Chapter Text
It was just an ordinary show on an ordinary night toward the end of the tour, but it would prove to be a memorable night for all of them – and for some of them in more ways than one.
Adrenaline and emotion were running high after the finale performance, as usual. The Idols were scheduled to leave the city early the next morning, so the buses transported them swiftly back to their hotel; but none of them were ready to sleep yet. When Anoop suggested a trip to the hotel bar downstairs, most of the other guys readily agreed.
Michael was exhausted, but not ready to be alone in the quiet of his hotel room yet. He thought that the little excursion couldn’t be too bad – might even be relaxing.
A drink or two in a quiet, mostly empty bar full of people from out of town – and therefore probably not even aware that we’re here, not interested in a close encounter with any of us – might be just the thing to wind down a little before going to bed.
At any rate, as the other guys seemed determined to slip past their security team rather than to ask them to accompany the group to the bar, Michael thought it was a good idea for someone to go along who wouldn’t be drinking much; and if that someone happened to be a good old Southern boy built like a linebacker, well – all the better.
Michael, Anoop, Matt, and Adam all gathered in Anoop’s room, plotting their route down the side stairs halfway down the hall and across the hotel lobby to the bar, so as best to not be noticed by their security team posted at the elevators. As they were discussing the best way to sneak out, Adam glanced around the room, then toward the door, a slight frown pursing his lips.
“Isn’t Kris going down with us?”
“Nah, his lady’s in town,” Matt smirked, nudging Adam in the ribs and waggling his eyebrows suggestively. “I think he’s got better things to do tonight.”
Michael couldn’t help but notice that, despite the forced smile of false amusement he offered in response to Matt’s words, Adam seemed none too thrilled with that information. During the course of the tour, his crush had become more and more obvious, until Michael was pretty sure it was beyond the point of “crush” and into the realm of barely concealed obsession.
Adam bit his lower lip, glancing uncertainly toward the door. “Should we maybe knock and – you know, see if they wanna come down with us?”
He seemed to be intentionally oblivious. Michael cringed with second-hand embarrassment as the others laughed at Adam’s attempt at innocence, when his motives were obviously anything but innocent.
“Dude!” Anoop replied, slapping a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Do you really think they’d wanna hang out in some random bar with us when they haven’t seen each other in like – a month?”
“Yeah,” Matt agreed, his own assessment slightly more direct. “Pretty sure Kris is more than ready to get laid by now. Besides, he doesn’t drink, anyway. It’s just us, so let’s go.”
Adam was unusually subdued as they slipped down the hallway to the exit, and Michael was pretty sure it wasn’t just because they were trying not to get caught. His enthusiasm for the outing had clearly been dampened by the news of Kris’s visit from his wife. Michael frowned, troubled and torn. He felt a grudging sort of sympathy for Adam in his unrequited feelings – and yet, he almost felt guilty for that sympathy.
Kris should be with Katy. She’s his wife. I shouldn’t be feeling bad for Adam because he’s spending time with her…
And yet…
Michael slowed his pace in order to fall into step with Adam, at the rear of the group, as they slipped into the stairwell and started down. By the time they reached the lobby, Michael and Adam were several yards behind the others, and Michael placed a comforting hand on Adam’s shoulder.
“It’ll be fine, man. Maybe you’ll meet someone down at the bar.”
Adam shrugged out from under Michael’s hand, not looking at him, his expression dark and stormy. “Maybe I will,” he replied, his tone taut with barely restrained resentment, carrying a subtle note of challenge, as he pointedly hurried his pace and left Michael far behind him.
Michael stood still for a moment, a little offended by Adam’s rejection of his gesture. He knew they weren’t exactly close; though all of the Idols were more or less comfortable with each other, Michael and Adam tended to gravitate toward different groups, and had never had more than very casual conversation. Michael had been stepping outside of his personal comfort zone to offer even that small gesture of sympathy.
And Adam apparently would have preferred that he stay in it.
Adam did indeed meet someone – several someones, in fact – at the bar.
The bar was more crowded than they had expected, the atmosphere louder and more exciting than they had been anticipating. As the others found a table where they could pass an hour or so laughing and talking about the events of the night, Adam headed for the bar by himself. His bad mood was obvious, and none of the others seemed inclined to approach him, so Michael finally steeled himself and crossed the room.
I’ll put myself out there just one last time… and then it’s his decision. If he wants to spend the night moping in a corner by himself, that’s up to him.
“Hey, man, why don’t you come over there and sit with us?” Michael suggested, nodding toward the table across the bar, though not venturing to touch Adam this time. “You’re lookin’ mighty lonely over here.”
Adam slowly turned to lean against the bar, pausing to take a dramatic, pointed sip of his drink before meeting Michael’s gaze with narrowed eyes over an arrogant smirk that was a far cry from his usual warm, engaging smile. Adam's piercing blue eyes were dark and smoldering with hurt and fury that was barely restrained, concealed beneath a veneer of smug confidence.
“Oh, just give me a minute, honey,” he retorted with a wink. “Trust me. I won’t be lonely for long.”
“Whatever, man,” Michael sighed, rolling his eyes and turning away before Adam could see the uncomfortable flush that warmed his face. “Just thought I’d ask.”
He returned to the table, feeling unsettled and vaguely unhappy. He didn’t know why it should bother him. It wasn’t as if he and Adam were even friends, really. If Adam had decided to spend the evening acting like a whiny little bitch, well – that was none of Michael’s concern. He should just relax and enjoy the company of his friends.
Somehow, however, Michael’s attention kept drifting back toward the bar – and just as Adam had said, within a matter of minutes, an attractive young man had joined him. Michael found himself increasingly distracted, preoccupied with watching the progress of Adam’s encounter with the stranger, out of the corner of his eye. He felt a strange, inexplicable sense of relief when Adam accepted a single drink from the young man – in addition to the one he’d already paid for himself – but then politely sent him on his way.
Waiting for a better offer, probably, Michael surmised. And he’ll probably get one, with this crowd…
Adam was nursing his third drink when another man approached him, somewhat larger and visibly more confident than the first guy, a little shorter than Adam but more powerfully built. He wasted no time on introductions, sidling in between the bar stools, then between Adam’s parted legs to whisper into his ear with a suggestive smirk.
Adam withdrew, a single brow raised dubiously over a smirk, shaking his head. The stranger laughed, backing off enough to slide onto the bar stool next to Adam’s, yet still near enough that his knee brushed against Adam’s as he idly turned the stool back and forth. Michael tried not to wonder what he was saying, tried not to wish that he was sitting close enough to overhear, as Adam finally graced the young man with a more genuine smile, seeming to accept his presence.
An hour later, the other Idols were ready to head back up to their rooms – and Adam was still sitting at the bar with his new friend.
From what Michael could tell, he was nearing the bottom of his fifth drink.
“You coming, Mike?” Matt’s voice caught his attention, and Michael looked up at him from his seat, to see that the others were already headed toward the door.
“I’ll be up in a little while,” Michael replied with a casual shrug. “Think I’ll hang around here a little while longer.”
Matt’s knowing gaze followed Michael’s to Adam at the bar, just as Adam let out a loud laugh, leaning clumsily forward to rest his head on the stranger’s shoulder for a moment, then struggling to sit up straight again. Matt smirked, meeting Michael’s eyes and nodding his approval.
“Someone’s gotta make sure he doesn’t get in too much trouble,” he agreed with a weary yawn. “Better you than me, man. See you in the morning.”
“Night.” Michael called distractedly after Matt, already watching Adam again.
Michael’s second drink was still half full, and he sipped it idly, feeling an uncomfortable rush of unbidden hostility toward Adam’s companion, as the young man slid off his stool and closer to Adam again, running one hand under the edge of Adam’s t-shirt, the other resting on the back of his neck as he whispered in Adam’s ear again – and this time, Adam offered no resistance, his head lolling forward to rest against the man’s shoulder.
Michael frowned as the stranger stood up straight, wrapping a firm, supportive arm around Adam’s waist and pulling him to his feet. Adam’s eyes were half-closed, and he stumbled as the other man guided him away from the bar and toward the door. Something about the way Adam’s arm hung slack around the shoulders of the smaller man – the way his steps dragged and his head lolled weakly forward – set off warning bells in Michael’s mind. As Adam’s companion half-carried him toward the door, Michael’s eyes settled on Adam’s empty glass, and his eyes widened with the alarm of sudden understanding.
I’ve seen Adam drink more than that and be fine. He might get a little sloshed, but he wouldn’t be unconscious after a few drinks. That sick little pervert must have drugged him!
Michael rose from his seat and moved swiftly to intercept them before the stranger could get Adam out of sight, and managed to block the exit just as they reached it. The stranger blinked in surprise, eyeing the much larger man uneasily, glancing between him and Adam.
“Can I help you with something?” he asked haughtily, eyebrows raised in challenge.
“Yeah. You can let me take it from here and make sure my friend gets safely to his room,” Michael replied, a cold, knowing smirk on his lips as he continued in a deceptively soft, measured tone. “I know you’re just trying to help, but really… I can take it from here.”
“He’s just had a little too much to drink, that’s all,” the guy insisted, but there was a nervous tremor in his voice, and his face flushed as he glanced around the room to see if anyone else had noticed the confrontation. “I was just gonna help him get upstairs…”
“And into your room… and undressed…” Michael nodded slowly, any pretense of pleasantry fading as his expression darkened with disgust. “Trust me, man… I know exactly what you were just gonna do.” He stepped pointedly, intimidatingly closer to the shorter man as he added with slow, measured words, “I think you probably know who it is that you’re so intent on ‘helping’, right? So I don’t have to tell you that if I wanted to, I could make sure your name and face were plastered all over the morning news tomorrow – and before all’s said and done, you’ll be labeled a sex offender for the rest of your life. I don’t think you want that to happen, do you?”
The young man’s face went pale, and he swallowed hard. “Look, man, I wasn’t… I mean… I don’t want any…”
Michael just moved in closer, shouldering the smaller man out of the way and taking Adam’s weight onto himself instead. “Get out of my sight, you sick little prick,” Michael muttered – and the would-be rapist swiftly took advantage of the offer that Michael was pretty sure was far too good for him.
Shoulda called the cops on his ass… made sure he does get that sex offender label before he can mess with anyone else…
Michael glanced at Adam, a worried frown creasing his brow as he realized that Adam was unaware of the entire exchange that had just taken place.
… but that should be Adam’s choice. I wouldn’t want to put him through the public embarrassment and hassle of a trial over something that didn’t even happen… didn’t get a chance to happen…
As he steadied Adam’s arm across his own shoulders, Adam stirred, raising his head with an effort and blinking sleepily at Michael in obvious confusion. He struggled over the words, his voice slurred and heavy.
“Y-you’re… not my… friend…”
Michael’s mouth went dry, and he stared at Adam with hurt, momentarily forgetting the fact that almost the exact same thought had crossed his mind not an hour earlier. Then, Adam turned his head, attempting to scan the room with heavy-lidded eyes before looking back at Michael, his eyes bleary and unfocused.
“Where did my… friend go?” he mumbled before allowing his face to fall forward against Michael’s chest.
Michael relaxed a little as he understood what Adam had meant by his words. “Trust me, buddy,” he muttered grimly, shaking his head. “That dude was not your friend.”
“Okay,” Adam whispered, frowning as he lifted his head a little, then put it back down, apparently finding it too much effort. “My head hurts,” he whimpered. “I think somethin’s… I think I’m… sick…”
“You’re gonna be just fine, Adam,” Michael assured him, his voice gentler, his arm tightening around Adam’s waist in response to his unusually vulnerable state. “Don’t you worry, I’m gonna get you right upstairs to bed, okay? Does that sound good?”
“Yeah,” Adam slurred, trying to nod again. “Let’s go to bed…”
Michael paused for a moment, closing his eyes and swallowing hard. “You’re gonna go to bed,” he amended firmly, trying not to think about the warmth stirring low in his stomach at the feeling of Adam’s head resting trustingly against his chest, Adam’s trembling fingers weakly wrapped around his shoulder. He rolled his eyes in irritation at his own reaction, moving forward again as he muttered under his breath, “I don’t think I’m gonna be sleeping for a good long while.”