A/N: Well well well... A new story... Where do I even begin? The idea for this has been playing around in my mind for quite some time now, but the pairings never seemed right... until I discovered Kogan...
First and foremost, this is based off the 2003 film Latter Days, in which Kendall is the character Christian and Logan is Aaron. If you haven't seen the film then no worries, it's not a prerequisite. And even though the main story line in this is similar it's also in a way completely different, because that's a film and this is writing, my writing to be specific. And I am taking my liberty with the characters, pretty much none of them are going to be the same from the film except Kendall and Logan...
So basically the premise is simple: When devoutly religious Logan Mitchell moves to L.A to become a Mormon Missionary the last thing he expected was to be living next door to openly gay Kendall Knight. Logan is the ultimate challenge, everything about him is forbidden, untouched and pure; Kendall must have him. But how do you seduce someone who views homosexuality as a one way ticket to Hell?
Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush or any of its affiliates. Nor do I own the film Latter Days.
I am also not a religious person so I say sorry in advance to anyone I may be offending.
This story is going to be an absolute roller coaster of emotions, so get ready to strap your hearts in and enjoy the ride!
Oh and let me know what you think :)
He stares up at the sun, it's hot and bright and sparkly and it reminds him that he is definitely not in Texas anymore. Of course there is sun in Texas, in fact it's always sunny there it seems, but this is different, L.A sun is... different. L.A sun is bright, sparkly and almost in a way reflects the inhabitants of this fine metropolis. But it's not him, it's nothing him, he is not bright, sparkly or anything worth writing home about. But that's ok, that's why he needs to do this, to become a better person, to become the person his parents always wanted him to be. And it's what he wanted to... didn't everyone? This was a great honour, a privilege if you will; he was doing the right thing.
Whether or not L.A was the right place remains to question, but it's not like he had a choice, he never had a choice.
He walks slowly up the long steps to the place he shall now call home, taking in the sights around him and preparing himself for the next two years. The buildings are perfect and matched and in neat little rows that instantly make him feel more comfortable; he likes organisation. Everything reflects the sun; bright bright bright. The rendered cream walls of the small buildings compliment the honey brown tiled roofs and the seemingly bland colours shine when surrounded by every flower known to man. Some houses have more flowers than others, some have palm trees, some have ferns, some have rose bushes, some have daffodils and some have nothing. He doesn't like those, he hopes his has one with flowers and colour and happiness.
He plays close attention the numbers of the houses as he passes, 1A, 2A, 3A, 1B, 2B, 3B... the cycle continues much the same. He knows he's got a little ways to go, and now regrets not getting the cab driver to go a little further up the street.
"Oh I don't mind walking" He said.
"These bags aren't too heavy" He said.
But the thing about wrong choices and bad mistakes; we learn not to make them twice.
He almost lets out a sigh of relief when he finds the number he is looking for.
1J.
The J blocks couldn't be more separated if they tried, up a small garden path and nowhere near close enough to the street that one might hope, but that's ok; he doesn't complain. In fact it's rather beautiful, like the 3 apartments of J are in their own secluded world surrounded by trees and flowers and almost... almost secrets.
Before he knocks on the door, but after he drops his bags to the ground, he takes a moment to turn around, and almost gasps at the sight. The scene before him is beautiful, he almost feels as if he is on top of the world. L.A sprawls out in front of his eyes, from corner to corner he can see it all and it takes his breath away. He feels so high, so... significant, as if he is the King of this beautiful city. When he first came to L.A he was slightly overwhelmed by it all, it all just seemed like dots, bright dots all jumbled together to create one burning picture of randomness, but as every minute increases spent here, the more beautiful it becomes.
His attention is drawn from the view when music as loud as sirens starts blaring from the apartment next to his own and he inwardly frowns and starts to pray this will not be a regular occurrence. But it's not just the music that catches his eyes, it's all the colour. It's as if every flower, every tree, every bush has been placed outside this house and he can't draw his gaze away, it's almost overwhelming in beauty. How something so chaotic can mesh together to create something so beautiful.
He squints to see the number on the door, to see the number on this mysterious, loud music playing, and colourful house.
2J.
Apartment 2J.
He wonders what secrets lay beyond the door of apartment 2J.
But he has no more time for wondering as the door to his own apartment is flung open, startling him for a fraction of a second.
A tall, muscular and seemingly handsome young man looks down on him and his face looks kind and welcoming, a small smile playing on the edge of his lips. The man extends a hand out for him to shake and he takes it gladly, returning a smile but one that is much more nervous.
"H-hello" He stammers, releasing his hand and slinging his backs back over his shoulders.
"Hi" The man smiles, "I'm Elder Zevon, please come in"
And so he does. He follows Elder Zevon through the small hallway until a living room comes into sight and the area spans out, creating more space and light. The room is bare, as is the walls, only a few couches litter the floor and a single wooden cross hangs from the wall.
"Hey! Newbie!" A blonde man grins, jumping up from the couch and extending his hand. "I'm Elder Stetson"
As he shakes Elder Stetson's hand quickly with a small, feeble smile on his face, Elder Zevon starts speaking again.
"There is one more that lives with us, but he's coming in the next few days, Elder Ridge. So then that must make you, Elder Mitchell am I correct?"
"Correct"
"Well, welcome to your new life"
Kendall Knight barely raises an eyebrow as he kicks last night's conquest out his apartment, watching the mans tight ass swing back and forth as he walks down the path. It was a great ass to take, Kendall won't deny that, but he has no further interest in seeing said ass again. David was nice, or whatever, but it's not like Kendall really wanted to invest in a relation - wait, was it David? Or Daniel? Either way, it was fun but nothing out of the ordinary, just a typical Friday night.
He's about to turn back inside the house when he sees a young man walking up the path, heavy bags slung over both shoulders and looking so lost in his thoughts Kendall could yell and he wouldn't hear him.
The first thing that comes to Kendall's mind is: holy fuck.
This man is hot. And not just hot; cute. He looks cute and sweet and yet at the same time would be begging for it up the ass on all fours. What an image. He has soft chocolate brown hair that is brushed to the side, pale skin that looks out of place for L.A but so perfectly perfect on this man that it's ok and Kendall wouldn't want it any other way. He is short, but not ridiculously so, but short enough to have to reach up on the tips of his toes to be able to kiss someone like Kendall... another great image. And whilst Kendall is looking at his body he can tell, even under those clothes that seem way too hot and formal for a Saturday morning, that he is toned, muscular and all round delicious. But this is not what strikes Kendall most, not his soft hair or pale skin or toned body, it's his eyes. His eyes are... shining. No, not just shining, they are glowing. Kendall feels like the world is held in this boys' eyes, like those deep mocha pools are swimming with the answers to the universe and Kendall wants to drown in them; drown in the answers.
Instead of going to speak to him Kendall shuts the door, not really wanting to meet this beautiful new stranger in nothing but his boxers and sex hair so bad it should be shaved off. But he has a plan, and it's a brilliant one at that. He assumes this beautiful boy must be moving in next door, to apartment 1J with the other few men that have been moving in the past couple of days, all of whom Kendall has noticed definitely live up to standards, but there's just something about this new boy... something fragile, breakable and scary.
Kendall wants to know him.
And not only does Kendall want to know him, he wants to fuck him. Really badly.
After blaring music throughout the house to wake himself up, dancing around a bit, showering and making himself look the true model he should be Kendall practically skips across to 1J, a six pack of beer in hand a bright smile already in place. He takes a deep breath before knocking on the door, bracing himself for seeing this boy again.
Unfortunately, he is not the one that answers. But Kendall's not really complaining, because the man who does is damn fine. He's tall, muscular and has this honey brown hair that Kendall just wants to run his fingers through, it's funny, in a way, because he sort of reminds Kendall of his best friend and roommate James Diamond. But the second this man opens his mouth he realises he is nothing like James.
"What do you want?" The man practically spits, making Kendall want to recoil into a ball and run right back over to his house and never come out again.
"I just – um – wanted to say welcome to the neighbourhood" Kendall stammers with a smile, unsure why this handsome stranger is giving him such hostility.
"Stetson, Mitchell, get out here" The man yells, and Kendall hears two sets of feet walking down the hall.
His breath almost hitches in his throat when he sees that same boy from outside again, and since then he has changed clothes, so he is now in sweat pants that hang loosely from his defined hips and a white tank that clings to his skin so deliciously that Kendall's mouth is either going to go dry or start watering.
But is he Stetson or Mitchell?
Both are sort of odd first names, he thinks, especially Stetson. Who the hell would name their child Stetson?
"Hi, I'm Elder Stetson" The blonde tall one says with almost zero emotion.
This makes the other boy Mitchell.
Beautiful, perfect, sexy Mitchell.
Kendall can already imagine screaming his name out in bed.
"Elder Mitchell" He smiles softly, the lines around his eyes crinkling and dimples appearing on his cheeks.
They hold each other's eyes for a moment, a battle of green and brown and Kendall can feel himself positively drowning now, ready to submit to this boys every command, every wish, every desire, everything. He wants this boy, needs this boy.
"Ah, so" Kendall says awkwardly, clearing his throat to bring himself down to earth. "I bought you guys a housewarming present"
He holds out the pack of beer with a big smile on his face, a smile he hopes is big enough to win over these three men that seem wound up so tight even James' boyfriend Carlos couldn't make laugh.
And Carlos can make anyone laugh.
"Um, thanks" The man named Stetson says, "But we don't drink"
"You... you don't drink?" Kendall asks questioningly, his brain really unable to comprehend that three 20 something, attractive men would not drink alcohol. He thought everyone drunk alcohol?
"No" The Zevon guy says bluntly, "We're Mormon Missionaries"
"No. Fucking. Way!" James Diamond laughs with disbelief as he continues to fold napkins into the shape of what he thinks looks like a swan, but to Kendall it just looks like a pile of shit.
"Yep, Mormons" Kendall sighs, snatching yet another failed swan off James. "You know this isn't some restaurant in Paris, I'm sure the fine customers would be appreciative of napkins that are just simply rolled and place on their plates"
"Um... swans are so much cooler" James says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Carlos, you agree don't you?"
James looks up at his boyfriend who is behind the bar, rinsing wine glasses and staring off into space. "What James?"
"As waiters, it is our responsibility to present the customers with fine decor, therefore napkins shaped like swans are the most aesthetically pleasing, right?"
Carlos simply rolls his eyes and leans over the counter, capturing James' lips in his and kissing him hard, for almost that length of time that makes Kendall feel uncomfortable. "You're getting gayer and gayer everyday" Carlos smirks against his lips before pulling back and refocusing his attention on the nightly clean up of the restaurant they all work at.
James takes a second to recompose himself, which Kendall finds cute, even after five years of being together Carlos still manages to make James speechless. "Whatever" He mumbles, "And, I've always been gay so your point is irrelevant"
"Oh please, when I met you, you were fucking anything that walked" Carlos snorts, moving out of James' reach so he can't get himself a playful slap.
"It's true" Kendall butts in, "You had girlfriends galore back when we were at school"
"Alright, alright, shut up about me and girlfriends. None of that matters because I am with my soul mate now, and it's going to stay that way"
Even though it's corny, Kendall can see Carlos practically melt from across the counter. "James... you... I love you"
"I love you too" James smiles, grabbing Carlos by the black tie they have to wear with their uniform and pulling him into another kiss.
"So..." Kendall says after a few seconds, "Are you we actually going to finish work so we can leave or..."
"Yeah yeah" James mumbles, smiling at Carlos as they both get back to work. "So, missionaries huh? That's crazy"
"Yeah..." Kendall muses, "It sucks too"
"Why?"
"Because one of them is just so hot I want to gauge my eyes out with a fork and never look at anyone else again"
"Wow, dramatic much? I'm sure you could sleep with him if you wanted. No one can say no to Kendall Knight. You're like, head whore of all man whores"
Kendall reaches over his stool and places a hard punch to James' arm, not even caring if it's too aggressive.
"Ow!" James says loudly, although Kendall knows it wouldn't really hurt him, that boy is built like a house. "What was that for?!"
"For calling me a man whore"
"But... you are a man whore?"
James has to quickly scoot back on his stool so as to not earn himself another punch.
"Fine" he chuckles, "but still, why not just go for it?"
"Because James" Kendall sighs loudly, "Do you have any idea how tightly those boys are wound? I don't think they would even look at another man, let alone entertain the idea of doing anything with one"
"So? I still think you should go for it"
"You reckon?"
"Hell yeah, if you want this guy you need to get him"
"No way" Carlos interjects, his cleaning now completely forgotten "I bet there's no way Kendall can hook up with this guy"
"Oh? Is this a bet now?" Kendall smirks.
Both James and Carlos look at each other, eyebrows raised and sharing that look that Kendall knows means trouble.
"I bet" James says loudly, "For 100 bucks, Kendall can seal the deal with this guy"
"Fine" Carlos challenges, squaring up to his boyfriend, "I match that bet AND bussing tables for two whole weeks, that Kendall can't seal the deal"
They both grin at each other, reaching across the counter to clasp their hands firmly in agreement before both looking back at Kendall.
"You better not let me down" James glares at Kendall, his mind immediately filled with the thought of him losing and Carlos gloating about it for days.
"I won't" Kendall grins, looking back down at the napkins in his hands and his mind already spinning on its hinges.
He is so ready to win this bet.
Kendall doesn't make any attempt to start this bet in the few days following, unless you call letting his eyes linger over Mitchell every time he sees him walk past his house in the morning an attempt?
Which you shouldn't.
He figures these things take time; patience is a virtue as they say. Good things come to those who wait.
Kendall needs to figure him out. Needs to figure out really who Mitchell is, figure out what makes him tick, figure out what it will take to loosen those tense shoulders and get him to smile without a care in the world. He'll get there soon.
James bitches, and whines and just generally treats the whole thing in excellent James Diamond fashion. He complains that Kendall is taking too long and he wants his money from Carlos. Which Kendall argues is ridiculous, considering the amount of money Carlos would have spent on James over the years is far more than a Ben Franklin in a bet. But James says it's the "principle" of the whole thing. But Kendall fails to see the principle in seducing a little virgin Mormon.
So James decides to take matters into his own hands about two weeks later. They're both going to the gym; something James insists is a bonding activity, which is ridiculous because they live together. But none the less, somehow James manages to drag Kendall's ass out of bed every other morning and make him lift heavy weights that he swears have no affect to his naturally lean body.
It's a Friday morning, 7:00am in the morning to be exact and both Kendall and James instantly spot Mitchell sitting on bench in the middle of the garden conjoining the three J houses. It's not unusual to see him there, Kendall has pretty much gathered by now the Mormons leave early on their bikes to spread the good word to the good people of Los Angeles and Mitchell's partner, whether it be Stetson or Zevon is always running late.
Usually they just walk past, don't even look at each other, but this morning James stops.
"Hi there" James smiles, walking up to Mitchell and just inviting himself to sit down.
Typical James.
"H-hi" Mitchell stutters, looking up at James with nerves positively crawling on his features. Kendall doesn't blame him; he understands how intimidating James can be to other people. Not to him, no, it's kind of hard to be intimated by someone you used to play in the sand box with.
"What are you reading?" James asks, looking over the boys shoulder.
"J-just studying" Mitchell smiles feebly, closing the cover to revel the letters scrawled in gold on the brown leather.
The Bible.
"Cool" James says casually, even though it's probably the farthest thing from cool in James' mind. Bending Carlos over the kitchen counter last night and fucking his brains out, now that was cool. "So! What do you actually do during the day?"
"Um, well, we tell people about our church, about the word of the Lord... Sometimes to help people find their way, sometimes to provide inspiration, and sometimes people just like to hear that there's some hope in this world, that people still believe in something"
Kendall stares at Mitchell with his arms crossed over his chest. He won't let this boy, dressed in a shirt, black slacks, black tie and Bible in hand make him feel fuzzy shit in his heart. Especially whilst he's talking about God.
"Well, you know Kendall and I sometimes have trouble finding our way and lack a bit of inspiration in our lives, reckon you could come over and talk to us sometime?"
Kendall has to stop himself from either face palming or walking over and slapping James. What on earth has possessed the man?
"Yeah!" Mitchell says enthusiastically, "If you're interested that'd be great!"
Not that Kendall wants the Bible lovers in his home preaching to him about the word of the good man, but he can't deny the enthusiasm is Mitchell is incredibly cute. The way his eyes light up and the smile brings out the dimples in his cheeks, Kendall just wants to go and kiss his face. Everywhere on his face. Every inch.
"It would be great, wouldn't it Kendall?" James asks, looking over at the awkwardly standing Kendall who was lost in thought of what it would be like to trail a line of kisses all along Mitchell's jaw.
"Yeah" Kendall mutters, "Super great"
"Awesome!" Mitchell smiles, jumping up from his seat, "When do you want us to come round?"
"Well if you're not busy now Kendall and I would love to hear about it. It sounds much better than the gym"
Actually, James, no. For once, it doesn't sound better than the gym.
"Cool! I'll go get Elder Stetson!"
He practically runs off into apartment 1J, a skip in his step and a smile on his face. Kendall however has to stop from practically running to James and slapping his across the face.
"What the hell?" He hisses, grabbing James by his elbow and pulling them back to their apartment.
"Dude, I have a lot of money riding on you and I need to see more action!"
"You're such a dick, you know that right?"
"Duh"
Xx
An hour later, or maybe it was two, or it could have been fucking a whole day for all Kendall knew, Mitchell closes his Bible; a huge smile on his face and looking like he has just presented his 8th grade science project to the class.
"So, any questions?" He asks happily, looking back and forth between Kendall and James.
James jumps straight in there, like he almost has this whole thing rehearsed. "Yes, what is your Church's opinion on African-Americans? And people of Hispanic ethnicity?"
Trust James, always thinking about Carlos.
"Well, African-Americans, and really all people of colour, have been able to hold the priest hood since 1978 and our active members of our church"
"What about gay rights?" Kendall cuts in abruptly, causing Stetson to scowl instantly.
"The words gay and right don't go in the same sentence" He practically spits out, trying to look at anything but Kendall and James.
"Oh? But right and right wing do?"
"Look!" Stetson says angrily, glaring at Kendall. "God hates homos; it's as simple as that"
"Are you really going to come into my house and tell me that God hate's homos?" Kendall retorts, leaning forward in his chair to glare at Stetson.
"Yeah, I am" He challenges, leaning forward too until they are almost inches apart.
The tension is so thick, it layers the air in the room like a cloud, almost suffocating Kendall. Well that's until a voice pops in.
"And the French!"
Both Stetson and Kendall turn to glare at Logan, who has now leaned forward to join their little head battle, with an awkward, dopey grin on his face.
"Huh?" Stetson mutters, raising his eyebrow in confusion.
"Everybody hates the French" He chuckles, trying ever so hard to diffuse the tension.
Kendall and Stetson don't say a word, but James can't help but laugh. "Good one Mitchell!"
A few days after the awkward Mormon house call Kendall finds himself looking out the window wistfully. Not in a creepy way, not in a stalker way, in fact he had no intentions of even hoping to catch a glimpse of Mitchell, but it is a stroke of luck when he sees the boy walking to the laundry facilities the three houses of J share. Kendall figures this is perfect time to lay some ground work; get Mitchell alone.
He throws together some of his own washing, which is mostly stuff that's already clean from the load he did just the other day, but he doesn't care. All in the pursuit of sex right?
"Hi!" Kendall smiles happily as he opens the door to the laundry, only to find Mitchell almost lying across the washing machines and on the preposes of sleep.
"Mm what?" He stirs, lifting up from his awkward half standing half lying position to look at Kendall.
"Wow dude are you ok?" Kendall asks, dumping his washing down onto the nearest chair and walking over to Mitchell.
"Yeah, just a bit home sick, can't sleep very well" He mumbles, stifling a yawn and beginning to chuck his washing into the machine.
"Aw I'm sorry, that sucks" Kendall says, aching to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder.
"Mm it's ok" Mitchell shrugs.
"Can you like, call them or something?"
"No" Logan chuckles softly, "We're not allowed to call, or write or see our families for two years"
"Shit" Kendall mouths, "Where do I sign up?"
"Don't mock" Logan replies, rolling his eyes but also a small smile playing on his lips. "But it is hard. I just miss my Mum, so much. They do say a boy's mother is his best friend"
Kendall's pretty sure that the say is a gay boy's mother is his best friend, but he will let that slide for now. "Yeah that must be tough. I miss my Mum too, but you know... I can call her. Where are you from?"
"Texas"
"Cool" Kendall smiles, "I've never been to Texas"
"You'd love it" Mitchell smiles in return, "Well, I love it anyway. The other guys like to think where they're from is better"
"Speaking of the other guys" Kendall muses, taking a subtle step closer to Mitchell, "Did you all like come here together or something?"
"No. We just get assigned places and partners; I had no say in having Elder Stetson as a partner or coming to L.A"
"Hmm... So, I have a question. Why do you all call each other Elder? Is that a name? Cause it's weird you all have the same first name... Or is Mitchell your name?"
"No!" Mitchell laughs, like it's one of the funniest things he's ever heard. "No, Elder is what we call each other in the church, Mitchell is my last name"
"Oh!" Kendall says slowly, as if he's just figured out the world's hardest math puzzle, "What's your real name then?"
"Ah..." Mitchell says awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "We're not allowed to use our real names"
"Really?" Kendall says, almost shocked and stepping in even closer. "How come?"
"It's just... how it is. There are a lot of things we're not allowed to do" Mitchell shrugs.
"Tell me" Kendall grins, voice almost a whisper, "What's your name?"
"Uh..." Mitchell looks around him, just in case somehow one of the other boys was to have suddenly come into the laundry room. When he realises it's safe, and those shinning emerald eyes are practically his kryptonite with their silent begging, he takes a deep breath, "It's Logan. My name is Logan"
"Logan" Kendall says softly, letting the letters roll off his tongue, "Logan... I like that"
They both smile at each other for a minute, or maybe two, and it's like they've been caught in the cross fire. So frozen, so unable to comprehend anything but each other in this moment, and if they move they'll be shot and this perfect moment will be over.
"Um – mm – anyway" Logan coughs, averting his gaze and putting his attention back on his washing. "You're Kendall right?"
"Yes, Kendall Knight would be the name" Kendall grins, tilting his head to study Logan's profile. That chiseled jaw, that small button nose, those long eyelashes... this boy is going to drive Kendall insane, and he knows it.
"Nice name" Logan smiles.
"I'm a nice person..." Kendall says almost seductively, inching so close to Logan they are almost touching.
"Are you now?" Logan grins in response, causing Kendall's heart to stop.
Could it be this easy? Could he really get all he wants so quickly?
"Yep" Kendall smirks, popping his P. "Although... sometimes, I can be not so nice..."
Kendall reaches out a hand to touch, a feather light touch on the short boys arm, letting his finger tips trail up the smooth, hard, pale skin; skin that shudders beneath his contact. And with that, Logan snaps, moving away from Kendall so fast the blonde boy doesn't even have a chance to blink.
He moves so fast it's like it didn't even happen, and now Kendall's hand is just hanging in mid air, touching nothing but the cool breeze that passes over his skin like fire.
"Ah well, I better go" Logan stumbles, collecting up his belongs and setting the timer on the washing machine.
"O-ok?"
"See you later, Kendall" He mutters, not sparing the blonde another glance as he slips out of the room, leaving said blonde standing there; burned.
"Bye, Logan" He whispers to no one, watching the space Logan just stood and now feeling more alone than he has ever felt in his whole life.
He needs to know this boy.
So... what do we think? :)
