Chapter Text
If Blake had put money on the outcome of this season, he would be a poorer man; luckily, he’s a richer one in spite of it.
He is more than a little shocked when Kelly wins, her face a beacon of light, brighter to him than the multitude of lights streaming down on them, tears spilling forth in disbelief while Adam hugs her tight. Blake has to cover his mouth to hide any possible disappointment he might secretly feel, but he’s still unbelievably proud and thrilled for her, clapping so hard his hands hurt. In all fairness, looking back on things, she really deserved the win.
Adam...well, Adam would be okay. He has faith in that.
The night of the results is a whirlwind of interviews, laughing, drinking, and...other things both he and Adam would rather keep private for now. Backstage being full of dark corners and all, they might as well use them before the hiatus begins in earnest.
Last night, going back to his place had been weird, but right. It was perhaps a bit premature of them, to jump headlong into something without true clearance, but if Blake had to wait one more second to feel Adam against him, to kiss him lazily on his living room couch without fear or apprehension that someone was about to round a corner.
“Are you sure?” Adam had asked him at every turn. Blake had reassured him that yes, he was sure, with his own devious methods, and there wasn’t much talking after that.
Backstage, after the show, Blake looks at Adam every chance he gets, to make sure he’s okay with this outcome, with them, and it looks like a weight has been lifted. He can sympathize; he feels the exact same way. Stressing about the competition or his feelings and what to do (or not to do) about their situation gives way to what to do during the hiatus, and what he and Adam can get up to on his ranch together when they find the time.
Unfortunately life still manages to get in the way; Blake heads out on tour almost immediately after wrapping. Adam, hoping to still have a career in music once all is said and done, is taking meetings and writing songs, bringing his friends along for the ride. Blake is the one who suggests they submit material as a group under a band name, so they get a serious look in as opposed to someone who just wants the version of Adam from the show. It works, and they get signed to a label that not only cares, but will work with them to succeed.
It shouldn’t work. They’re both so busy, they don’t get to see each other for months, but they talk. They figure out a plan, and they’re going to stick to it.
“A year,” Adam says, lips pursed while he waits for Blake’s response, the skype connection threatening to break at this most inopportune time. “A year.” Blake agrees. Somehow, there’s no question over whether they’ll even be together at the end of it.
Blake starts telling people, Mark being the first, who is more than a little unnerved by it all. Blake has to assure him that “it really didn’t start until after the show was over” but he still expects to be asked to leave the show. It speaks to how much Mark believes in him that all he gets is a stern grin, and Mark saying “Just don’t make it a habit.” Blake laughs. He doesn’t plan on it.
Exactly none of the other coaches or Carson are surprised. “Thank God,” Mike says. Then, with a genuinely distressed expression, exclaims “Does this mean no more Bulton?!”
His family knows, his friends know, his management knows, and if only the latter wants to kill him, well, two out of three ain’t bad.
He says as much to Adam when they finally get time together at the ranch, blessedly alone for as long a stretch a time as they’ve ever had. Their first few days together are spent half in bed, limbs and sheets tangled together, and half just enjoying their company without a camera in sight.
“I have a video camera somewhere, in case you’re missing it,” Blake grins and Adam swats him with a pillow. “Maybe some other time,” he counters, swinging his legs over to straddle Blake’s legs, hands resting on his hips to steady him as Blake groans.
“That would be one way for TMZ to find out.”
“Don’t even joke!”
Adam had nothing to hide to begin with, and it is freeing, to start his career with such a blank slate, if a complicated one. He is growing in popularity himself; the first album leaps onto the charts, and is getting real air time. They do the late night shows, small gigs, even get asked to do Saturday Night Live the weekend before the new season of The Voice airs. It’s a case of network synergy finally working in their favour. Between him and Kelly, the show finally has two artists they can showcase and market and get everyone on board with. It all has to do with their own hard work, but Adam figures they kind of owe it to them to let them take some credit.
In the end, the year passes with remarkable speed, and the time comes for the great reveal, just after the Live Shows start on a new season of The Voice. To say the public is shocked is a bit of an understatement, but they’ve had time to prepare for it. Eventually, most people are on their side, once they see it’s for real, and not some publicity stunt. The story is they connected again after the show was over, and that’s all they really need to know. Blake is just happy to live without secrets, with Adam by his side.
Adam and the band are invited to perform their new hit single live during a results show, and neither of them can quite believe how neatly the whole thing has come full circle. As Adam sings, they lock eyes and Blake is reminded of that first time he saw Adam on that stage, singing his song, making that first connection. If he’d known then where he would be now…
Who was he kidding. Blake always knew Adam would be the death of him.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.