AU Fic: Rhapsody 1/4

[cloversworld]

This story is done but needs heavy editing and the editing part might take some time so I decided to cut it in four parts instead. That way, it will be easier to edit, and easier to read.

Title: Rhapsody, 1/4
Author: clover71
Fandom: American Idol
Pairing: David Cook/ David Archuleta
Rating: PG-13
Description: Part of the Twelve Days of Christmas 2011 collection, see author's notes for more details. This is AU, by the way, written for au_bingo for square prompt Alt. Fandom: Movie in my AU bingo card, based on/ inspired by the movie 'August Rush'.
Summary: Sometimes fate could twist two lives around in unexpected ways.
Warning: MPREG (and I didn't explore the details of how bizarre MPreg could be, just treated it as something normal, plus the pregnancy itself was only mentioned in passing) and lots and lots of time skip
Disclaimer:
1) Please note that this is purely fiction and none of the contents are real except for all or some of the characters used in this story.
2) Most characters used are real people but the details within do not purposely imply occurrences in real life; thus, anything here that concurs with real events may be completely coincidental.
3) This fiction is created based solely on the imagination of the author and for non-profitable purpose.


Author's Note(s):
- This is my gift fic for carolion because she made a lovely request on her Christmas wish list for more AI7 fics. I wasn't sure exactly what you wanted bb, so I sort of spied on your sign up profile over at cookleta_hols and saw you wanted soulmates!fic.

- This is likewise dedicated to everyone at cookleta. Thank you for being an awesome community. I wish I could say this is my last fic for this pairing but I'm working on a crossover, so I guess this may be considered as my last cookleta-centric fic. I might not write any new stories about this pairing for a while because I want to focus on other (non-AI) pairings (I have plots for 3 different BigBangs in line, all for The Secret Circle fandom). I will do my best to finish all WIPs, however.

- I started writing this fic ages ago but only wrote the introduction then I lost the inspiration to continue. I found this recently when I was backing up files and thought that maybe I can finish this, write it for someone and make it part of the 12 Days of Christmas collection.

- Not beta'ed (edited this myself but I don't trust my eyes), sorry for the tons of mistakes you'll encounter along the way.





1—


Music. This had always been part of David’s life. This was what David loved. Whenever his fingers touched the ivory keys of a piano, it came to him – like a gentle breeze that caressed his skin. Or the warm rays of the morning sun. Soothing. Calming. Relaxing. Then it would build up like a whirlpool swirling inside him, waiting to be freed.

Every strike of a key released a thought, an emotion that flowed out in a wave of spine-tingling melodies. Each note matched a single beat of his heart. His breathing matched the variations of chords rising and falling in a blend of spellbinding harmony.

The musical piece that he had been playing bled into a faster tempo and David led the sonata into its third and last movement. A string of high notes spiraled into the final highlight of the piece. It made David feel like he was soaring through the air, his heart pounding and chills surging throughout his body.

His long fingers pranced across the piano keys. The sharp tunes gradually fell into a smooth-flowing rhythm. David closed his eyes and imagined himself running in an open field with the sun setting on the horizon. He played the last succession of notes, transitioning to a reprise. Then finally, like love claiming victory over tryst, he brought the entire arrangement to a powerful close.

He remained on his seat, letting the overwhelming emotions fade. The sound of applause undulated from the audience, growing louder every second. And when David finally got to his feet to take a bow, everyone rose along with him to give him a standing ovation.

This was David’s world.


**********

Music. This had always been part of Cook’s life. This was what Cook loved. Whenever his fingertips touched the rough strings of his guitar, he was flooded with an overwhelming sensation. Like a tempest blowing wildly around him. Or the scorching heat from the summer sun. Thrilling. Awe-inspiring. Stimulating. Then it would build up like molten lava boiling inside him, waiting to erupt.

Every pluck of a string expressed an idea, an emotion that burst out in a wildfire of mind-blowing euphony. Each lyric that rolled out on his tongue carried a message. His blood rushed through his veins as the electrifying tune that flowed from his guitar blended with the sounds of the other instruments and broke out in a smashing harmony.

The rhythm changed upon reaching the bridge of the song and Cook poured all his energy as the notes climbed up to its peak. It made Cook feel like he was zooming, his mind reeling and adrenaline rushing rampantly throughout his body.

His hand clutched tightly around the guitar's neck and his thumb and index finger gripped on the pick, flicking it against the strings with calculated precision. Cook closed his eyes as he sung the last verse, driving his voice to a deep and gravely timbre. He sang the words that spoke of emptiness in one’s life, of searching for a love that could never be found. Then finally, he ended with a note drawn out to fade with a couple of strike on the drums behind him.

The rampant applause that tore through the crowd was distant to him at first but then the sound pierced through his eardrums, growing louder every minute. Hoots and whistles resounded within the four walls of the nightclub. Cook’s eyes scanned the crowd despite the spotlights slicing through his cornea, his heart swelling with pride.

This was Cook’s world.


**********


David had just gotten out of the changing room when he ran into Jordin. She seemed to be overflowing with enough energy to light up the room. “David! The crowd loved ya!" She practically screamed the words near David's ear.

He rolled his eyes knowing Jordin had probably said that to about a dozen other musicians already. She was nice like that. Positive. Encouraging. That's why David liked having her as a friend.

“Not as much as they loved you,” he said and he wasn't just returning the compliment. It was true. The way she played the violin during her solo performance tonight left the entire auditorium in awe.

"So you wanna go somewhere and celebrate?" she asked when they were ambling out of the lobby.

“Uhm, reality check? My dad’s here, remember?”

“Don’t worry, let me handle it.” Jordin winked and David could feel the weight of dread settling in the pit of his stomach. But handle it she did. David didn’t know how she managed to make his overbearing father agree to let him go frolic around the city of New York without supervision.

They ended up at someone's party – someone Jordin claimed she knew from high school. It was loud and rowdy and certainly not David's crowd. But Jordin seemed to be having a great time that he didn't want to spoil it for her so he swallowed the urge to leave and go back to the hotel.

In his desperate attempt to find a quiet place where he could relax for a while, he ended up on the rooftop of the apartment building. There was a man sitting on a plant box near the ledge, strumming vigorously on a guitar, and David was about to retreat when he realized that, gosh, the tune the man was playing sounded pretty interesting. It wasn’t familiar but he liked the way the notes blended so he stood stock still, listening.

It wasn’t until the man looked up and their eyes met that David realized he was staring. He wanted to look away but then the smile that curved on the man's lips was so blinding that David was enthralled.

“Hi," David started awkwardly.

"Are you just gonna stand there all night?" the man said with a hint of amusement in his tone. “You can come join me here. I just needed a reprieve 'cause it's gotten a bit chaotic downstairs."

"Oh." David crept warily toward the man. "You're also here for the party?"

"Yeah." The man moved a little to give David some space to sit on. "My band mate's girlfriend is the one hosting that shit. You know Nicole?"

"My friend, Jordin, does." David wasn't sure, really. He just went by what Jordin had told him earlier.

"My name's David, by the way. David Cook." The man held out his hand.

Oh. Something flipped inside David's chest. “My name’s David too. David Archuleta.”

The man seemed amused to find out they had the same name. He laughed – but not in a rude way – and said, "Well I guess I'd let you call me Cook since most of my friends do, anyway."

"Okay." There was something calming about Cook's presence so David relished the comfort of Cook's company. "What were you playing earlier?" David asked, no longer feeling ill at ease

Cook shrugged and there was something modest with the way he said, “Something I composed.”

“It was beautiful. But sad,” rolled out of David's mouth and he belatedly realized how blunt he was.

"I uh… I wrote the song and did the arrangement the week my brother died," Cook said, his eyes downcast.

Guilt stabbed sharply through David's chest and his heart clenched when a sad smile took shape on Cook's lips. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Cook placed his guitar gingerly next to him, keeping it upright. "So you're here with a friend?"

The abrupt change of topic turned out to be exactly what they needed. Their conversation paved way to discovering that David and Cook had a lot of things in common – they don't just share the same first name but also the same birth month, the same love for music and they were both left-handed.

Feeling like he had known Cook for a long time, David shared his dreams, told Cook he had just made it through a painstaking process of getting into Julliard and he was excited to start in the fall.

"So you're only eighteen and you've already had a concert at the Carnegie Hall? Wow," Cook said after David had told him about the concert earlier.

David felt his face burn hot with embarrassment. "I um… I wasn't the only one? There were others who played really well. And besides, it was for charity."

"That's still awesome. I mean, compare to playing in bars like I do."

"I'm sure you're awesome, too." David bit his tongue, unable to believe how open he could be. Pushing his diffidence aside, he asked, "Can you like um… play another song?"

"Sure." Cook lifted his guitar back on his lap and started strumming.

They spent the entire night up there on the rooftop – David listening to Cook play and sing and he somehow found himself gravitating towards Cook as the hours passed.

David could feel Cook's voice against his skin like a caress, making his entire body tingle. Cook's bright hazel eyes glimmered every time the moonlight touched the surface. There was something about Cook as a whole that seemed to set David free.

They seemed to have this connection – bound by their love for music, bound by something David couldn't name. When Cook leaned in slowly, breath ghosting over David's lips, David didn't budge.

"Is this okay?" Cook asked and David could only nod because the proximity made it hard for him to breathe, let alone speak. Then Cook closed the gap, pressing his lips ever so gently against David’s.

That was how their two worlds, different as it could be, had merged.


**********


Cook woke up with a start when a flash of light pierced through his closed eyelids. He could hear laughter, knew right away that his band mates were hovering nearby. His eyes were struggling to adjust to the brightness when he felt someone move beside him.

Fuck! He sat up, suddenly remembering David. His gaze fell on David's sleeping form. David looked so beautiful, even when asleep.

Cook recalled how they talked all night and when it had gotten too cold at the rooftop, they returned to Nicole's apartment and they must've fallen asleep on the chaise lounge while waiting for the sun to rise.

Another flash of light brought Cook out of his contemplation and he saw his band mate Andy holding up a camera. “Smile,” Andy said and just as he was about to take another picture, David stirred awake.

“Fuck off, Skib.” Cook’s eyes flicked over to David and he coaxed an apologetic smile across his lips.

David bolted upright and asked what time it was.

Cook's chest felt a ton when he asked, “Do you have to leave?”

“Yes. I'm sorry, my um…” David was on his feet, struggling to slip his jacket on. “My dad’s in town and if he finds out that I uh… I have to go.”

David had barely taken a step away when Cook blurted out, “Wait! You haven’t given me your number.”

David punched his number on Cook's phone, said, “Send me a text message with your name so I’ll know your number,” and gave Cook a quick kiss before rushing out of the apartment.

“You didn’t even introduce us to your new boyfriend,” Andy whined and Cook grabbed the first thing his hand could reach – his jacket – and hurled it over at Andy, making Andy and the others cackle even more.

Cook spent the entire morning pacing in his hotel room, doing his best to listen to what his band mates and road manager were discussing. He heard their manager, Art, say, "We have one last gig at Johns' Bar tonight and a couple others at Acme then we head to New Jersey in three days," and it sent a bolt of panic surging through his nervous system. He had to see David. He just had to.

It was before lunch when he found the guts and the time to call David. “I hope you didn’t get in trouble,” were the first things out of Cook's mouth as soon as heard David's voice.

"Oh." There were a few seconds pause before David spoke again. “I didn’t. My uh… my friend Jordin called my dad last night when she couldn't find me, told him I was staying with her since it was late. And um… I think he believed her?"

"Cool. You think you can um… meet me for lunch?"

There was another pregnant pause before Cook heard David release a breath. "I wish I could, Cook. But my dad wanted to have lunch with me before he leaves for Florida later. Maybe tonight?"

Excitement bubbled up inside Cook, making him feel giddy but he did his best to sound calm when he said, "Sure. Maybe you can come watch us play."

"Okay."

"I'll meet you near the arch at Washington Square Park at say… around five?"

"Sounds like a plan, Cook."

They had dinner at a diner. David didn't want anything fancy and Cook was glad because he didn't have much money in his pocket anyway. He was a struggling musician, but he wasn't about to admit that.

After dinner, they headed back to park where they met earlier, Cook's hand tangled with David's. Moonlight bathed the paved path making the landscape look ethereal and romantic. Music of practically all types – from jazz to ballad to alternative sounds – vibrated through the air.

Cook's phone rang just as he had David’s back pressed against a tree, their lips joined in a more practiced kiss. It was Andy, asking Cook where the fuck he was and in a more subdued tone, reminded Cook that they had a gig in an hour.

"I'm on my way, Skib," Cook told Andy and after he hang up, he tugged David close, gave him a quick kiss and said, "Come with me."

David did and even went with Cook back to his hotel room willingly after the show. With the thrill still rushing through his blood stream and the burning desire to taste every inch of David's skin clawing at him, Cook felt too weak to resist so he claimed David, made David his lover that night.


Part 2...

Parts:   1  |   2  |   3  |   4

Comments

[archieluvin.livejournal.com]

My favorite words of this are....to be continued...JK, I loved the whole post and can't wait for the next part!

[clover71.livejournal.com]

thanks bb :)

i'm currently downloading a couple of episodes of the secret circle so my pc is constantly freezing, i won't be able to post the next part until the dl is done... probably 2 hours (my internet connection sucks)? maybe more but i hope not.

[asweetdownfall.livejournal.com]

aldsfladsjfjdsalfglsdjl I am loving this so far.

And August Rush is A+++++. :D

[clover71.livejournal.com]

i love august rush. have you seen the movie?

and thanks for the comment :)

[asweetdownfall.livejournal.com]

Yes! And fell in love with it. It's one of my all time favorites. :D