labyrinth2015 | CommentFic 19: Night and Day

labyrinth2015

For those of you not hanging in the fandom, there were tweets that spawned the explosion of epicness today:

Cook misseeessss Archieeeee!

Saw these gems on Twitter earlier, from people who were at Cook's show tonight or at some point in the past week I guess:
Last week apparently Cook was all tipsy and saying he missed @DavidArchie during autograph signings. Those two should meet up.
6 minutes ago from TweetDeck
Cook seemed like he had had a few drinks, and he was randomly saying "i miss david archuleta. i miss david archuleta".
9 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Autumndefense: @DavidArchie Cook really sounded like he missed you. he asked if you were still on tour with Demi!

Which generated this commentfic:

Title: Night and Day
Pairing: David/David
Rating: PG
Dedication: For my lovely

bwinchesterwho asked for this, and

otherbella, who helped a lady in need. AND FOR

onepunkymisfit, who is an epic rockstar whom the Universe adores. UNBETAED, God help me; apologies in advance.
Disclaimer: Not-for profit work of fiction; neither veracity nor proprietary interest asserted. Will remove without prejudice upon valid request.

NIGHT AND DAY

I. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

[MUCH RINGING]

Arch: ...hello?

Dave: HI. ARCH?

Arch: ...Cook?

Dave: YES. DID I - Did I wake you up?

Arch: ...yes, 'm sleeping. What time is it?

Dave: GOD, I AM SO - I am so sorry. I thought you might still be up.

Arch: ...no, went right to bed after the show.

Arch: ...2 am? Cook, seriously...

Dave: I AM SO SORRY. I should just call you b --

Arch: No, no, I'm good. Up now. Hey, I'm just check -- I think my Twitter just exploded, oh my heck!

Dave: You know I don't even know how to work one.

Arch: You should totally -- hey, people are saying how you were drunk tonight after your show, and saying how you missed me!

Arch: Cook, are you there? Hello?

Dave: ...man, your fans have speedy fingers.

Arch: See, if you had a Twitter, you'd see this for yourself!

Dave: Not sure my heart could take it, to be honest.

Arch: So, is this right? Did you tell people you missed me?

Dave: Apparently so.

Arch: You should call more, then.

Dave: I know...I know.

Arch: Are you okay?

Dave: I don't know.

Arch: ...You want me to call someone? David?

Dave: ...Just give me a sec.

Arch: Can I do something?

Dave: …You can hold on.

[SILENCE]

Dave: Arch, are you still there?

Arch: Yes. Are you okay? What happened?

Dave: Bit too much to drink. Sorry.

Arch: You should drink lots of water. At least that's what most people say, haha.

Dave: Yeah. Don't usually go with most people, for some reason.

Arch: Better now?

Dave: Yes. Look, I really should call you back tomorrow, okay? It's late.

Arch: Seriously, Cook. You woke me up, and put me on hold just to tell me that?

Dave: ...no, as it happens.

Arch: Okay, then, so, what's on your mind?

Dave: ...I, I just wanted to say I missed you, Arch.

Dave: David? Are you there? Hello?

Arch: ”Is it me you're looking for”? Haha. Sorry. That's sweet, Cook. I miss you too. Is that why you called?

Dave: ...Yeah? But that's not the right song.

Arch: ...umm, another Lionel? “All night long, all night”?

Dave: NO. I'm hanging up now.

Arch: “Hung up the 'phone tonight, something happened for the first time...”

Dave: No. “I just called...to say...”.

Dave: …Are you there?

Dave: David?

Arch: ...you know, I think you stopped singing at the most important part.

Dave: I think I did.

Arch: I want to hear it.

Dave: Not over the ‘phone. I'm coming to see you.

Arch: Not tonight - c'mon, the red eye will be a killer, and you can't drive like this.

Dave: Do I even care? “I'm running to you.”

Arch: I love it when you sing my songs.

Dave: I always will. I'm coming, David. Tell me where you are.

Arch: Okay. I’m texting you the hotel, the room number.

Dave: Got it. Sleep tight. In the morning, I’ll be there.

[CLICK]

II. INTERMISSION

[Msg from Dave] Headed 2 airport. Not driving. Coming 2 u.
[Msg from Dave] At gate. On my way.
[Msg from Dave] Touchdown. b there soon.

III. ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE

1. INT: DAVID ARCHULETA’S HOTEL ROOM.

EVERYTHING'S NEAT, ONE SUITCASE, CLOTHES FOLDED TIDILY AWAY. IT’S EARLY MORNING, BUT THE NIGHT CURTAINS ARE DRAWN, SO THE ROOM IS DARK.

CLOSE ON ARCHIE: TOSSING RESTLESSLY IN BED, SHEETS RUMPLED. HE’S WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT, ADORABLE PLAID BOXERS, THAT EMPHASIZE HIS TAUT COMPACT MUSCLES. (THE CAMERA EATS HIM UP.) HE’S HOLDING HIS CELLPHONE IN HIS LEFT HAND.

OFF-CAMERA: KNOCKING.

ARCH: (stirring) Oh, man.

OFF-CAMERA: (muffled) Archie. Open up.

ARCH: (sitting bolt upright) OH MY HECK. COOK.

ARCHIE LEAPS OUT OF BED, FIGHTING BRIEFLY WITH THE COVERS, FLINGING HIS CELLPHONE ON THE PILLOW.

ARCH: (muttering) Darn it. I’m coming.

ARCHIE REACHES THE DOOR; HITS THE LIGHT SWITCH. PAUSES, TO CHECK HIMSELF OUT IN THE MIRROR ADJACENT TO THE DOOR, AND SAGS A LITTLE IN DISMAY AT THE SIGHT OF HIS MORNING FACE. THEN HE SQUARES HIS SHOULDERS, NODS FIRMLY AT HIS REFLECTION, AND PULLS THE DOOR OPEN.

2.EXT: HOTEL HALLWAY, SHAG CARPET, FLUORESCENT LIGHTING. CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY A VERY RUMPLED, TIRED-LOOKING DAVID COOK.

CLOSE UP ON COOK, WHO LOOKS, FRANKLY, PRETTY TERRIBLE. HIS EYES ARE RED, HIS HAIR IS STANDING UP ON ONE SIDE. HE IS WEARING A REALLY RATTY PLAID SHIRT AND JEANS. HE DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE REMEMBERED HIS AVIATORS, WHICH MIGHT HAVE IMPROVED HIS OVERALL APPEARANCE. FORTUNATELY, HIS LEATHER JACKET IS WORKING THE BIKER CHIC LOOK MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN THE REST OF HIM. HE HAS A SMALL OVERNIGHT BAG IN ONE HAND, AND HIS GUITAR CASE.

COOK: Room service?

CUT BACK TO ARCHIE: WHO PERKS UP, VISIBLY, FOR AN INSTANT, POSSIBLY AT THE FACT THAT COOK LOOKS SO NOT-PULLED-TOGETHER TODAY. THEN OF COURSE HE SAGS WITH CONCERN.

ARCH: Cook, you look terrible. Are you…?

WIDE ANGLE: COOK, HAND OVER HIS FACE, LAUGHING.

COOK: (snickering)…way to cool my jets, Archuleta, before we even start.

ARCH: (flailing) Oh my heck, that is so not what I meant! I meant, you look so tired, I –

ARCHIE REACHES OUT, AIMING FOR COOK’S FREE ARM. COOK SLIDES BACK A LITTLE, SO THAT THEIR FINGERS MEET, INSTEAD, AND SUDDENLY, THEY ARE HOLDING HANDS. ARCHIE’S WORDS COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT.

SOFT CUT TO COOK, BLOODSHOT EYES VERY INTENSE AND SERIOUS.

COOK: (very softly) I stayed up all night. Took the red-eye, so I’d be here when you woke up.

PULL BACK TO ARCHIE, WHO LOOKS AWAY: HE CAN’T HANDLE COOK IN THIS MOMENT. BUT HE DOESN’T LET GO OF COOK’S HAND.

ARCH: (making flapping movement) Um, come in. I might have coffee.

ARCHIE BACKS THROUGH THE DOOR; COOK FOLLOWING

3. INT: ARCHIE’S HOTEL ROOM, AGAIN.

ARCHIE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH COOK – HE CASTS HIS EYE AT THE UNMADE, MESSY BED: OBVIOUSLY HE ISN’T GOING TO LEAD HIM OVER THERE. COOK SEEMS CONTENT TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM ARCHIE. HE KEEPS AHOLD OF ARCHIE’S HAND.

CAMERA PANS QUICKLY AROUND THE ROOM. FINALLY, ARCHIE LEADS COOK TO THE SOFA BESIDE THE WINDOW. FAINT LIGHT IS COMING THROUGH THE CURTAINS. COOK SITS OBEDIENTLY, AND PUTS HIS GEAR DOWN. HE’S STILL HOLDING ARCHIE’S HAND.

ARCH: Can I get you something?

COOK: I’m good.

ARCH: I am…gonna get myself some water, okay? I just got up, haha, not really awake yet.

COOK: Sure.

ARCHIE GETS UP, FUMBLES A LITTLE AS HE TAKES HIS HAND AWAY FROM COOK’S. WIDE ANGLE SHOT OF ARCHIE RUMMAGING AROUND IN THE HOTEL FRIDGE WHILE COOK CONTINUES TO SIT PATIENTLY ON THE SOFA.

ARCHIE GRABS A BOTTLE OF MINERAL WATER AND DRINKS FROM IT. TENTATIVELY, HE APPROACHES COOK TO HAND HIM ANOTHER. COOK LOOKS AT THE BOTTLE, AND THEN SETS IT DOWN ON THE TABLE.

ARCHIE: (fidgeting a little) Um, do you mind if we get some light in here?

COOK: Not at all.

ARCHIE PRESSES THE BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE THAT OPERATES THE AUTOMATIC CURTAINS. THE CURTAINS PULL BACK SLOWLY WITH A BUZZING SOUND; COOK AND ARCHIE OBSERVE THEM DRAWING BACK, AND WATCH THE EARLY MORNING SUNLIGHT FILLING THE ROOM.

COOK: (blinking a little) Bright.

ARCH: Yeah.

CLOSE ON COOK, SQUINTING AT ARCHIE’S FACE, AS IF IT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

COOK: (to himself) It was so worth it.

OFF-SCREEN, ARCH: …Sorry?

COOK: This coming to see you. With the hang-over of the century, even. So worth it. I missed you so much, David.

CAMERA PULLS BACK; COOK TAKES ARCHIE’S HAND.

COOK: (softly) Where did we leave off, last night?

CLOSE IN ON ARCH. HE MEETS COOK’S GAZE; PUTS HIS HEAD ON ONE SIDE, AS IF CONSIDERING WHAT TO SAY TO THIS. THERE IS A SHORT PAUSE. THEN:

ARCH: You…were singing something, I think. You stopped, though.

PAN OUT. COOK PUTS HIS FREE HAND OVER HIS EYES.

COOK: I know. Not that song, today, though. It’s too…I can’t.

ARCH: (his gaze very steady) Stevie too corny, suddenly?

COOK: (muffled) Maybe. I’m sorry.

ARCH: (still looking at him, steadily) Sing me another, that isn’t, then.

THERE’S ANOTHER PAUSE. COOK TAKES HIS HAND AWAY AND LOOKS INTO ARCHIE’S FACE.

COOK: (very slowly) “If I you asked me, I would follow…”

SOFT CUT TO ARCHIE, AS COOK SINGS THE SECOND LINE IN HIS SEARING UPPER REGISTER; EYES GETTING WIDER AND WIDER.

CUT BACK TO COOK, WHOSE SONG TRAILS OFF, BEFORE HE GETS TO THAT LINE ABOUT MAKING ANYONE FALL IN LOVE.

COOK: (steady again) I came here to tell you I missed you, Arch, that I want to be with you. It was stupid that I had to get drunk and all in some fan’s face about it. That you had to hear about it from Twitter.

ANOTHER, LONGER, PAUSE. CUT BACK TO ARCHIE.

ARCH: (thoughtfully) Twitter is awesome. Um, for many reasons, but most of all, ‘cause of this.

CUT TO COOK. HIS EYES NEVER LEAVE ARCHIE’S FACE.

COOK: I suppose I should be thankful for small mercies. (grimacing) I’m sorry it’s taken this long.

AGAIN, WE PAUSE.

COOK: (softly) I hope it’s not too late.

ANOTHER PAUSE; THIS IS KILLING BOTH OF THEM, ISN’T IT. CUT BACK TO ARCHIE.

ARCH: (slowly) No. No, it’s not.

ARCHIE LEANS IN. PAN OUT, TO THEIR KISS.

WIDE ANGLE ON THE KISS: SLOW AND SWEET, COOK PULLING ARCHIE CLOSE, GENTLY, ARCHIE’S ARMS COMING UP AROUND HIM AS WELL. THEY PRESS CLOSER, FOLDING INTO EACH OTHER’S ARMS WITH SMALL, CONTENTED SIGHS.

COUNT TEN SECONDS, MAYBE; ARCHIE BREAKS THE KISS, SITTING BACK SLIGHTLY, STILL IN COOK’S ARMS.

ARCH: (hesitantly) Um, I am kind of hoping that wasn’t gross.

COOK: (stares at him, a little hazily, is at a loss for words) ...

ARCH: (even more hesitantly) I mean, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet, even.

COOK STARES SOME MORE, THEN BURSTS OUT LAUGHING.

COOK: (laughing) You kill me, Arch. I’m pretty gross, too. Come here.

HE TUGS ARCHIE TOWARDS HIM AGAIN, AND THEY ARE KISSING FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT IS MESSIER, THIS TIME; POSSIBLY INVOLVING TONGUES, AND LITTLE ENTHUSIASTIC NOISES. STILL SWEET, THOUGH.

COOK AND ARCHIE ARE BOTH BREATHING A LITTLE HEAVILY, WHEN THEY PART, THIS TIME.

COOK: (breathlessly) Damn it, I should have gotten here faster. All those nights. All these mornings.

CLOSE IN ON ARCHIE. HIS FACE LOOKS BLISSFUL, HIS LIPS SLIGHTLY SWOLLEN, FROM THE MAJOR KISSAGE WITH COOK.

ARCH: You’re here now.

PAUSE, FOR EVERYONE TO PUT THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HEARTS AND SAY, AWWWW.

ARCH: (shyly) Sing me another song, okay?

CUT TO COOK, NOW: HAIR STANDING ON END, BLOODSHOT EYES. BUT WE SEE HIM AS ARCHIE SEES HIM (ALSO, NOT GOING TO LIE, HE IS THE MOST GORGEOUS MAN ON THE PLANET), AND HE’S BEYOND BEAUTIFUL IN THE MORNING LIGHT.

COOK: (grinning) Brought my guitar.

ARCH: (mischievously, MOVING SLOWLY INTO SHOT) Not sure you’ll need it.

AND OFF COOK’S RAISED EYEBROW, HIS SPECULATIVE, ARDENT LOOK, WITH ARCHIE MOVING IN FOR THE CLINCH, WE ~

~FADE TO BLACK.

FIN