AU Fic: Little Sparrow
Mar. 28th, 2012 09:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cloversworldLittle Sparrow
written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
au_bingo, prompt: alternate planet(s)
fandom: american idol; pairing: david cook/ david archuleta; rating: pg-13; approximately 1,280 words
Disclaimer:
This fiction may contain real people but none of the occurrences written here are real. The entire story is made up based on the author's imagination only and for non-profitable purpose.
Author's Note(s): Not beta'ed. This story was inspired by the History of Voltes V, an anime popular in our country when I was a child. The title of this fic came from the English version of that same anime's closing theme (the Japanese version sounds 100x better). This is open-ended, by the way. Why do I keep ending up with open-ended plots for Cookleta? *head desk*
My AU bingo card
Growing up, he didn't completely understand why he had to wear fake horns but now David knew. He knew because he had seen the way the members of the Non-Horned Class were treated. They were considered slaves, unworthy to possess the rights that Horned Class had.
When he was twelve, his dad explained why it was necessary to keep this secret. His uncle was the emperor and with no direct heir, David was expected to take his place when the time came.
David grew into his late teens without anyone suspecting that the horns that sat on his head were not real. It was easy for him to keep his lips shut tight and the secret safely tucked away at the back of his mind.
Until the day he met Cook.
When David entered Higher Education, his uncle decided that David needed to learn hand-to-hand combat and weapon handling so the Emperor called for the highly skilled Lieutenant from the Defense Unit to help David in this crucial training. Cook turned out to be a lot of fun and David enjoyed spending hours with him. It didn't take long for David to feel perpetually comfortable around Cook.
"I wish I could do something to make this planet better," David told Cook one day, giving in to the urge to confide since he trusted Cook enough.
"What would you change if you were to become emperor?" Cook asked.
"Eliminate slavery, free the Non-Horned Class and give them the rights they deserve," flowed out of David's mouth before he realized what he was saying. Most horned Boazanians were loyal to the Emperor, especially those serving the Force, and would probably be against the idea of sharing the same privileges with the Non-Horned Class.
"Then I wish you'd be the emperor soon," was Cook's reaction. "I wish someone would bring back the days when we all live in harmony. Not like this, not when we're separated into classes – the subservient and the higher class." It turned out that Cook's father was a Non-Horned being, only allowed to marry because his former master was considerate until the former master died and Cook's father was shipped to the Northern Zone to work in the mines when Cook was five. The man was forbidden to see his family so Cook only had a vague memory of his father.
They were riding through the valley one day, when they chanced upon a Non-Horned group. The slaves seemed to recoil in David's presence but David ignored them, brought out a box of bread and a package of meat from his chariot to feed the starving beings.
"You'll make a great emperor one day," Cook said and something in David ignited, a feeling he couldn't name until he found himself more and more drawn to Cook as nights and days passed.
"I'm scared, Cook," David confided when the news reached him that the Emperor had fallen ill months later. "I'm scared that I might fail to accomplish what I have desperately been aiming for. I'm scared that I might fail my people. I'm scared that I might not deserve to rule this planet in the end."
Cook held David's face between his hands, forcing David to look into the depths of Cook's eyes. "David," he said in a voice that held David's full attention. "If anyone deserves to be a ruler, it's you. And you won't fail. I have your back, remember." Then Cook's lips were on his, moving sinuously that David forgot all his fears and worries.
With his growing trust in Cook and knowing that Cook would never leave his side, David gave in to the urge of revealing the secret he held sacred for years. "There's something you should know, Cook. I'm…" It took all the courage he had to tell Cook that he had been living a lie, wearing fake horns to avoid falling into a society meant for beings like him.
The truth didn't faze Cook and he swore to take the secret to his grave.
When the emperor died, David was more than prepared to be crowned only because he was eager to implement the changes he wanted to see. The slaves had to be freed. But something happened then, something he least expected.
A man named Constantine claimed to be the emperor's bastard son, borne to the emperor's mistress. Perhaps it was the man's desperation to claim the throne that David found himself under the man's mercy.
It was during David's crowning ceremony when Constantine burst through the doors, dozens of armed men at his heels. "This boy doesn't deserve to be the ruler," he said and he climbed up the steps, grabbed David's horns and yanked them out of his head.
David was arrested, was sent to Slave Camp to work alongside the slaves he meant to free. Cook was thrown into the dungeons, charged with felony only because he kept David's secret all this time.
With Constantine as the new emperor, freedom became nothing but a frail dream. Even the Horned Class weren't spared from Constantine's cruelty. Those who opposed him were punished.
David fell into despair, accepting his fate with only memories of Cook to keep him going every hour of every day. He was working in the fields a month later when there was uproar in the distance.
One of the slaves came running up to him, yelling, "David! David! Someone's looking for you."
It was as if the burden he'd been carrying on his shoulders was lifted when he saw Cook. Despite Cook's cheeks colored with bruises, his arms decorated with cuts and dried blood and his body covered in frayed clothes, David was thrilled to see him. He threw himself into Cook's open arms, burying his face in the crook of Cook's neck.
"You're here," David said when he pulled back. He ran his palms up Cook's arms, felt Cook's face with the tips of his fingers then curled his hands around Cook's thick horns just to make sure Cook wasn't just a mirage. "You're here. You're alive."
Cook had apparently escaped from the dungeons after hearing the Emperor's plan to bring his endless desire for conquest to the neighboring Solar System. His presence brought the slaves hope, brought David hope. David soon convinced the Non-Horned populace to rise in rebellion with the aim to overthrow Constantine and end this disparity once and for all.
Armed with David's virtuosity in Science and all the necessary information Cook had provided, they were able to devise weapons and formulate plans.
Constantine's army wasn't prepared for the rebel's attack, which gave Cook, David and the rest of the Non-Horned Class the upper hand. At the height of the revolution, Constantine and his militia fought back with force, killing rebels mercilessly.
"My Lord!" a horned Boazanian loyal to David's father called out to David. "My Lord. Constantine's Forces are winning. You have to escape."
"Jason! Where's my mother? My father?"
"They managed to flee, traveling to the Southern Zone as we speak," Jason explained. "Your father asked me to help you escape. There's a ship waiting for you just outside the border. You have to hurry."
It took Cook's gentle coaxing to break through David's stubborn will. He led David to the border and practically carried David into the small spaceship. "You have to leave the planet, David. You have to."
"Will you come with me?" David's grip on the sleeves of Cook's shirt tightened. "I want you to come with me."
Cook wrapped his arms around David. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
They managed to escape Boazania, bringing with them hope that they would one day return and fulfill what they were fighting for.
~fin~
written for
au_bingo, prompt: alternate planet(s)fandom: american idol; pairing: david cook/ david archuleta; rating: pg-13; approximately 1,280 words
Disclaimer:
This fiction may contain real people but none of the occurrences written here are real. The entire story is made up based on the author's imagination only and for non-profitable purpose.
Author's Note(s): Not beta'ed. This story was inspired by the History of Voltes V, an anime popular in our country when I was a child. The title of this fic came from the English version of that same anime's closing theme (the Japanese version sounds 100x better). This is open-ended, by the way. Why do I keep ending up with open-ended plots for Cookleta? *head desk*
My AU bingo card
Growing up, he didn't completely understand why he had to wear fake horns but now David knew. He knew because he had seen the way the members of the Non-Horned Class were treated. They were considered slaves, unworthy to possess the rights that Horned Class had.
When he was twelve, his dad explained why it was necessary to keep this secret. His uncle was the emperor and with no direct heir, David was expected to take his place when the time came.
David grew into his late teens without anyone suspecting that the horns that sat on his head were not real. It was easy for him to keep his lips shut tight and the secret safely tucked away at the back of his mind.
Until the day he met Cook.
When David entered Higher Education, his uncle decided that David needed to learn hand-to-hand combat and weapon handling so the Emperor called for the highly skilled Lieutenant from the Defense Unit to help David in this crucial training. Cook turned out to be a lot of fun and David enjoyed spending hours with him. It didn't take long for David to feel perpetually comfortable around Cook.
"I wish I could do something to make this planet better," David told Cook one day, giving in to the urge to confide since he trusted Cook enough.
"What would you change if you were to become emperor?" Cook asked.
"Eliminate slavery, free the Non-Horned Class and give them the rights they deserve," flowed out of David's mouth before he realized what he was saying. Most horned Boazanians were loyal to the Emperor, especially those serving the Force, and would probably be against the idea of sharing the same privileges with the Non-Horned Class.
"Then I wish you'd be the emperor soon," was Cook's reaction. "I wish someone would bring back the days when we all live in harmony. Not like this, not when we're separated into classes – the subservient and the higher class." It turned out that Cook's father was a Non-Horned being, only allowed to marry because his former master was considerate until the former master died and Cook's father was shipped to the Northern Zone to work in the mines when Cook was five. The man was forbidden to see his family so Cook only had a vague memory of his father.
They were riding through the valley one day, when they chanced upon a Non-Horned group. The slaves seemed to recoil in David's presence but David ignored them, brought out a box of bread and a package of meat from his chariot to feed the starving beings.
"You'll make a great emperor one day," Cook said and something in David ignited, a feeling he couldn't name until he found himself more and more drawn to Cook as nights and days passed.
"I'm scared, Cook," David confided when the news reached him that the Emperor had fallen ill months later. "I'm scared that I might fail to accomplish what I have desperately been aiming for. I'm scared that I might fail my people. I'm scared that I might not deserve to rule this planet in the end."
Cook held David's face between his hands, forcing David to look into the depths of Cook's eyes. "David," he said in a voice that held David's full attention. "If anyone deserves to be a ruler, it's you. And you won't fail. I have your back, remember." Then Cook's lips were on his, moving sinuously that David forgot all his fears and worries.
With his growing trust in Cook and knowing that Cook would never leave his side, David gave in to the urge of revealing the secret he held sacred for years. "There's something you should know, Cook. I'm…" It took all the courage he had to tell Cook that he had been living a lie, wearing fake horns to avoid falling into a society meant for beings like him.
The truth didn't faze Cook and he swore to take the secret to his grave.
When the emperor died, David was more than prepared to be crowned only because he was eager to implement the changes he wanted to see. The slaves had to be freed. But something happened then, something he least expected.
A man named Constantine claimed to be the emperor's bastard son, borne to the emperor's mistress. Perhaps it was the man's desperation to claim the throne that David found himself under the man's mercy.
It was during David's crowning ceremony when Constantine burst through the doors, dozens of armed men at his heels. "This boy doesn't deserve to be the ruler," he said and he climbed up the steps, grabbed David's horns and yanked them out of his head.
David was arrested, was sent to Slave Camp to work alongside the slaves he meant to free. Cook was thrown into the dungeons, charged with felony only because he kept David's secret all this time.
With Constantine as the new emperor, freedom became nothing but a frail dream. Even the Horned Class weren't spared from Constantine's cruelty. Those who opposed him were punished.
David fell into despair, accepting his fate with only memories of Cook to keep him going every hour of every day. He was working in the fields a month later when there was uproar in the distance.
One of the slaves came running up to him, yelling, "David! David! Someone's looking for you."
It was as if the burden he'd been carrying on his shoulders was lifted when he saw Cook. Despite Cook's cheeks colored with bruises, his arms decorated with cuts and dried blood and his body covered in frayed clothes, David was thrilled to see him. He threw himself into Cook's open arms, burying his face in the crook of Cook's neck.
"You're here," David said when he pulled back. He ran his palms up Cook's arms, felt Cook's face with the tips of his fingers then curled his hands around Cook's thick horns just to make sure Cook wasn't just a mirage. "You're here. You're alive."
Cook had apparently escaped from the dungeons after hearing the Emperor's plan to bring his endless desire for conquest to the neighboring Solar System. His presence brought the slaves hope, brought David hope. David soon convinced the Non-Horned populace to rise in rebellion with the aim to overthrow Constantine and end this disparity once and for all.
Armed with David's virtuosity in Science and all the necessary information Cook had provided, they were able to devise weapons and formulate plans.
Constantine's army wasn't prepared for the rebel's attack, which gave Cook, David and the rest of the Non-Horned Class the upper hand. At the height of the revolution, Constantine and his militia fought back with force, killing rebels mercilessly.
"My Lord!" a horned Boazanian loyal to David's father called out to David. "My Lord. Constantine's Forces are winning. You have to escape."
"Jason! Where's my mother? My father?"
"They managed to flee, traveling to the Southern Zone as we speak," Jason explained. "Your father asked me to help you escape. There's a ship waiting for you just outside the border. You have to hurry."
It took Cook's gentle coaxing to break through David's stubborn will. He led David to the border and practically carried David into the small spaceship. "You have to leave the planet, David. You have to."
"Will you come with me?" David's grip on the sleeves of Cook's shirt tightened. "I want you to come with me."
Cook wrapped his arms around David. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
They managed to escape Boazania, bringing with them hope that they would one day return and fulfill what they were fighting for.
~fin~