that head up by placing a finger on the Australian’s chin, running his thumbs along the jaw line softly.
“My love for her had changed at some point… it had lost something to it, something I had tried to get back into our relationship but everything I did… nothing made it better. What had baffled me the most was that the effort I committed, the more I did… the more I fell out of love with her and more with you.”
Hazel eyes widen slightly, “When did you know… when things had changed with us?”
“I don’t know… it’s something I still ask myself” Michael blushes then, “All I know is that… well, I felt something for you that I don’t experience in meeting someone ever and I never really pinpointed the feeling. The best I could come up with was that your company never failed in keeping a smile on my face.”
David’s cheeks turn pink then, a brilliant smile coming on his features with dimples showing and all. His green-hazel eyes sparkle and he looks down, unconsciously running his fingertips along the back of Michael’s neck before he rests his head against the other man’s.
He sighs when their cheeks touch softly and without even thinking, one hand travels away from the Australian’s neck and finds one of Michael’s hands. His fingers open them from their fist state, intertwining their fingers.
Michael releases a sigh as well, sinking to the floor with Dave holding onto him. David’s about to speak but stops himself upon hearing a chuckle from the Aussie. This makes him smile as well, and from afar, they’re close enough to each other as they can manage. The older of the two sits with his back to the porch post, legs open and knees up while David lays in between them. His left hand holds Michael’s right while his other hand strokes the rich brown, curly hair. Dave closes his eyes in contentment, the Aussie’s other hand on the small of his back and rubbing light circles there.
“That happened, right? I haven’t gone off the deep end?”
Rich laughter from Michael, “Yes… unless we’ve both lost it.”
David nuzzles his head into the other man’s collarbone, finding it more comfortable then he thought it would be. His whole body hums even though they’ve barely touched and there’s that tingly feeling that goes right through him.
“The feeling never left…” The younger of the two murmurs, sitting up partly.
Michael quirks his head to the side, a dazed smile as he leans forward to capture David’s mouth with his own. He parts a moment later, finger tip running along the younger man’s bottom lip. Dave shuts his eyes as the inevitable shudder rocks through him.
“Which one?”
David flushes, “Never once could I stop wanting… needing… loving you.”
The other man reaches to run fingers through Dave’s hair, smiling in the process when the tips of them trail down the side of the face and down the neck. Michael opens his mouth to speak, but stops and smiles mysteriously instead.
David raises a brow, “What?”
“Nothing, just-- I love you too.”
Despite his deepest desire to stay where he is, goose bumps spread like wild-fire across his pale skin and he shivers against Michael. The Aussie rubs his arms and murmurs something about going inside but all he could focus on was the man’s hot breath on his ear. They both laugh at each other when they try to stand but only succeed in falling against each other, zapped of strength.
David groans, “Okay… I epically fail.”
Michael’s baritone laughter and warm hand in his cool paralyze him briefly.
“Well, it’s not like I’m getting very far either. Come on, you goof.”
They help each other up, his arm partly around Michael’s shoulders while the older man carefully wraps around David’s waist. He pulls the younger flush to his side and they’re almost too busy sneaking looks at each other to notice the screen door, snorting in a mix between a giggle and a snort when they just avoid hitting it.
“You’re so obnoxious.”
Michael scoffs at him, “And you’re a sweetie pie too. Thanks mate.”
Shaking his head at the clear sarcasm, he opens the door for the both of them so that they can enter the house again. Michael closes the door behind him and David, keeping the younger man close to him as they go over to the couch. They sit beside side to side and leg to leg. Their knees bump against each other, the men chuckling like boys at this simple sight before them.
David grins, “I’m pretty sure your knee hit mine first.”
“You’re delusional mate.”
“Me? Yeah right, you’re the one whose seeing things, Johns.”
Michael laughs richly, tugging the other man ever so closer. Dave is nestled into his side and his right arm is behind him, fingers reaching into the ruffled, dark brown hair. David smiles when he feels this, laying his head down on the Australian’s shoulder and closing his eyes. The sigh that leaves him is a rare kind, one of peace with nothing on his mind.
He feels the kiss placed on the top of his head, a full smile now on his face and his right hand rests on the older man’s chest. His fingers trail up and down the chest lazy with no pattern in mind when those green-hazel eyes open again. Michael’s hands drift from his hair, down his neck and rub along his back.
“I think you--”
“There’s nothing--”
They both pause, chuckling at trying to speak at the same time. Michael tells the other man to go first but even after much debacle, Dave only insists upon the Aussie going.
“I don’t think you’re close enough.”
Dave glances back with an arched brow before standing briefly. Looking behind him a few times, he gradually eases himself to where the other man pointed to. He rests back against Michael’s chest, head falling back onto the Australian’s shoulder and settling his hands on the other man’s thighs. He closes his eyes when he feels hands on top of his own.
Dave murmurs into the silence, “I have to get used to this…”
Michael nuzzles his cheek down into the side of David’s face, leaning down enough as to kiss the younger man’s neck and remove any tension that was there.
“And what’s that?”
“Opening myself…doing this… me close to you, being with you…”
The Aussie smiles brightly and whispers by his ear, “Look at me… kiss me.”
David does just that, standing up enough so that he can sit back down on the older man’s lap so that he’s facing Michael. His green-hazel eyes sparkle when he smiles, dimples making him ever so adorable. The Aussie reaches his hands forward, gripping Dave’s waist and pulling him as close as possible while David wraps his arms around Michael’s neck.
“I can kiss you… whenever I want…” Dave murmurs under his breath, more so talking to himself than the Aussie.
The said man calls his name, “Within reason… yes. This time is a good one for kissing.”
“You’re not hinting at all…”
Michael smirks, “Not at all…” He trails sarcastically. “Kiss me already, would you?”
The younger man blushes first, bringing his hands up and slowly threading his fingers through Michael’s curly brown hair. He watches with a smile as those dark brown eyes shut. And he can’t help but just look and study because he wants to remember that expression on Michael’s for the rest of his life. There’s not a blemish on his face and his fingertips ghost along the side of his face, the skin smooth until he gets to stubble.
Once you have something, the appeal weakens and all you want is the next forbidden fruit but there are the rare times when the struggle for your desire was worth every second of agony.
Keeping his fingers in that hair, he closes his own eyes as his face leans down and his lips touch the other man’s. That same voltage from before is back, heat spreading through his body and blood shooting down to his groin in the same minute. Sure he dreamed and imagined, but the real thing is more than anything his mind could’ve created. Michael’s hands race up his back, then back down before fingertips graze along the open skin exposed above his pant line. He trembles from the contact, pressing his body closer to the Australian’s and deepening the kiss.
Michael mirrors his actions, making sure their bodies are flush and David’s brain melts even more when him gripping the Aussie’s hair causes a groan to slip past Michael’s lips despite their fused mouths. It’s only a path of destruction from there, the older man lightly biting down on the bottom left corner of Dave’s bottom lip; a weak spot. The younger man’s actions escalate, right hand drifting down from the curly hair and grabbing Michael through his pants briefly.
The reaction is instant, the Australian pulling back from the kiss and head dropping back against the sofa with half-lidded eyes. David’s eyes darken upon seeing the other man’s own, a thick brown; the darkest kind of chocolate.
Seeing him so open, nothing holds him back from bringing his mouth down on that exposed, sun-kissed neck. He sucks on that skin, nibbling his way along that neck and jaw-line. Light moans escape and it intoxicates him to see exactly what he does to Michael.
The feeling is something so good that he knows with no doubt that he’s never been graced with it. Even when air becomes mandatory, they separate for only half a minute before crashing their mouths back. This time, however, Michael starts kissing along his neck. David’s head falls back as he lets the sensations roll through him with no intentions of ever stopping them.
The proximity, with each kiss and touch, drives him wild. The Aussie murmurs his name off and on; making him impossibly insane with desire and that prompts him to hear it more. When he feels Michael’s hands go under his shirt, his back arches slightly and has to pause himself because he’s on fire. His breath his heavy and he feels almost light-headed from everything. So overwhelmed, it’s both nerving and utter temptation for him that Michael can submerge him so easily into a state more dizzying than drunkenness. Acting more on his body’s accord, fingers roughly gripping the curly hair, he bites down harder than intended on the Australian’s lip.
He parts from David, finger over his red but not open lip. The younger man blinks several times to clear his hazy vision, standing up imbalanced but Michael catches him when he stumbles. The Aussie chuckles at Dave’s uneasy look, fingers lazily going along the other man’s lip with those ever so dark eyes. David grins, leaning forward so that his forehead rests against Michael’s. It takes him a moment to remember his name with that face so close to his own and he smiles goofily when the Australian gives him one of the endearing, soul-lifting smiles.
“I told you that I love you, right?”
Michael smirks, “Yes…but you can tell me again.”
David closes his eyes momentarily, smiling ear to ear still as his hands trail along Michael’s neck in a lackadaisical manner. When he opens them, he releases a silent sigh and his hand reaches for the other man’s left hand. He sees Michael watch him, catches that understanding look in the brown eyes and it settles something inside of him. There’s nothing to cruelly sparkle or shimmer back at him but to sate his paranoia, his fingers run along that left finger that used to show a belonging to another. He’s all set when his touch only encounters slightly tanned, flushed skin.
“Michael Johns, I’m in love with you.”
One of those adorable smiles and a whisper in return, “I love it when you smile.”
“I could--”
The doorbell stops David, shaking his head in amusement and reluctantly removing himself from the other man. Michael’s hands linger on his waist, smirking up at him before they drop down and let Dave go. The younger adjusts his collar, peeking at himself in one of the hall mirrors and sighing at the obvious flush across his skin. Figuring there’s no hope for his appearance, he jogs over to the door and opens it. Brooke is standing there, hand on hip with her yellow purse on her shoulder. Her blue eyes scan him and when they find his green, there’s a twinkle in hers.
“Hey there, are you busy?”
He shrugs cutely, “Uh… I’m not up to much.”
“Really? Wow… because you’re really flushed.”
“I was working out a little… what’s up?”
Her brow arches sky high with a wide smile, “In your jeans… that’s um, that’s interesting.”
“Well… you know me. I’m bizarre.”
“You confirmed it even more for me… you know, you can just tell me if there’s a woman in there… or someone else in particular that you’re engaging in something with.”
He coughs, forcing a smile on his face as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
“So, you wanted to go shopping? Let’s go, then.”
“You’re easier to read than a billboard…” She replies, “Michael! Taking him shopping!”
Michael jogs toward them from the other room, standing behind David with a grin. He goes forward to embrace her. She kisses his cheek when he’s pulling back. There’s pink on his cheeks but it’s barely there. Brooke tugs on Dave’s arm, yanking him outside with her. He stumbles from the sudden action, chuckling under his breath.
David sighs at Brooke, looking back at Michael with a shrug.
“Since I was shoved out here against my will, you mind getting April? I don’t think Brooke will let me leave her sight.”
She playfully hits his shoulder, “You’re ridiculous. Oh, there’s a few things I need to say and Michael, don’t go anywhere yet. I brought a few things with me… for April. David, I know you have the essentials so whether or not you want them… that’s okay with me. And guys…” She pauses and tucks her hair back, “It’s about time you two got together.”
He shakes his head, smiling and his face flushes a deep red when Michael comes up from behind him. The Australian wraps his arms around David from behind, hands resting on his hip bones and his mouth lays a kiss on the younger man’s cheek. Dave adorably shrinks back into the form behind him, skin tingling and closing his eyes for a moment. So when he opens them back up, he playfully turns around in the hold and pats the top of Michael’s chest. The other man smirks, poking his nose and standing his ground.
“Lazy…” David mutters, shaking his head as he makes his way to the stairs for April.
Michael pretends to take great offensive, “What? She’s your kid.”
“You’re still an old man.”
There’s rich laughter from him, “Dave… I’ll have you know… I’m the sexiest old man you’ll ever know. Old is the new young mate, you got to catch up on the times.”
“And you’re the definition of denial…” He returns before he’s out of sight, up the stairs.
Brooke smiles brightly then, “I can’t get over how cute you two are.”
The Aussie rubs the back of his neck, sighing with pink cheeks.
“I didn’t think it would happen…”
She walks closer and cups his cheek with a soft hand, “Good things happen.”
David sneaks into the room, only to see her already up. He smiles upon seeing her stretch and look around on the bed for something. It’s a victory of some sorts, by what his eyes tell him, when she grabs a stuffed animal from underneath her pillow and clutches it close to her chest. Her smile is huge, ear to ear as she plops back down with it.
The floorboard gives away his position, cerulean eyes looking right at him.
“Freeze buster!” She exclaims, curling her fingers onto the tops of her thumbs and holding them eye level so she looks to be holding binoculars.
He grins the instant he sees the victory on her face, “Oh no! You got me!”
She laughs loudly and he knows for sure that he’ll never tire of the sound, it’s more than music to his ears. It’s nothing he can use the English language to describe it with.
“Wunda arrest!” April continues, pointing to the corner of the room where a pile of extra pillows and toys appear to combine into one object.
“But… when does Daddy get to leave?”
She grins, crossing her arms in strong and defiant manner. It’s beyond endearing.
“You never return” Another laugh, “… or you watch Awaddin with me.”
He sits on the floor with a grin, “Or I can bring you to Auntie Brooke? We‘ll go shop.”
“Bwooke!!!! Yeah, yeah! See her now, pwease?”
“Yup, Auntie Brooke…” David says with a smile, going over to the bed and scooping her up into his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck, cheek to his and while they’re on their way back down, April abruptly goes to kiss the side of his face.
She giggles when his cheeks get all pink and does it again. Tightening his hold on her waist, he keeps the other on the back of her head and he’s so caught up in her that he doesn’t even notice Brooke and Michael grinning at him from afar. With a smirk, he goes forward to kiss her on the side of face and she laughs brightly from his antics.
He’s pulled from his reverie when he hears chuckles, “What?”
Brooke smiles, “It’s just-- You’re such a natural. You’re so good with her.”
David runs his hand through April’s brown hair, the strands soft against his calloused finger tips. Hers drift along his face, pinching the bridge of his nose before going down to grab the collar of his shirt. He takes a moment to rest his head on top of hers, her light always bringing him such joy. When those green-hazel eyes open again, he catches Michael eyes on him and the emotion in them makes him look back at Brooke. There’s still that twinkle in her eye and she’s smiling ear to ear.
“David, if you want… April could sleepover my house?”
“Nah, you don’t need to do that. It’s all right, thanks for offering though.”
She raises a brow, walking closer to him. April simply smiles up at her before relaxing into her father. Her fingers fiddle with the hairs on the back of his head.
“So you don’t want or need any kind of break from being a daddy? Seriously, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. I’m great with kids, remember? And I’m sure Dave wouldn’t mind meeting her” She sighs, fingers going to rub his stubble cheek. “I can see how tired you are, it’s perfectly okay.”
“I just--” He cuts himself off, clearing his throat. “It’s just weird… you know?”
“You love her and you need to keep her by you… now that you have her, it’s hard for you to imagine yourself separated from her. That’s any father’s reaction…commonly a good one’s and I’m just offering my help, you don’t have to take it. Okay?”
He nods with a smile, “I uh… yeah. That’d be fine. I think I do need a break.”
“Aw, wonderful! I’ll drop her home tomorrow afternoon… or would morning be better?”
“Definitely afternoon.”
They both turn to the side, seeing Michael grinning at the two of them.
“Well ladies, better get to that shopping.”
Brooke smiles, “Oh right! Thanks for reminding me!”
She leads David back outside, lightly pushing him out by placing her hands on his back while April peaks over her father’s shoulder to see what she’s doing. Once out, the little girl shifts around so Dave raises her up and lets her sit on his shoulders. His hands hold onto her dangling legs on the sides of his head and he tells her to grab at his arms.
He smiles at Michael who waves at them all, and before he can think to return it, April is the quickest to act. She copies that, right hand waving back and forth quickly. Him and Brooke shake their heads at the Australian, the man grinning childishly. Brooke goes forward to close the door, walking down to their cars. She heads to hers, already backing out by the time he finally straps the impossible to calm April into her chair. They’re driving there a couple minutes later.
Michael drags his hands down his face, leaning back against the closest wall he can find as everything recent floods his senses at once. Those chocolate eyes shut and he tells himself to steady himself. His mind feels as insane as if all the mines in a field went off in once second, except for him, the mines keep exploding.
“Never once could I stop wanting… needing… loving you.”
His eyes prickle with tears, making an attempt to blink them away but all they do is slip down his cheek. The Aussie brushes them away as soon as they fall, a shuddering breath going through his body. It doesn’t take his mind long to revisit the kissing and that touching, the memory of David straddling him and doing all those things to him has his skin molten and his groin reacting within milliseconds.
“It was there… oh god, I can‘t think. Carly.”
The Australian centers himself somewhat, reaching for the phone and dialing an ever so familiar number. He taps his fingers against the counter as it rings, whispering under his breath to himself as he hopes to hear her voice; the one that always quelled demons.
“Hello Michael, how’s it going?”
“Carly…hi.”
“Something’s wrong?”
He goes quiet on her, he doesn’t mean to but it just happens. He wonders if he should have called her. Michael weighs the options, toughening through his urge to hang up.
“Michael!”
“There’s-- I don’t know what to do” He whispers softly, “Something happened.”
Her voice raises nervously, “Is everything all right? Are you all okay?”
“It’s better than all right, it’s great… it’s unbelievable. I can‘t get my mind off of it.”
Michael presses his lips together tightly, eyes squinting as he struggles to hold himself together with his feet hitting ground but his feet don’t touch; it’s a weird feeling. His hands keep the phone by his ear tightly, fingertips curling around it with tension. Michael had fallen into the feeling, he had lost all communication with his head and it would have been impossible to think in being that close to David.
Never in his existence did he think he’d have a prayer with the other man. He knew for sure that he had met someone incredible when he first shook hands with David Cook and like a silly teenager, he fell hard for the younger man. He’s not sure when those feelings had changed, but they had.
When he thinks about it enough, he hopes not to recall one distinct point in which he had seen love for David. Maybe it’s the childish romantic in him that wants it to be relationship that evolved on it’s own; a change with no catalyst.
“Sweetheart, you have talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Carly…” And his voice cracks slightly with his next words, “He told me...”
“What did he…” She falls silent, tucking black hair behind her ear. “Michael…please.”
She hears tears and the light intake of breath, making her bite her lip hard. Carly’s a sliver away from crying as well. She’s never heard Michael cry and the sound of it cuts her.
Smooth is nonexistent; there’s always a crack in the road.
“He told me… he told me that he loves me.”
“David actually-- Michael, why are you crying? Isn‘t this what you‘ve wanted for so long? You should be insane with happy. You two can finally be together.”
There’s small sob, “But what if--”
“Michael Johns, if you continue that sentence… well, you don’t want me to. There’s no what if’s here. He finally confessed the feelings you’ve been waiting for him to say, despite me persisting you could be the one to say it… and you’re going to doubt this. Don’t you dare do this to yourself. You understand me?”
“Carly, what have I gotten myself into?”
She sighs and wipes away her tears, “What do you have to be afraid of?”
“It might not last, I mean… even though we--”
“Michael, just--”
His voice is both strong and vulnerable, “No Carly… listen to me! There’s a chance that this won’t be what I’ve wished for and I can’t take that. This could crumble… and as badly as the two of us would try… we‘d full well try to be friends again but nothing is ever the same after a relationship.”
“Don’t think like that, Michael… please.”
“If this doesn’t last then I’ll lose him… the distance would grow and I know I could never be able to live myself then… it would destroy us equally if we couldn’t be friends again. Losing him as both a lover and friend is worse than anything in the world.”
Brooke grinned, “So…We‘ve gotten most of--”
“Aw, you two are just the sweetest pair we’ve laid eyes on.”
David and Brooke both quirk brows and find the owner of the voice, finding an elderly woman over to the side slightly with two others. They’re all smiling brightly and they come closer, clearly waiting for an answer. The one that spoke to them has sparkling, young blue eyes. Brooke looks over to him, blue eyes clueless and he can tell how awkward she seems to be. He’s not much different but he pushes through it.
“Um, thank you… very much” He replies, “You are…?”
She laughs vibrantly, “I’m Susan. And these are my friends, Lily and Dana. First born?”
Dave sees Brooke’s posture change, it’s more confident and she wraps her arms around his waist. He brings an arm around her shoulders and kisses her forehead. April sits peacefully in the cart right in front of them, feet kicking back and forth slightly as she looks up at the older women.
Brooke smiles brightly, “Yes… how easy is it to see?”
“The way you look at your child… I see the love for her so clear.”
David grins and whispers by her ear, “Is it bad that I’m glad I can fool elderly women?”
She smacks his shoulder and leans up to kiss his cheek.
Susan speaks up then, “Young man… you look familiar. Have you been on television?”
Brooke slowly parts from David, fingers on the cart and he brings April up into his arms in one swoop. She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck, settling there.
She glances over at Dave nervously, “Oh um… I’m sorry. We need to get going.”
Susan replies, “Lovely to meet such a sweet couple… live life well.”
The women wave, smiling big. It doesn’t take them long to return to what they first came searching for after they’ve shaken hands with the assumed couple. After they’ve paid for their supplies, the cash register begs quietly for autographs from them. She’s a young teen, biting her lip excitedly and they figure it’s no big.
Right before they pay, she asks to touch April because she heard the news and she thinks that the kid is too cute. And even though he starts to see flashing at the side of his eye, he tells himself to breathe and simply smiles at the young woman. He knows that it was only a matter of time before the press would catch him and he refuses to avoid them forever.
Brooke rubs his shoulder, smiling with David when April smiles sweetly up at the young woman. Her name is Rachel. She blushes soon after touching one of those soft cheeks, withdrawing her hand and insisting that they can go.
They’re walking out, her carrying the bags so he can hold April as close to his body as possible. She tells him that she’ll go first. There’s an increase in the amount of flashing, David clutching April close. He wraps his left arm around her middle and his right hand holds the back of her head, pressing her face into his shoulder very lightly.
He strokes her hair gently, “Angel…please don‘t look up… promise me, okay?”
She nods her head, tightening her fingers around his shirt. Her brown hair tickles the side of his neck. David closes his eyes and prays to any deity that they’ll make it through the media without any trouble. They’re approaching faster than any wind, and the last thing he feels is Brooke’s grip on his bicep so they don’t get separated from each other.
Dave uses his body to close the front door, leaning against its surface and closing his eyes for a second. Rolling his shoulders, he tosses his keys onto the counter and rubs the back of his neck. He cringes slightly, guessing that he got a bruise during the media chaos. It does come back to him, feeling something hard smack against his skin.
The only thing he’s relieved for is that he managed to get through the crowd, holding April close and got to Brooke by their cars. It only took a few minutes for him to pass his little girl over, kissing her several times all over her face and assuring her that he’d see her the following day.
He’s just thinking about heading up to fall on his bed and completely crash there, when he notices Michael in the living room. David’s about to jog over but his feet grow heavy and those green-hazel eyes see the Australian with his hands in his hair and head bowing down towards the floor. His brows scrunch, pausing by the door frame for a couple moments and figuring that the other man will eventually see him but that doesn’t happen.
The young man walks over and sits on the couch next to Michael, noticing the flinch that goes through the other. The confusion sucks any possible noise out of the air. All that pours into his ears is Michael’s heavy breathing.
“Michael, are you--”
“Hello stranger, how was the shopping?”
There’s a small shimmer in dark brown eyes, and it’s not of joy. There’s something glistening on his cheek as well. It takes him no longer than five seconds to know, all familiar with trying to hide away tears from people.
“Good… it was fine. Talk to me, Michael. Something’s up.”
The other man shakes his head with a smile, “Mate… everything’s great.”
“You don’t have to tell me what it is, but at least be honest with me.”
Michael sighs and it’s obvious that the Australian is trapped now, fiddling with his fingers until Dave reaches across to hold those hands. His hands are warm for once, the Australian’s a cool temperature. It’s an unusual feeling for him. David’s used to Michael being the one with blood, as they’ve joked around about once in a while.
The Aussie finally nods, saying no more than that. There’s the smallest of lip quivers and if he blinked then he would have missed it. Without any delay, his arms wrap around Michael and lets the other man rest his head between his neck and shoulder. His fingers thread through that hair and they stay like that, minutes upon minutes before David parts back from the other.
He strokes Michael’s cheek and murmurs into the air, “Let me help…”
Those dark eyes shut and he takes the moment to run his thumbs over the other man’s eyelids, ever so softly and the Australian leans into it slightly. Only a second after does his lips meet Michael’s. It’s only a light brush but it’s enough for Michael to surge forward more and press his mouth tight against David’s. As badly as he wants to keep this going, he pulls back from the older one and cups both of the Aussie’s cheeks.
“You always save me… but I can’t do that unless you tell me what’s going on.”
He’s quiet at first, “I don’t want this to fade away. You’re my ground, David.”
David kisses him, “We’re in this together. Nothing would take me away from you.”
So to take the tension off that sun-kissed skin, he goes closer and crashes his mouth to Michael’s. His fingers fist into that curly hair and Michael doesn’t wait longer to react.
This is definitely my longest chapter yet, and hope it goes over as well as the others.
Title: April
Author: Brainzz_Insanee
Pairing: David/Kelly(OC), David/Kimberly, eventual David/Michael
Status: 12/14
Word Count: 7053
Rating: R
Summary: David Cook has reached the feat everyone wants to achieve: He’s got a great girlfriend, a supporting and loving family, amazing friends as well as a continually booming singing career. So with all this going for him, what could jeopardize what he’s strived so hard for? And could it be something from the beginning of his journey?
Author’s Note: My appreciation never ends for my readers. Hope you enjoy.
Challenge Info / Ch.1 / Ch.2 / Ch.3 / Ch.4 / Ch.5 / Ch.6 / Ch.7 / Ch.8 / Ch.9 / Ch.10 / Ch. 11
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There are moments that do more than take your breath away, they freeze you entirely and suspend you as if you’re floating. Your feet are far from touching the ground.
“You-- you’re in love with me?”
David swallows thickly, “Yeah… I am.”
A tremor runs through him, especially when Michael comes closer to him until he’s backed up against one of the porch posts. He bites at the bottom left corner of his lip, gripping the post behind him with white knuckles. The other man’s right hand raises and his eyes follow it, closing them when those fingers ghost along his cheek.
Half-lidded eyes stare up into unidentifiable brown, “What are you doing?”
His shaking voice does nothing to take away his uneasiness, just reminds him the situation he got himself in; the one that will likely doom him for the rest of his life.
Michael cups both of his cheeks in warm palms, smallest of smiles on his face and there’s a glimmer inside chocolate orbs. David’s hands move from the post behind him to the Australian’s chest, pushing against the solid form with the small amount of strength he’s possessing at the moment despite it dwindling away by the second.
Dave shifts around in the hold that he’s in, body desperate for flight and escape. He’s never been great at the whole confronting thing. It’s so natural for him to get away from whatever or even whoever is causing him inner turmoil.
The other man interrupts his desire to flee, “Will you just hold still?”
He sees it in slow motion, Michael’s mouth approaching his own. It’s not something he ever thought to see because it’s far from his views on what is and not possible. A kiss with Michael is or rather was highest on his impossible in happening list.
It hits him like a feeling he’s never experienced when Michael’s lips first touch his own, a shock shooting through his joints even though the contact is light. His body instinctively moves closer as his hands drift up and into the Australian’s curly hair, fingers gripping the brown strands as if they are the only rope keeping him from falling into nothingness.
His body shakes to its own accord when he feels hands move down from his face, fingertips graze along his neck and hands grip his waist tight. Michael pulls him flush against his form and it’s really then that he tells himself not to open his eyes. His dreams have never been this vivid and god does he want to believe in this moment more than anything in the world but even the most realistic visions have fooled him.
Everything flies through his presently offline thought process, and he debates on whether or not to pull away. He wants this to be true, so much so and he’s not sure if he can take it if it isn’t; his final suspension would crumble. He immerses himself in this intoxication; indulging in the desired apple in the garden, pushing against that solid figure until there’s no room for anything to fit between.
David pants against the other’s mouth, helplessly continuing his motions despite his body’s requirement for air. He tries to convince himself that his lungs don’t need to be sated, that they can last as long as he wills them to but denial is not infinite.
The loss happens far sooner than he expects, eyes clenching as a small bead of liquid makes its way straight down his face from the edge of his eye. He doesn’t even feel it escape his eye but his skin jumps from warmth on his cheek, lips kissing the tear away as if it had never made its journey.
“David, look at me.”
The eyes don’t open immediately but when they do, they shine with unshed tears and the man’s irises are such a light green that they look a shade of gray. David’s brows scrunch, unmoving under the concerned gaze and he feels boneless when Michael leans down, lips pressing onto his pulse point with arms around him to keep him standing. He feels fingers work up into his hair, threading through the strands and he can’t hold back the pathetic groan that leaves his lips.
“Are you… actually here?” He whispers, just barely audible.
David sees a small smile grace the other man’s features before a broken look passes by his face. It’s only for a couple seconds but he sees it.
“Michael, what’s wrong?” His own emotions begin to show, eyes widening slightly because doubt is a creature that will never remove its claws from his soul.
The Australian shakes his head with a smile, reaching to caress his cheek and run his thumb along the younger man’s jaw line. David keeps his eyes on the dark brown ones in front of him, searching for answers despite knowing that Michael hardly lies.
“It can--”
Dave places a finger on the Aussie’s lips, eyes unfaltering with weakened limbs.
“There won’t be any waiting... I‘ve done enough of it.”
He struggles to be strong even though he has such a craving to collapse against Michael, blur away all his questions and doubts. He wants one moment with no hesitation or thinking… he searches for it because using his brain has done enough damage to his psyche. Waiting so long with those emotions for Michael bottled kept him on a dilapidated balance beam.
He had never truly lost those feelings; that permanent grip on his heart that always reminded him that he was foolish and cruel, especially when the thought of Stacey came to mind. It destroyed him whenever Michael brought her to the hotel to see everyone periodically during the show. He always had a protective arm around her waist and placed those sweet, repetitive kisses to the side of her head all the while looking in his direction as if he knew what he was breaking inside David.
Sometimes he wondered if all that acting when he was younger was meant to prepare him for Michael and the feelings he’d hide from the other man. It scared him at times how easily he was able to stuff away his urge to scream or succumb into a mess of cries because that Australian brought out the best and worst in him.
His desire for Michael had even shown him sides of himself that he’d never seen. Before the other man, he had found it easy to keep himself in line and ease back any wants he had but with the Aussie, sometimes he’d get up earlier than Castro and Johns just to pleasure away the evidence of the forbidden dream he so desperately wanted to be real.
Now, having the sight of what he so long ago confirmed to solely exist in thought, to be everything but fake before his eyes, was more than mind-blowing.
“David, I need to tell you something…”
The younger bites his lip, resisting the negative phrases running in his head and attempting to grasp onto his flicker of better things to come. He has to keep the light on even though it’s sinking into a dank puddle. He sucks at being Mr. Positive.
“Michael, just tell me if this won’t work for you because I don’t--”
“I’m sorry.”
He does a double-take, “Wait… what?”
A rush of relief floods over him before the ocean of pure confusion takes over.
“For you to say that you… that you love me” Michael pauses, lips pressing together and gradually forming into a smile before continuing with a more serious face.
“It made me realize a things, a few that I didn’t want to become clear…”
David wraps his arms around Michael‘s neck, tilting his head up with head on the other man’s shoulder.
“Can you fill me in? I‘m missing something.”
It kills him to see Michael look to the side suddenly, especially when there’s a shine to those knee-buckling brown eyes. The man’s response comes out in a broken whisper.
“I tortured you.”
He parts from Michael, cupping the stubble cheeks in his palms and looking up into the eyes of the man who usually raises him from his pits of self-doom.
“Michael, you didn’t--”
“Yes… I did, god David… I’m so sorry. I never used to see how you felt about me… I was so naive. Whenever I kissed her…”
Dave works his fingers into the mess of brown curls, bringing them to the top of the Australian’s head and pressing down on Michael’s head so that the older bows it forward by David’s chin. Leaning forward, he kisses the man’s forehead.
“You were madly in love with Stacey… things were perfect between you two. It’s not your fault in the slightest. It’s mine. I did this to myself… please don’t be sorry for me.”
Michael goes quiet and he takes the moment to tilt that head up by placing a finger on the Australian’s chin, running his thumbs along the jaw line softly.
“My love for her had changed at some point… it had lost something to it, something I had tried to get back into our relationship but everything I did… nothing made it better. What had baffled me the most was that the effort I committed, the more I did… the more I fell out of love with her and more with you.”
Hazel eyes widen slightly, “When did you know… when things had changed with us?”
“I don’t know… it’s something I still ask myself” Michael blushes then, “All I know is that… well, I felt something for you that I don’t experience in meeting someone ever and I never really pinpointed the feeling. The best I could come up with was that your company never failed in keeping a smile on my face.”
David’s cheeks turn pink then, a brilliant smile coming on his features with dimples showing and all. His green-hazel eyes sparkle and he looks down, unconsciously running his fingertips along the back of Michael’s neck before he rests his head against the other man’s.
He sighs when their cheeks touch softly and without even thinking, one hand travels away from the Australian’s neck and finds one of Michael’s hands. His fingers open them from their fist state, intertwining their fingers.
Michael releases a sigh as well, sinking to the floor with Dave holding onto him. David’s about to speak but stops himself upon hearing a chuckle from the Aussie. This makes him smile as well, and from afar, they’re close enough to each other as they can manage. The older of the two sits with his back to the porch post, legs open and knees up while David lays in between them. His left hand holds Michael’s right while his other hand strokes the rich brown, curly hair. Dave closes his eyes in contentment, the Aussie’s other hand on the small of his back and rubbing light circles there.
“That happened, right? I haven’t gone off the deep end?”
Rich laughter from Michael, “Yes… unless we’ve both lost it.”
David nuzzles his head into the other man’s collarbone, finding it more comfortable then he thought it would be. His whole body hums even though they’ve barely touched and there’s that tingly feeling that goes right through him.
“The feeling never left…” The younger of the two murmurs, sitting up partly.
Michael quirks his head to the side, a dazed smile as he leans forward to capture David’s mouth with his own. He parts a moment later, finger tip running along the younger man’s bottom lip. Dave shuts his eyes as the inevitable shudder rocks through him.
“Which one?”
David flushes, “Never once could I stop wanting… needing… loving you.”
The other man reaches to run fingers through Dave’s hair, smiling in the process when the tips of them trail down the side of the face and down the neck. Michael opens his mouth to speak, but stops and smiles mysteriously instead.
David raises a brow, “What?”
“Nothing, just-- I love you too.”
Despite his deepest desire to stay where he is, goose bumps spread like wild-fire across his pale skin and he shivers against Michael. The Aussie rubs his arms and murmurs something about going inside but all he could focus on was the man’s hot breath on his ear. They both laugh at each other when they try to stand but only succeed in falling against each other, zapped of strength.
David groans, “Okay… I epically fail.”
Michael’s baritone laughter and warm hand in his cool paralyze him briefly.
“Well, it’s not like I’m getting very far either. Come on, you goof.”
They help each other up, his arm partly around Michael’s shoulders while the older man carefully wraps around David’s waist. He pulls the younger flush to his side and they’re almost too busy sneaking looks at each other to notice the screen door, snorting in a mix between a giggle and a snort when they just avoid hitting it.
“You’re so obnoxious.”
Michael scoffs at him, “And you’re a sweetie pie too. Thanks mate.”
Shaking his head at the clear sarcasm, he opens the door for the both of them so that they can enter the house again. Michael closes the door behind him and David, keeping the younger man close to him as they go over to the couch. They sit beside side to side and leg to leg. Their knees bump against each other, the men chuckling like boys at this simple sight before them.
David grins, “I’m pretty sure your knee hit mine first.”
“You’re delusional mate.”
“Me? Yeah right, you’re the one whose seeing things, Johns.”
Michael laughs richly, tugging the other man ever so closer. Dave is nestled into his side and his right arm is behind him, fingers reaching into the ruffled, dark brown hair. David smiles when he feels this, laying his head down on the Australian’s shoulder and closing his eyes. The sigh that leaves him is a rare kind, one of peace with nothing on his mind.
He feels the kiss placed on the top of his head, a full smile now on his face and his right hand rests on the older man’s chest. His fingers trail up and down the chest lazy with no pattern in mind when those green-hazel eyes open again. Michael’s hands drift from his hair, down his neck and rub along his back.
“I think you--”
“There’s nothing--”
They both pause, chuckling at trying to speak at the same time. Michael tells the other man to go first but even after much debacle, Dave only insists upon the Aussie going.
“I don’t think you’re close enough.”
Dave glances back with an arched brow before standing briefly. Looking behind him a few times, he gradually eases himself to where the other man pointed to. He rests back against Michael’s chest, head falling back onto the Australian’s shoulder and settling his hands on the other man’s thighs. He closes his eyes when he feels hands on top of his own.
Dave murmurs into the silence, “I have to get used to this…”
Michael nuzzles his cheek down into the side of David’s face, leaning down enough as to kiss the younger man’s neck and remove any tension that was there.
“And what’s that?”
“Opening myself…doing this… me close to you, being with you…”
The Aussie smiles brightly and whispers by his ear, “Look at me… kiss me.”
David does just that, standing up enough so that he can sit back down on the older man’s lap so that he’s facing Michael. His green-hazel eyes sparkle when he smiles, dimples making him ever so adorable. The Aussie reaches his hands forward, gripping Dave’s waist and pulling him as close as possible while David wraps his arms around Michael’s neck.
“I can kiss you… whenever I want…” Dave murmurs under his breath, more so talking to himself than the Aussie.
The said man calls his name, “Within reason… yes. This time is a good one for kissing.”
“You’re not hinting at all…”
Michael smirks, “Not at all…” He trails sarcastically. “Kiss me already, would you?”
The younger man blushes first, bringing his hands up and slowly threading his fingers through Michael’s curly brown hair. He watches with a smile as those dark brown eyes shut. And he can’t help but just look and study because he wants to remember that expression on Michael’s for the rest of his life. There’s not a blemish on his face and his fingertips ghost along the side of his face, the skin smooth until he gets to stubble.
Once you have something, the appeal weakens and all you want is the next forbidden fruit but there are the rare times when the struggle for your desire was worth every second of agony.
Keeping his fingers in that hair, he closes his own eyes as his face leans down and his lips touch the other man’s. That same voltage from before is back, heat spreading through his body and blood shooting down to his groin in the same minute. Sure he dreamed and imagined, but the real thing is more than anything his mind could’ve created. Michael’s hands race up his back, then back down before fingertips graze along the open skin exposed above his pant line. He trembles from the contact, pressing his body closer to the Australian’s and deepening the kiss.
Michael mirrors his actions, making sure their bodies are flush and David’s brain melts even more when him gripping the Aussie’s hair causes a groan to slip past Michael’s lips despite their fused mouths. It’s only a path of destruction from there, the older man lightly biting down on the bottom left corner of Dave’s bottom lip; a weak spot. The younger man’s actions escalate, right hand drifting down from the curly hair and grabbing Michael through his pants briefly.
The reaction is instant, the Australian pulling back from the kiss and head dropping back against the sofa with half-lidded eyes. David’s eyes darken upon seeing the other man’s own, a thick brown; the darkest kind of chocolate.
Seeing him so open, nothing holds him back from bringing his mouth down on that exposed, sun-kissed neck. He sucks on that skin, nibbling his way along that neck and jaw-line. Light moans escape and it intoxicates him to see exactly what he does to Michael.
The feeling is something so good that he knows with no doubt that he’s never been graced with it. Even when air becomes mandatory, they separate for only half a minute before crashing their mouths back. This time, however, Michael starts kissing along his neck. David’s head falls back as he lets the sensations roll through him with no intentions of ever stopping them.
The proximity, with each kiss and touch, drives him wild. The Aussie murmurs his name off and on; making him impossibly insane with desire and that prompts him to hear it more. When he feels Michael’s hands go under his shirt, his back arches slightly and has to pause himself because he’s on fire. His breath his heavy and he feels almost light-headed from everything. So overwhelmed, it’s both nerving and utter temptation for him that Michael can submerge him so easily into a state more dizzying than drunkenness. Acting more on his body’s accord, fingers roughly gripping the curly hair, he bites down harder than intended on the Australian’s lip.
He parts from David, finger over his red but not open lip. The younger man blinks several times to clear his hazy vision, standing up imbalanced but Michael catches him when he stumbles. The Aussie chuckles at Dave’s uneasy look, fingers lazily going along the other man’s lip with those ever so dark eyes. David grins, leaning forward so that his forehead rests against Michael’s. It takes him a moment to remember his name with that face so close to his own and he smiles goofily when the Australian gives him one of the endearing, soul-lifting smiles.
“I told you that I love you, right?”
Michael smirks, “Yes…but you can tell me again.”
David closes his eyes momentarily, smiling ear to ear still as his hands trail along Michael’s neck in a lackadaisical manner. When he opens them, he releases a silent sigh and his hand reaches for the other man’s left hand. He sees Michael watch him, catches that understanding look in the brown eyes and it settles something inside of him. There’s nothing to cruelly sparkle or shimmer back at him but to sate his paranoia, his fingers run along that left finger that used to show a belonging to another. He’s all set when his touch only encounters slightly tanned, flushed skin.
“Michael Johns, I’m in love with you.”
One of those adorable smiles and a whisper in return, “I love it when you smile.”
“I could--”
The doorbell stops David, shaking his head in amusement and reluctantly removing himself from the other man. Michael’s hands linger on his waist, smirking up at him before they drop down and let Dave go. The younger adjusts his collar, peeking at himself in one of the hall mirrors and sighing at the obvious flush across his skin. Figuring there’s no hope for his appearance, he jogs over to the door and opens it. Brooke is standing there, hand on hip with her yellow purse on her shoulder. Her blue eyes scan him and when they find his green, there’s a twinkle in hers.
“Hey there, are you busy?”
He shrugs cutely, “Uh… I’m not up to much.”
“Really? Wow… because you’re really flushed.”
“I was working out a little… what’s up?”
Her brow arches sky high with a wide smile, “In your jeans… that’s um, that’s interesting.”
“Well… you know me. I’m bizarre.”
“You confirmed it even more for me… you know, you can just tell me if there’s a woman in there… or someone else in particular that you’re engaging in something with.”
He coughs, forcing a smile on his face as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
“So, you wanted to go shopping? Let’s go, then.”
“You’re easier to read than a billboard…” She replies, “Michael! Taking him shopping!”
Michael jogs toward them from the other room, standing behind David with a grin. He goes forward to embrace her. She kisses his cheek when he’s pulling back. There’s pink on his cheeks but it’s barely there. Brooke tugs on Dave’s arm, yanking him outside with her. He stumbles from the sudden action, chuckling under his breath.
David sighs at Brooke, looking back at Michael with a shrug.
“Since I was shoved out here against my will, you mind getting April? I don’t think Brooke will let me leave her sight.”
She playfully hits his shoulder, “You’re ridiculous. Oh, there’s a few things I need to say and Michael, don’t go anywhere yet. I brought a few things with me… for April. David, I know you have the essentials so whether or not you want them… that’s okay with me. And guys…” She pauses and tucks her hair back, “It’s about time you two got together.”
He shakes his head, smiling and his face flushes a deep red when Michael comes up from behind him. The Australian wraps his arms around David from behind, hands resting on his hip bones and his mouth lays a kiss on the younger man’s cheek. Dave adorably shrinks back into the form behind him, skin tingling and closing his eyes for a moment. So when he opens them back up, he playfully turns around in the hold and pats the top of Michael’s chest. The other man smirks, poking his nose and standing his ground.
“Lazy…” David mutters, shaking his head as he makes his way to the stairs for April.
Michael pretends to take great offensive, “What? She’s your kid.”
“You’re still an old man.”
There’s rich laughter from him, “Dave… I’ll have you know… I’m the sexiest old man you’ll ever know. Old is the new young mate, you got to catch up on the times.”
“And you’re the definition of denial…” He returns before he’s out of sight, up the stairs.
Brooke smiles brightly then, “I can’t get over how cute you two are.”
The Aussie rubs the back of his neck, sighing with pink cheeks.
“I didn’t think it would happen…”
She walks closer and cups his cheek with a soft hand, “Good things happen.”
David sneaks into the room, only to see her already up. He smiles upon seeing her stretch and look around on the bed for something. It’s a victory of some sorts, by what his eyes tell him, when she grabs a stuffed animal from underneath her pillow and clutches it close to her chest. Her smile is huge, ear to ear as she plops back down with it.
The floorboard gives away his position, cerulean eyes looking right at him.
“Freeze buster!” She exclaims, curling her fingers onto the tops of her thumbs and holding them eye level so she looks to be holding binoculars.
He grins the instant he sees the victory on her face, “Oh no! You got me!”
She laughs loudly and he knows for sure that he’ll never tire of the sound, it’s more than music to his ears. It’s nothing he can use the English language to describe it with.
“Wunda arrest!” April continues, pointing to the corner of the room where a pile of extra pillows and toys appear to combine into one object.
“But… when does Daddy get to leave?”
She grins, crossing her arms in strong and defiant manner. It’s beyond endearing.
“You never return” Another laugh, “… or you watch Awaddin with me.”
He sits on the floor with a grin, “Or I can bring you to Auntie Brooke? We‘ll go shop.”
“Bwooke!!!! Yeah, yeah! See her now, pwease?”
“Yup, Auntie Brooke…” David says with a smile, going over to the bed and scooping her up into his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck, cheek to his and while they’re on their way back down, April abruptly goes to kiss the side of his face.
She giggles when his cheeks get all pink and does it again. Tightening his hold on her waist, he keeps the other on the back of her head and he’s so caught up in her that he doesn’t even notice Brooke and Michael grinning at him from afar. With a smirk, he goes forward to kiss her on the side of face and she laughs brightly from his antics.
He’s pulled from his reverie when he hears chuckles, “What?”
Brooke smiles, “It’s just-- You’re such a natural. You’re so good with her.”
David runs his hand through April’s brown hair, the strands soft against his calloused finger tips. Hers drift along his face, pinching the bridge of his nose before going down to grab the collar of his shirt. He takes a moment to rest his head on top of hers, her light always bringing him such joy. When those green-hazel eyes open again, he catches Michael eyes on him and the emotion in them makes him look back at Brooke. There’s still that twinkle in her eye and she’s smiling ear to ear.
“David, if you want… April could sleepover my house?”
“Nah, you don’t need to do that. It’s all right, thanks for offering though.”
She raises a brow, walking closer to him. April simply smiles up at her before relaxing into her father. Her fingers fiddle with the hairs on the back of his head.
“So you don’t want or need any kind of break from being a daddy? Seriously, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. I’m great with kids, remember? And I’m sure Dave wouldn’t mind meeting her” She sighs, fingers going to rub his stubble cheek. “I can see how tired you are, it’s perfectly okay.”
“I just--” He cuts himself off, clearing his throat. “It’s just weird… you know?”
“You love her and you need to keep her by you… now that you have her, it’s hard for you to imagine yourself separated from her. That’s any father’s reaction…commonly a good one’s and I’m just offering my help, you don’t have to take it. Okay?”
He nods with a smile, “I uh… yeah. That’d be fine. I think I do need a break.”
“Aw, wonderful! I’ll drop her home tomorrow afternoon… or would morning be better?”
“Definitely afternoon.”
They both turn to the side, seeing Michael grinning at the two of them.
“Well ladies, better get to that shopping.”
Brooke smiles, “Oh right! Thanks for reminding me!”
She leads David back outside, lightly pushing him out by placing her hands on his back while April peaks over her father’s shoulder to see what she’s doing. Once out, the little girl shifts around so Dave raises her up and lets her sit on his shoulders. His hands hold onto her dangling legs on the sides of his head and he tells her to grab at his arms.
He smiles at Michael who waves at them all, and before he can think to return it, April is the quickest to act. She copies that, right hand waving back and forth quickly. Him and Brooke shake their heads at the Australian, the man grinning childishly. Brooke goes forward to close the door, walking down to their cars. She heads to hers, already backing out by the time he finally straps the impossible to calm April into her chair. They’re driving there a couple minutes later.
Michael drags his hands down his face, leaning back against the closest wall he can find as everything recent floods his senses at once. Those chocolate eyes shut and he tells himself to steady himself. His mind feels as insane as if all the mines in a field went off in once second, except for him, the mines keep exploding.
“Never once could I stop wanting… needing… loving you.”
His eyes prickle with tears, making an attempt to blink them away but all they do is slip down his cheek. The Aussie brushes them away as soon as they fall, a shuddering breath going through his body. It doesn’t take his mind long to revisit the kissing and that touching, the memory of David straddling him and doing all those things to him has his skin molten and his groin reacting within milliseconds.
“It was there… oh god, I can‘t think. Carly.”
The Australian centers himself somewhat, reaching for the phone and dialing an ever so familiar number. He taps his fingers against the counter as it rings, whispering under his breath to himself as he hopes to hear her voice; the one that always quelled demons.
“Hello Michael, how’s it going?”
“Carly…hi.”
“Something’s wrong?”
He goes quiet on her, he doesn’t mean to but it just happens. He wonders if he should have called her. Michael weighs the options, toughening through his urge to hang up.
“Michael!”
“There’s-- I don’t know what to do” He whispers softly, “Something happened.”
Her voice raises nervously, “Is everything all right? Are you all okay?”
“It’s better than all right, it’s great… it’s unbelievable. I can‘t get my mind off of it.”
Michael presses his lips together tightly, eyes squinting as he struggles to hold himself together with his feet hitting ground but his feet don’t touch; it’s a weird feeling. His hands keep the phone by his ear tightly, fingertips curling around it with tension. Michael had fallen into the feeling, he had lost all communication with his head and it would have been impossible to think in being that close to David.
Never in his existence did he think he’d have a prayer with the other man. He knew for sure that he had met someone incredible when he first shook hands with David Cook and like a silly teenager, he fell hard for the younger man. He’s not sure when those feelings had changed, but they had.
When he thinks about it enough, he hopes not to recall one distinct point in which he had seen love for David. Maybe it’s the childish romantic in him that wants it to be relationship that evolved on it’s own; a change with no catalyst.
“Sweetheart, you have talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Carly…” And his voice cracks slightly with his next words, “He told me...”
“What did he…” She falls silent, tucking black hair behind her ear. “Michael…please.”
She hears tears and the light intake of breath, making her bite her lip hard. Carly’s a sliver away from crying as well. She’s never heard Michael cry and the sound of it cuts her.
Smooth is nonexistent; there’s always a crack in the road.
“He told me… he told me that he loves me.”
“David actually-- Michael, why are you crying? Isn‘t this what you‘ve wanted for so long? You should be insane with happy. You two can finally be together.”
There’s small sob, “But what if--”
“Michael Johns, if you continue that sentence… well, you don’t want me to. There’s no what if’s here. He finally confessed the feelings you’ve been waiting for him to say, despite me persisting you could be the one to say it… and you’re going to doubt this. Don’t you dare do this to yourself. You understand me?”
“Carly, what have I gotten myself into?”
She sighs and wipes away her tears, “What do you have to be afraid of?”
“It might not last, I mean… even though we--”
“Michael, just--”
His voice is both strong and vulnerable, “No Carly… listen to me! There’s a chance that this won’t be what I’ve wished for and I can’t take that. This could crumble… and as badly as the two of us would try… we‘d full well try to be friends again but nothing is ever the same after a relationship.”
“Don’t think like that, Michael… please.”
“If this doesn’t last then I’ll lose him… the distance would grow and I know I could never be able to live myself then… it would destroy us equally if we couldn’t be friends again. Losing him as both a lover and friend is worse than anything in the world.”
Brooke grinned, “So…We‘ve gotten most of--”
“Aw, you two are just the sweetest pair we’ve laid eyes on.”
David and Brooke both quirk brows and find the owner of the voice, finding an elderly woman over to the side slightly with two others. They’re all smiling brightly and they come closer, clearly waiting for an answer. The one that spoke to them has sparkling, young blue eyes. Brooke looks over to him, blue eyes clueless and he can tell how awkward she seems to be. He’s not much different but he pushes through it.
“Um, thank you… very much” He replies, “You are…?”
She laughs vibrantly, “I’m Susan. And these are my friends, Lily and Dana. First born?”
Dave sees Brooke’s posture change, it’s more confident and she wraps her arms around his waist. He brings an arm around her shoulders and kisses her forehead. April sits peacefully in the cart right in front of them, feet kicking back and forth slightly as she looks up at the older women.
Brooke smiles brightly, “Yes… how easy is it to see?”
“The way you look at your child… I see the love for her so clear.”
David grins and whispers by her ear, “Is it bad that I’m glad I can fool elderly women?”
She smacks his shoulder and leans up to kiss his cheek.
Susan speaks up then, “Young man… you look familiar. Have you been on television?”
Brooke slowly parts from David, fingers on the cart and he brings April up into his arms in one swoop. She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck, settling there.
She glances over at Dave nervously, “Oh um… I’m sorry. We need to get going.”
Susan replies, “Lovely to meet such a sweet couple… live life well.”
The women wave, smiling big. It doesn’t take them long to return to what they first came searching for after they’ve shaken hands with the assumed couple. After they’ve paid for their supplies, the cash register begs quietly for autographs from them. She’s a young teen, biting her lip excitedly and they figure it’s no big.
Right before they pay, she asks to touch April because she heard the news and she thinks that the kid is too cute. And even though he starts to see flashing at the side of his eye, he tells himself to breathe and simply smiles at the young woman. He knows that it was only a matter of time before the press would catch him and he refuses to avoid them forever.
Brooke rubs his shoulder, smiling with David when April smiles sweetly up at the young woman. Her name is Rachel. She blushes soon after touching one of those soft cheeks, withdrawing her hand and insisting that they can go.
They’re walking out, her carrying the bags so he can hold April as close to his body as possible. She tells him that she’ll go first. There’s an increase in the amount of flashing, David clutching April close. He wraps his left arm around her middle and his right hand holds the back of her head, pressing her face into his shoulder very lightly.
He strokes her hair gently, “Angel…please don‘t look up… promise me, okay?”
She nods her head, tightening her fingers around his shirt. Her brown hair tickles the side of his neck. David closes his eyes and prays to any deity that they’ll make it through the media without any trouble. They’re approaching faster than any wind, and the last thing he feels is Brooke’s grip on his bicep so they don’t get separated from each other.
Dave uses his body to close the front door, leaning against its surface and closing his eyes for a second. Rolling his shoulders, he tosses his keys onto the counter and rubs the back of his neck. He cringes slightly, guessing that he got a bruise during the media chaos. It does come back to him, feeling something hard smack against his skin.
The only thing he’s relieved for is that he managed to get through the crowd, holding April close and got to Brooke by their cars. It only took a few minutes for him to pass his little girl over, kissing her several times all over her face and assuring her that he’d see her the following day.
He’s just thinking about heading up to fall on his bed and completely crash there, when he notices Michael in the living room. David’s about to jog over but his feet grow heavy and those green-hazel eyes see the Australian with his hands in his hair and head bowing down towards the floor. His brows scrunch, pausing by the door frame for a couple moments and figuring that the other man will eventually see him but that doesn’t happen.
The young man walks over and sits on the couch next to Michael, noticing the flinch that goes through the other. The confusion sucks any possible noise out of the air. All that pours into his ears is Michael’s heavy breathing.
“Michael, are you--”
“Hello stranger, how was the shopping?”
There’s a small shimmer in dark brown eyes, and it’s not of joy. There’s something glistening on his cheek as well. It takes him no longer than five seconds to know, all familiar with trying to hide away tears from people.
“Good… it was fine. Talk to me, Michael. Something’s up.”
The other man shakes his head with a smile, “Mate… everything’s great.”
“You don’t have to tell me what it is, but at least be honest with me.”
Michael sighs and it’s obvious that the Australian is trapped now, fiddling with his fingers until Dave reaches across to hold those hands. His hands are warm for once, the Australian’s a cool temperature. It’s an unusual feeling for him. David’s used to Michael being the one with blood, as they’ve joked around about once in a while.
The Aussie finally nods, saying no more than that. There’s the smallest of lip quivers and if he blinked then he would have missed it. Without any delay, his arms wrap around Michael and lets the other man rest his head between his neck and shoulder. His fingers thread through that hair and they stay like that, minutes upon minutes before David parts back from the other.
He strokes Michael’s cheek and murmurs into the air, “Let me help…”
Those dark eyes shut and he takes the moment to run his thumbs over the other man’s eyelids, ever so softly and the Australian leans into it slightly. Only a second after does his lips meet Michael’s. It’s only a light brush but it’s enough for Michael to surge forward more and press his mouth tight against David’s. As badly as he wants to keep this going, he pulls back from the older one and cups both of the Aussie’s cheeks.
“You always save me… but I can’t do that unless you tell me what’s going on.”
He’s quiet at first, “I don’t want this to fade away. You’re my ground, David.”
David kisses him, “We’re in this together. Nothing would take me away from you.”
So to take the tension off that sun-kissed skin, he goes closer and crashes his mouth to Michael’s. His fingers fist into that curly hair and Michael doesn’t wait longer to react.