Smoke & Lightning, Heavy Metal Thunder (46/?)
MASTER POST
Title: Smoke And Lightning, Heavy Metal Thunder (46/?)
Authors: bloody_adorable and eviltwin
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Rating: PG(13)...?
Wordcount: 5,620
Summary: AU. Jared's a classic case of rich kid gone wrong, whose only sense of family comes from his motorbike, the guy he rents a garage from to live in and the precinct cops who know his face better than most already. Jensen's a hard-working student whose family are helping push him towards great things. What happens when their two worlds collide, and will Jared's troublesome nature be too much for Jensen to handle?
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
For anybody who hasn't been watching the community, might we suggest you check out the main page for recent posts? There is something coming to this community which only those watching it will see, as it won't be posted anywhere else! And we think you'll like it...
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
It had been a long time since he'd been there.
It was a sunny day, even if it was chilled. Jeffrey was back to driving, though it wasn't the muscle car. That was still in the shop, being fixed. He'd have her back soon enough. Instead, he had borrowed Trevor's truck when he'd stopped into the Yard that morning to see what was going on.
"How's it going, man?" Trevor had asked. Everyone was genuinely happy to see him, but Jeffrey wasn't happy to see his office. It had been pretty much trashed by the guys, but it wasn't their fault.
"Dude," Jeffrey had complained to him. "Look at what you assholes did to my office."
Trevor had just shrugged and sat down in one of the chairs by Jeffrey's desk -- one that wasn't piled with papers, old McDonald's food bags, and random broken or unused tools. "Hey," he'd chuckled, "while the cat's away, the mice will play."
"Well, the big shot might not be able to walk the yard, but I'll be back soon," he had told the man. "Soon as the doctor gives me a go."
"Good," Trevor had nodded. "It'll almost be nice to have you back."
"Shut up," Jeffrey scolded, though he hadn't really meant it. "I'm under a lot of stress. I could throw you under the wheels of the loader right now and not feel an ounce of remorse."
Trevor hadn't taken the threat seriously and instead had turned serious. "How's my Baby-Jay?"
Jeffrey had sighed and looked over at him. "He's why I'm here, actually. My car's still being fixed and Stevie uses the rental for her and--" He paused. It had been a while since Stevie had taken Jensen to school, but it was still habit to say the boy's name. Jeffrey felt a loneliness sink in to his heart, not only for Jensen, but for Jared as well. "Jay's being released today. Someone came forward, some witness... Pointed the finger elsewhere. Anyway, I was going to take the company truck over to get him."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, only I can't find the goddamn keys," he said, looking accusingly at Trevor.
Chuckling, Trevor had stood up and dug into his jeans pocket. "Here," he said. "Take my truck. I'll straighten up the office later too, so that it's ready for when you want to come back."
Jeffrey had taken the keys from Trevor and smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he'd said. He'd hobbled out of the trailer and over to Trevor's truck. He should have brought his crutches, but they would have just sunk into the ground around the construction site anyway. He was able to put more of his weight on his bad leg anyway.
At the pick up point, Jeffrey got out of the truck and waited for his boy. He could have sent someone else to get him, but he wanted to be the one to pick him up. He had been every other time, and he wasn't going to leave Jared thinking that Jeffrey was unhappy with him. Quite the opposite -- he couldn't wait to get him home.
Leaning against the truck, Jeffrey left it running so that it would be warm when they got back inside. He pulled his coat around his midriff and waited for Jared. He lost track of time, gazing around at some of the other people as he stood there. There was a woman with her little girl, no doubt awaiting Daddy's arrival. Jeffrey was momentarily reminded of one instance where Jared and his mother had been waiting for him. I probably put him on this path, he thought to himself. He reached up and batted his own head with the palm of his hand. Sighing, he looked up and saw that the woman and her daughter had seen him reprimand himself. The woman pulled the little girl closer and told her not to stare at the strange man. Jeffrey wanted to explain that he was just frustrated, but it wouldn't help.
Sighing, he swiped his hands over his beard-stubbled-face and shifted slightly against the truck. When he heard the gates opening, he looked up and saw Jared, in his usual ripped jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket, nearing him.
Jared looked almost relieved when he saw who was waiting for him. He didn't smile at Jeffrey, but when he neared him, he paused for a moment, nodding at his adoptive father. He was going to leave it at that, get in the truck and go home, feeling broken even though he had been cleared of all charges. Jeffrey had other ideas, however. He reached for Jared, yanking him closer and wrapping his arms around him.
Jared let Jeffrey pull him into the embrace. It was almost rough, Jeffrey clinging to him with a ferocity he'd almost forgotten about. Jared closed his eyes and leaned into him even more.
"I've missed you," Jeffrey said gently, words muffled against Jared's leather jacket.
Jared nodded, his chin bumping against Jeffrey's shoulder. "Me too," he returned.
Pulling out of the embrace, Jeffrey kept a handful of Jared's jacket sleeve in his hand, looking up at him. "Are you okay?"
Jared nodded again. "Yeah," he said.
"Are you lying?"
This time, Jared smiled. But it wasn't the smile he used to have. This one was almost forced, careful. Just like when he was a kid. "No," he replied.
Jeffrey took his time, eyeing him. Finally, he clapped Jared on the shoulder. "Alright," he said. "Get into the truck. I'll take you home."
Jared did as he was told, watching as Jeffrey maneuvered himself into the truck. "How's the leg?" he asked, as they settled into the cab.
"A pain," Jeffrey said. "But the doctors say I'll be good as new soon."
"Good."
Jeffrey closed the truck door and shifted a moment more so that his left leg, still in a brace, was settled straight and reasonably comfortably. He shifted into drive and headed away from the prison grounds. The doctors hadn't cleared him to drive, but he wasn't going to miss out on picking his boy up. On the phone, he had asked Jared if Jensen should come along.
"No," Jared had answered quickly.
"Why not, JT?" Jeffrey had asked. "He'll be excited that you're out."
"No," he'd repeated. And that was it.
Jeffrey hadn't pushed it.
Jared stared out the window, glad to be leaving the place behind. He didn't ever want to see it again, hadn't since the day he'd met Jensen. And even though his future with Jensen seemed somewhat bleak, he still wanted to stay away from places like the county prison.
The ride was one of relative silence. Jeffrey asked an occasional question; did Jared eat okay in the joint? The food there is awful, he didn't get sick, did he? Was Old Man Parsons still a CO? Was the relatively-new warden a decent man?
Jared answered the questions with quick words, remaining silent the rest of the time. He knew that Jeffrey felt like it was pulling teeth, talking to him, but Jared just wanted to go home, crawl into his familiar old bed and sleep for the rest of the year. Maybe longer.
The turn they were supposed to take came up, and then quickly vanished. Jared watched it go by and then gestured out the window. "Uh, Jeff?" he asked. "Why didn't you turn?"
Taking a deep breath, Jeffrey draped one arm over the back of the bench seat in the truck. "We're going to take a ride, kiddo."
Jared eyed him warily. "The last time you took me for a ride, you told me the dog was dead," he said.
Jeffrey chuckled, glancing over at him. "Well, the dog's fine," he replied. "She's home and waiting for you."
"Okay," he mumbled, unsmiling. "So, what's up?"
He became serious again, driving down the road with one hand. His other hand touched Jared's shoulder. "It's about Stevie and me."
Jared nodded. "You're getting married, I know," he said.
"Well, we're getting married a little sooner than we'd originally planned," he told him. He took another breath, ready to argue and explain himself until he was blue in the face. "She's pregnant, JT."
It was silent for awhile. Jared thought about what Jeffrey had said and nodded his head. "Okay."
Jeffrey was worried at the lack of emotion from the boy. "But this kid isn't replacing you, dude," he told him. "Ain't no one that can ever do that."
Emotion finally crossed Jared's face. He smiled softly and nodded his head. "I know, Jeff," he said.
He wasn't convinced. "You're my boy, Jay," he continued. "You always will be."
"I know."
"Because I love you."
Jared nodded once more and smiled again. "I know."
Jeffrey glanced from the road to Jared a good number of times, scanning the young man's face. "You're okay with this?"
"I'm okay with this," he returned. "Congratulations, man."
"Think about this."
"Think about what you're doing, Donna."
"If you think for a moment that I'm going to get on my knees and beg..."
Donna let each threat, each snarl, each word go in one ear, and out the other. For the first time in a long time, Alan had no hold over her. She packed up as much of Kenzie's stuff as she could, jammed a few things of her own into a couple boxes and headed out the door. Josh had his own things at Cathy's already. He had known the move was coming.
Jensen packed the boxes into Chris's truck, which he had borrowed earlier in the day. Chris was off with Dani, but he had gladly given Jensen the keys.
"So you can still drive," Chris had teased. "And here I thought your gas pedal foot had atrophied. Fallen right off. Y'know, use it or lose it?"
"Shut up," Jensen had laughed, smacking Chris' shoulder. "Why should I drive, when I have everyone else willing to take me places?"
"Lazy bastard."
Alan watched Jensen step past him, another heavy box in his hands. All of Mackenzie's gaming things. Alan reached out and took hold of his son's arm. "Jensen," he said sternly. "Talk some sense into your mother. Tell her that she cannot do this."
Jensen looked at his father, unsympathetic, and shook his head. "You're about favored-out there, Alan," he said. "Sorry."
Tight-lipped, Alan watched Jensen pass by him, carrying the box out the door. Frustrated, he turned away from them, swiping a hand over his face.
Outside, Jensen set the box into the bed of the truck. "Last one," he said. Kenzie was standing on the front steps, a bag at her feet. She looked sad, but Jensen wondered how many of the tears were ones of relief. He smiled at her and winked. "Don't worry, creep. We'll have you set up in the new place in no time."
"Jen, I'm scared."
His smile faded slightly. He reached out and hugged her, cradling her head against his shoulder. "Everything's going to work out," he told her. "Who knows? This might all blow over before you know it. And just think, I'll help you paint your new room."
"You mean it?"
"Yeah."
"Any color I want?"
"Any color."
"Even hot pink with lime green polka dots and flourescent purple streamers?"
Though she was joking, she did so without so much as a twinkle in her eye, without a spark of happiness in her voice. He chuckled and pulled away from her, just enough to look into her face. "When was the last time I lied to you?"
If she remembered the times he had, she made no mention of them. Instead, she finally smiled and wiped her tears away. She giggled when he held his hand out to her and turned his back. She climbed up onto his back and laughed as he bent down far enough for her to grab her bag. He hauled her down the steps and to the truck, where Mom was already sitting in the passenger's seat.
In the distance, a figure stood half-obscured by a big blue mail box. Jared watched Jensen carry his sister to the truck, both of them laughing as they went. He smiled just slightly, liking the sound of that laughter, remembering it well. His smile faded when he brought a cigarette up to his lips to take a long, slow drag. He faintly heard the truck start, and watched them pull away from the expensive house.
Once again, Jensen seemed to be leaving his life of riches and opportunity behind him. Jared couldn't figure him out.
She had a sneaky streak in her. Jeffrey learned that about Stevie after a while. She was good at creeping around and keeping things to herself. But usually he caught on just a little too late. This time was no different.
He first got an idea that something was going on when the phone kept ringing.
"Oh, I'll get it!" she'd call from the next room. "Probably for me anyway."
At first, he thought nothing of it. And then he noticed that there was a lot of low talking. He heard Jared's name, and a lot of sympathetic mumbles. As she walked out of the bedroom, turning off the phone, Jeffrey watched her from his place in the sofa chair.
"What's up, babe?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh, nothing," she smiled, continuing on her way.
He folded the paper he was reading and got up from the chair, albeit awkwardly. He hobbled -- crutchless -- over to the kitchen island and sat down at the bar. "You're up to something."
Turning to face him, Stevie scowled. "I am not," she returned.
"You're not planning a surprise party, are you?"
"For who?"
"For me."
"No, why would I do that?" she asked.
"Because my birthday is next month."
"Is it?" she returned, the picture of innocence. "Weird."
Chuckling, Jeffrey shook his head. "You know I can make you talk," he said, his eyes sparkling.
Stevie returned the laugh and leaned in a little closer. "Yes, you can," she agreed. "And if you must know, I'm working on something for your son."
"Jay?"
"You have another one I don't know about?"
"No," he grinned. "Tell me."
"When it's time to, I will."
He watched her plant a quick kiss on his lips and then grab her keys from the hook by the door. She snagged her jacket, too, and opened the front door. "I'll be back in a while!"
Some time passed, just a few days, and he forgot about the whole thing. The phone stopped ringing as much, and Stevie was back to normal. She wasn't sneaking around anymore. Jeffrey forgot to ask any more about what she had planned. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Until the weekend, when Jeffrey had fallen asleep in the sofa chair. He awoke to the sound of a loud motor outside. He was disoriented at first, and thought someone was taking the muscle car. He woke with a start and sat up in the chair. When he couldn't move quickly, he looked down at the soft-cast on his leg.
"Son of a bitch," he grumbled, tired of the impairment. He sat up straighter in the chair and looked out the window. Stevie hopped out of a truck. Behind her was Dani, Chris Kane's girlfriend. Around the opposite side of the truck, the driver's side, emerged Chris. A moment later, Jensen himself showed his face.
Chris had a tube-like barbecue smoker in his hands, dragging it out of the bed of the truck. Stevie pointed to the garage, gesturing emphatically as she always did. Chris carried the smoker to where Jeffrey's own barbecue grill was already sitting, Dani not far behind him. Jensen pushed a blue, plastic cooler to the edge of the tailgate, and then hopped down. He took the cooler off the truck and nodded to where Chris had gone. Stevie apparently agreed, directing Jensen to put the cooler nearby.
"What the hell?" Jeffrey asked no one. He got up and walk stiff-legged over to the front door. "You havin' a party?" he called to them.
Stevie turned, shielding her eyes from the sun that was starting to set behind the house. "Yeah, actually," she said. "Come help."
He knew she was humoring him; he couldn't help all that much. But he could straw-boss. And she was so beautiful, standing there in the sunlight, that he couldn't resist.
Hot water was a gift from the gods, Jared decided. Standing in the shower, he set both hands upon the tile and leaned against his inked arms. He let the spray hit him directly upon the forehead, the water cascading down his face, neck, arms and chest. He kept his eyes closed, his mouth open to breathe, and let the warm water wash away some of the memories of prison. The showers there weren't nearly as comforting. Eyes were always on you. Jared swore he could feel the crow tattoo burning into his skin. He decided to call Eric soon and have it covered up. He was tired of having the reminder of the past on his back. And it had proved to come back to haunt him after all.
After each shower at home, Jared felt a tiny bit of himself return. As if, with each wash, he was getting rid of a small portion of the prison grime. His bruises had all but healed up, save for a stubborn few, and he was looking back to normal again. Out of the shower, he toweled off and pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and a T-shirt that had clearly seen better days. He didn't care about the hole under the arm, nor the threadbare hem around the collar, sleeves and waist. In bare feet and carrying his wet towel, he stepped along the hallway and down the stairs, stopping short when he moved into the living room.
Jensen was there, staring back at him.
Jeffrey hadn't been sure that Jared would be okay with seeing Jensen again, but, quite honestly, he was tired of tip-toeing around the boy regarding Jensen. Granted, Jeffrey had a soft-spot for Jared, and he was willing to give him time to heal. But Jared was being pig-headed and stubborn, and he needed to face things, get back to life.
Both of them looked like the proverbial deer caught in headlights. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. Stevie only watched them, her sneaky plan finally complete. She had spoken to Donna repeatedly about getting the boys to talk to each other again. Jensen was wholly willing, she knew. It was Jared that needed convincing. Stevie didn't give him a chance to refuse her though. Instead, she set up the meeting to shove Jared back into life.
"Jared?"
Jensen's voice was soft, gentle. So many memories there, Jared thought. He nodded, unable to speak for a moment. "Yeah," he finally managed.
Chris glanced over at Jeffrey and Stevie. He had known about Stevie's plan, had been part of it all. There had been more than enough room to have a party at Donna's new condo, but she claimed cramped quarters so that Jeffrey would offer to have the party there.
All so cunning, Jeffrey thought, nodding at Stevie.
"When did you get out?" Jensen asked.
He seemed wounded, Jared thought. He felt a moment of remorse tug at his heart. "Um," he began, looking down at the dirty towel in his hands. "A few...a few days."
Jensen should have been relieved, but he wasn't. Instead, he felt more than just a little betrayed. Jared hadn't wanted him to know. He turned away, hands on his hips.
"I gotta go," Jared said. By trying to protect Jensen from him, he'd only ended up hurting him. He had a need to get on his bike and drive until the gas tank was empty. His fingers itched to feel the bike vibrating against his skin, taking him far from his woes.
"Jared?"
He stopped short and turned to look at Stevie.
"I need to you to pick up a few things for me," she said. "We're having a birthday party for Jensen. Can I give you a list?"
He didn't want to be there, didn't want to be part of the festivities. He looked at Jeffrey and saw the man nod at him, encouraging him. His eyes moved back to Stevie and he nodded at her. "Okay," he agreed. "Just let me get some boots on."
Stevie smiled and moved to the refrigerator, where she kept the grocery list.
He had been put in charge of grilling. Jared was pretty sure it was to keep him there, so that he couldn't drive off on the Suicycle. Jeffrey was in a lawn chair, his leg propped up on Stevie's chair. Chris and Jensen sat side-by-side, Dani resting on Chris' knee. A chair sat empty beside Jensen. Jared had only sat down for a little while, sporadically joining in on the laughing and conversation. They didn't talk about Jared's short stint in prison, and he didn't offer any information. He was glad about that.
Donna, Kenzie, Josh and Cathy showed up a little bit late, but they all finally sat down in their lawn chairs and had dinner, laughing and talking with each other. Jensen felt part of something wonderful, and Jared was quickly reminded of how great his family really was. Even Shelby was in on everything, running around the yard, caught between wanting to play with Kenzie, or beg for more food from Jared.
After hotdogs and hamburgers, and plenty of beer, Chris covered Jensen's eyes as the cake was brought out.
"It's not like I don't know what you're doing," he said, laughing.
"Shut up," Chris said. "Act surprised."
The cake was set on a small, plastic lawn table, candles burning brightly in the chilly night, offset by the chimera burning warmly nearby.
"Wow, a birthday cake!" he said, acting badly. "I never would have suspected a thing!"
Jared laughed at his hammy acting and took another swig of beer. Everyone but him sang happy birthday, and Kenzie added in something about a monkey in a zoo. As Jensen blew out the candles, he lit a cigarette and headed to the end of the driveway to smoke in relative peace. After a few minutes, Jensen stepped closer, handing him a piece of cake on a paper plate. Jared took it from him, inhaling one last drag from the cigarette before tossing it away.
Jensen watched him, picking up his plastic fork. "When did you pick that up?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound judgmental.
"I told you I smoked before," Jared reminded him. He took a bite of cake, conveniently avoiding Jensen's eyes the whole time.
"I know," he shrugged. "I was just wondering if it was because of nerves."
"Nerves?"
"Yeah, from being back in prison."
Jared looked at him this time, but he didn't seem angry at the mention of County. He shrugged, looking back down at his cake. "Maybe," he said.
It was quiet for a few minutes, neither of them particularly interested in the cake they were eating. Finally, Jensen spoke.
"I'm sorry about everyth--"
"Don't apologize," Jared interrupted. "Just do me a favor?"
"What?"
Jared took a deep breath and sighed. "You have a good future going for yourself," he nodded. "Make a good life for you and... Whoever."
The request annoyed Jensen more than it comforted him. "You know what?" he said. "I hate to break it to you, but you're part of that future, you big jerk."
Jared was taken aback. "Why are you calling me a jerk?" he asked. "I wish you well, and you call me a jerk?"
"Yes," he nodded. "Because you are. You're so busy wallowing that you haven't taken notice of anything around you. Look at all these people who love you, regardless of what's happened. They've had their own amount of shit happen too, but they're not dwelling on it. You, however, are. So if you got your head out of your ass, you'd realize that I chose my own future. And last I checked, you were a big part of it."
Jared didn't know what to say. He stood there at the end of the driveway, somewhat stunned. He watched Jensen turn on his heel and start to walk away. "Hey," he found himself saying.
Jensen turned back around again, looking at Jared, still angry with him. "What?"
Frowning, Jared looked down at the cracked pavement for a moment, then back over to Jensen. He nodded, trying to smile. "I missed you."
Jensen closed his eyes, briefly, then looked straight into Jared's. "Well, you don't have to anymore," he returned.
Donna left Jeffrey's house around midnight, as did Josh and Cathy. Chris hefted Kenzie into his arms, and while Josh and Cathy headed out in Josh's car, Chris tucked Dani, Donna and Kenzie into his truck. He gave Jensen a hug, holding him close for several seconds.
"There's still room in the back, son," he said, throwing a thumb back at the truck.
Standing beside Jared, Jeffrey nudged his adoptive son with his elbow.
Jared knew what the nudge was about and frowned just slightly. He still didn't feel up to any of it, regardless of Jensen's earlier reprimand. Regardless, he reached up to massage the back of his neck, taking a step forward. "Jen?"
Jensen turned and looked at Jared. There wasn't any further conversation between them, yet he understood. "I'll be okay," he said, looking back over at Chris. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Alright," he agreed. "Happy birthday, man."
"Thanks." He watched Chris get into the truck. He waved as they pulled away from the house, turning around in the middle of the street to head back home. He remained at the end of the driveway, alone, until Jeffrey spoke.
"Alright, kids," he said, loud enough for Jensen to hear too. "We're off to bed. We're pretty tired, so I doubt we'll hear a thing."
Jared had to smile. He shook his head and watched Jeffrey and Stevie move back into the house. "Subtle," he called to him.
Jeffrey just gave him a thumbs-up sign and continued on his way.
Jensen moved closer, a smile on his face as well. He made a mental note to thank Jeffrey and Stevie for the party when he saw them the next morning, even though he'd already said a thank-you. "So," he said, having no intention of continuing.
Jared scratched at his chin and eyed the young man. "Movie?" he asked.
Jensen smiled brighter. "Movie," he agreed with a nod.
In the garage, Jared put in a Jackie Chan flick. They started out watching it, but eventually lost track of it when they started talking. Regardless of how much he didn't want to socialize, Jared found it much easier to talk than he'd thought it'd be. Jensen asked questions about prison, what it was like, if anyone hurt him, what the fight had been over, who helped him.
"So, it was just over the crow?"
Jared chuckled. He looked down at Jensen, who was laying down on the sofa, his head rested on Jared's thigh. "That crow's a big deal, Jen," he said. "I did a lot of bad shit to get that."
"Like what?"
"Like..." He paused for a moment, debating on whether or not to go through with telling him everything. "Like a lot of bad shit."
"Did you kill someone?"
Jared only looked at him.
"No," Jensen said, answering his own question. "Did you steal?"
"Yes."
"Did you steal something big?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Did you rob a bank?"
"No," he said.
"Did you steal a car?"
"Yes."
"A motorcycle?"
"More than once," he agreed.
"Did you commit arson?"
"Twice," Jared nodded. "Once for insurance fraud, and once just for revenge."
"Did you bust a cap in someone's ass?"
The question was asked with such innocence, and not an ounce of street-wise slang to it, that Jared couldn't help but laugh, his head rocking back. It felt good to laugh like he used to. "Yes," he answered. "I busted many a cap."
"What happened to Horton?"
Seriousness returned, and Jared's smile faded. He thought about the letter; how, when he dropped it into the mail box, it had sounded hollow and sad. "I don't know. Nothing, I hope," he answered, but he wondered if he was trying to convince Jensen of that, or perhaps himself.
Jensen sensed a need for silence. They watched the movie for a minute or two, Jared's hand coming to rest at Jensen's chest.
"Why were you so angry with me?" Jensen finally asked.
Jared bit at his bottom lip for a second. "I was mad at everyone."
"I'm sorry."
The apology infuriated Jared. He pushed Jensen off of him, making him sit up. "Don't... Stop saying you're sorry."
He nodded. "Okay," he agreed. "Why?"
"Because I'm sorry."
His brow creased in curiosity. "For what?"
Jared sighed. "For fucking up your life," he said.
Jensen shook his head. "You're not."
"Jen, I'm drowning, and I'm taking you down with me."
Jensen took a deep breath and sighed aloud. He'd had it. He crawled atop Jared, straddling the man's lap, turning to face him. He sat there, just looking at him for a moment. "I've told you once, and I'll tell you again," he finally said after a good measure of silence. "I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions."
Jared gazed up at him. He had so much going on in his head. So many voices pulling him in ten million different directions. "But I'm a bad one," he said softly, shaking his head.
Jensen smiled and returned the shake of the head. "You're the best one," he said.
Jared could see Jensen moving in for a kiss. He shook his head again, more trying to avoid the embrace than anything else. But Jensen was insistent. Jared felt the young man's hands at either side of his face, holding him there. The kiss was soft, innocent and mostly one-sided. Jared returned it, but only half-heartedly.
Jensen traced a fingertip along Jared's brow, leaning into him again. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips grazing against Jared's. He'd never told him such a thing before, even though he'd thought it a million times. He wasn't going to hold back such things anymore.
Reluctantly, Jared kissed him. His hands were at Jensen's waist. He could haul him off of his lap any time he wanted to. But he didn't want to. "Jen," he warned, trying to shake his head again.
Jensen coerced another kiss out of Jared. This time, the embrace deepened and Jared's hands crawled up Jensen's back. When Jared's fingers wound their way into Jensen's hair, the kiss turned needful and brutal. Jensen repaid the favor, twisting Jared's locks around his own fingers. He used his teeth in the kiss, scraping them along Jared's jaw, up to his ear and then back down to his mouth again. Jared's breathing was already erratic, which sent a rush of adrenaline through Jensen's system. The fact that he could do that to Jared always gave him a high.
Hands sliding down, Jensen took hold of the ratty hem on Jared's tee. He pulled at it, tugging the shirt over Jared's head. Almost immediately, Jensen noticed the absence of the nipple rings. "They're gone," he said, gently grazing his fingers over the dark pink flesh.
Jared nodded, looking down at his chest. "Can't have them in the joint," he said. "I'll get 'em again."
Jensen smiled devilishly. "Can I watch?"
Slowly, Jared returned the smile. "Yeah," he agreed. "I think maybe."
Jensen chuckled softly and bent down. Even though it was a little awkward, he bent his body enough to take one of Jared's nipples into his mouth. He nipped carefully and lapped away the pain he'd caused, feeling Jared arch against him.
It felt different without the rings. Not a bad kind of different, but maybe the kind that made him nostalgic in a way, remembering the days before the rings. It woud be fun to get them again, to rediscover the sensations again. Eyes closed, Jared reached out to Jensen, pressing a hand to the back of the young man's head. He opened his eyes long enough to watch Jensen switch to the other side of his chest, then closed his eyes again, his head rocking back.
Jensen worked his way back up to Jared's neck, finding all of the old places that he knew made him weak. He felt chills rise up on Jared's skin, felt the man's arms tighten around him as he nipped at his ear, kissed his way back down to Jared's mouth.
Clinging to him, Jared looked up at Jensen. They remained close enough to kiss, but didn't. Instead, they merely breathed each other in. Their chests heaved against each other's, their eyes darkened with lust. Jensen gave Jared a fleeting, barely-noticeable kiss, their lips grazing slightly over one another's.
"Jen..."
Jensen looked into Jared's eyes, waiting for another protest, another demand that Jensen move on with his life. He was prepared to fight, but Jared didn't make such a remark. Instead, he said something else. Something he'd wanted to say for too long.
"I love you."
This time, chills flashed across Jensen's skin. He stared down at Jared, surprised. It seemed like forever before he blinked, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He nodded at Jared, his heart swelling with love. "I know," he whispered back.
--TBC--
Title: Smoke And Lightning, Heavy Metal Thunder (46/?)
Authors: bloody_adorable and eviltwin
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Rating: PG(13)...?
Wordcount: 5,620
Summary: AU. Jared's a classic case of rich kid gone wrong, whose only sense of family comes from his motorbike, the guy he rents a garage from to live in and the precinct cops who know his face better than most already. Jensen's a hard-working student whose family are helping push him towards great things. What happens when their two worlds collide, and will Jared's troublesome nature be too much for Jensen to handle?
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
For anybody who hasn't been watching the community, might we suggest you check out the main page for recent posts? There is something coming to this community which only those watching it will see, as it won't be posted anywhere else! And we think you'll like it...
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
It had been a long time since he'd been there.
It was a sunny day, even if it was chilled. Jeffrey was back to driving, though it wasn't the muscle car. That was still in the shop, being fixed. He'd have her back soon enough. Instead, he had borrowed Trevor's truck when he'd stopped into the Yard that morning to see what was going on.
"How's it going, man?" Trevor had asked. Everyone was genuinely happy to see him, but Jeffrey wasn't happy to see his office. It had been pretty much trashed by the guys, but it wasn't their fault.
"Dude," Jeffrey had complained to him. "Look at what you assholes did to my office."
Trevor had just shrugged and sat down in one of the chairs by Jeffrey's desk -- one that wasn't piled with papers, old McDonald's food bags, and random broken or unused tools. "Hey," he'd chuckled, "while the cat's away, the mice will play."
"Well, the big shot might not be able to walk the yard, but I'll be back soon," he had told the man. "Soon as the doctor gives me a go."
"Good," Trevor had nodded. "It'll almost be nice to have you back."
"Shut up," Jeffrey scolded, though he hadn't really meant it. "I'm under a lot of stress. I could throw you under the wheels of the loader right now and not feel an ounce of remorse."
Trevor hadn't taken the threat seriously and instead had turned serious. "How's my Baby-Jay?"
Jeffrey had sighed and looked over at him. "He's why I'm here, actually. My car's still being fixed and Stevie uses the rental for her and--" He paused. It had been a while since Stevie had taken Jensen to school, but it was still habit to say the boy's name. Jeffrey felt a loneliness sink in to his heart, not only for Jensen, but for Jared as well. "Jay's being released today. Someone came forward, some witness... Pointed the finger elsewhere. Anyway, I was going to take the company truck over to get him."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, only I can't find the goddamn keys," he said, looking accusingly at Trevor.
Chuckling, Trevor had stood up and dug into his jeans pocket. "Here," he said. "Take my truck. I'll straighten up the office later too, so that it's ready for when you want to come back."
Jeffrey had taken the keys from Trevor and smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he'd said. He'd hobbled out of the trailer and over to Trevor's truck. He should have brought his crutches, but they would have just sunk into the ground around the construction site anyway. He was able to put more of his weight on his bad leg anyway.
At the pick up point, Jeffrey got out of the truck and waited for his boy. He could have sent someone else to get him, but he wanted to be the one to pick him up. He had been every other time, and he wasn't going to leave Jared thinking that Jeffrey was unhappy with him. Quite the opposite -- he couldn't wait to get him home.
Leaning against the truck, Jeffrey left it running so that it would be warm when they got back inside. He pulled his coat around his midriff and waited for Jared. He lost track of time, gazing around at some of the other people as he stood there. There was a woman with her little girl, no doubt awaiting Daddy's arrival. Jeffrey was momentarily reminded of one instance where Jared and his mother had been waiting for him. I probably put him on this path, he thought to himself. He reached up and batted his own head with the palm of his hand. Sighing, he looked up and saw that the woman and her daughter had seen him reprimand himself. The woman pulled the little girl closer and told her not to stare at the strange man. Jeffrey wanted to explain that he was just frustrated, but it wouldn't help.
Sighing, he swiped his hands over his beard-stubbled-face and shifted slightly against the truck. When he heard the gates opening, he looked up and saw Jared, in his usual ripped jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket, nearing him.
Jared looked almost relieved when he saw who was waiting for him. He didn't smile at Jeffrey, but when he neared him, he paused for a moment, nodding at his adoptive father. He was going to leave it at that, get in the truck and go home, feeling broken even though he had been cleared of all charges. Jeffrey had other ideas, however. He reached for Jared, yanking him closer and wrapping his arms around him.
Jared let Jeffrey pull him into the embrace. It was almost rough, Jeffrey clinging to him with a ferocity he'd almost forgotten about. Jared closed his eyes and leaned into him even more.
"I've missed you," Jeffrey said gently, words muffled against Jared's leather jacket.
Jared nodded, his chin bumping against Jeffrey's shoulder. "Me too," he returned.
Pulling out of the embrace, Jeffrey kept a handful of Jared's jacket sleeve in his hand, looking up at him. "Are you okay?"
Jared nodded again. "Yeah," he said.
"Are you lying?"
This time, Jared smiled. But it wasn't the smile he used to have. This one was almost forced, careful. Just like when he was a kid. "No," he replied.
Jeffrey took his time, eyeing him. Finally, he clapped Jared on the shoulder. "Alright," he said. "Get into the truck. I'll take you home."
Jared did as he was told, watching as Jeffrey maneuvered himself into the truck. "How's the leg?" he asked, as they settled into the cab.
"A pain," Jeffrey said. "But the doctors say I'll be good as new soon."
"Good."
Jeffrey closed the truck door and shifted a moment more so that his left leg, still in a brace, was settled straight and reasonably comfortably. He shifted into drive and headed away from the prison grounds. The doctors hadn't cleared him to drive, but he wasn't going to miss out on picking his boy up. On the phone, he had asked Jared if Jensen should come along.
"No," Jared had answered quickly.
"Why not, JT?" Jeffrey had asked. "He'll be excited that you're out."
"No," he'd repeated. And that was it.
Jeffrey hadn't pushed it.
Jared stared out the window, glad to be leaving the place behind. He didn't ever want to see it again, hadn't since the day he'd met Jensen. And even though his future with Jensen seemed somewhat bleak, he still wanted to stay away from places like the county prison.
The ride was one of relative silence. Jeffrey asked an occasional question; did Jared eat okay in the joint? The food there is awful, he didn't get sick, did he? Was Old Man Parsons still a CO? Was the relatively-new warden a decent man?
Jared answered the questions with quick words, remaining silent the rest of the time. He knew that Jeffrey felt like it was pulling teeth, talking to him, but Jared just wanted to go home, crawl into his familiar old bed and sleep for the rest of the year. Maybe longer.
The turn they were supposed to take came up, and then quickly vanished. Jared watched it go by and then gestured out the window. "Uh, Jeff?" he asked. "Why didn't you turn?"
Taking a deep breath, Jeffrey draped one arm over the back of the bench seat in the truck. "We're going to take a ride, kiddo."
Jared eyed him warily. "The last time you took me for a ride, you told me the dog was dead," he said.
Jeffrey chuckled, glancing over at him. "Well, the dog's fine," he replied. "She's home and waiting for you."
"Okay," he mumbled, unsmiling. "So, what's up?"
He became serious again, driving down the road with one hand. His other hand touched Jared's shoulder. "It's about Stevie and me."
Jared nodded. "You're getting married, I know," he said.
"Well, we're getting married a little sooner than we'd originally planned," he told him. He took another breath, ready to argue and explain himself until he was blue in the face. "She's pregnant, JT."
It was silent for awhile. Jared thought about what Jeffrey had said and nodded his head. "Okay."
Jeffrey was worried at the lack of emotion from the boy. "But this kid isn't replacing you, dude," he told him. "Ain't no one that can ever do that."
Emotion finally crossed Jared's face. He smiled softly and nodded his head. "I know, Jeff," he said.
He wasn't convinced. "You're my boy, Jay," he continued. "You always will be."
"I know."
"Because I love you."
Jared nodded once more and smiled again. "I know."
Jeffrey glanced from the road to Jared a good number of times, scanning the young man's face. "You're okay with this?"
"I'm okay with this," he returned. "Congratulations, man."
"Think about this."
"Think about what you're doing, Donna."
"If you think for a moment that I'm going to get on my knees and beg..."
Donna let each threat, each snarl, each word go in one ear, and out the other. For the first time in a long time, Alan had no hold over her. She packed up as much of Kenzie's stuff as she could, jammed a few things of her own into a couple boxes and headed out the door. Josh had his own things at Cathy's already. He had known the move was coming.
Jensen packed the boxes into Chris's truck, which he had borrowed earlier in the day. Chris was off with Dani, but he had gladly given Jensen the keys.
"So you can still drive," Chris had teased. "And here I thought your gas pedal foot had atrophied. Fallen right off. Y'know, use it or lose it?"
"Shut up," Jensen had laughed, smacking Chris' shoulder. "Why should I drive, when I have everyone else willing to take me places?"
"Lazy bastard."
Alan watched Jensen step past him, another heavy box in his hands. All of Mackenzie's gaming things. Alan reached out and took hold of his son's arm. "Jensen," he said sternly. "Talk some sense into your mother. Tell her that she cannot do this."
Jensen looked at his father, unsympathetic, and shook his head. "You're about favored-out there, Alan," he said. "Sorry."
Tight-lipped, Alan watched Jensen pass by him, carrying the box out the door. Frustrated, he turned away from them, swiping a hand over his face.
Outside, Jensen set the box into the bed of the truck. "Last one," he said. Kenzie was standing on the front steps, a bag at her feet. She looked sad, but Jensen wondered how many of the tears were ones of relief. He smiled at her and winked. "Don't worry, creep. We'll have you set up in the new place in no time."
"Jen, I'm scared."
His smile faded slightly. He reached out and hugged her, cradling her head against his shoulder. "Everything's going to work out," he told her. "Who knows? This might all blow over before you know it. And just think, I'll help you paint your new room."
"You mean it?"
"Yeah."
"Any color I want?"
"Any color."
"Even hot pink with lime green polka dots and flourescent purple streamers?"
Though she was joking, she did so without so much as a twinkle in her eye, without a spark of happiness in her voice. He chuckled and pulled away from her, just enough to look into her face. "When was the last time I lied to you?"
If she remembered the times he had, she made no mention of them. Instead, she finally smiled and wiped her tears away. She giggled when he held his hand out to her and turned his back. She climbed up onto his back and laughed as he bent down far enough for her to grab her bag. He hauled her down the steps and to the truck, where Mom was already sitting in the passenger's seat.
In the distance, a figure stood half-obscured by a big blue mail box. Jared watched Jensen carry his sister to the truck, both of them laughing as they went. He smiled just slightly, liking the sound of that laughter, remembering it well. His smile faded when he brought a cigarette up to his lips to take a long, slow drag. He faintly heard the truck start, and watched them pull away from the expensive house.
Once again, Jensen seemed to be leaving his life of riches and opportunity behind him. Jared couldn't figure him out.
She had a sneaky streak in her. Jeffrey learned that about Stevie after a while. She was good at creeping around and keeping things to herself. But usually he caught on just a little too late. This time was no different.
He first got an idea that something was going on when the phone kept ringing.
"Oh, I'll get it!" she'd call from the next room. "Probably for me anyway."
At first, he thought nothing of it. And then he noticed that there was a lot of low talking. He heard Jared's name, and a lot of sympathetic mumbles. As she walked out of the bedroom, turning off the phone, Jeffrey watched her from his place in the sofa chair.
"What's up, babe?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh, nothing," she smiled, continuing on her way.
He folded the paper he was reading and got up from the chair, albeit awkwardly. He hobbled -- crutchless -- over to the kitchen island and sat down at the bar. "You're up to something."
Turning to face him, Stevie scowled. "I am not," she returned.
"You're not planning a surprise party, are you?"
"For who?"
"For me."
"No, why would I do that?" she asked.
"Because my birthday is next month."
"Is it?" she returned, the picture of innocence. "Weird."
Chuckling, Jeffrey shook his head. "You know I can make you talk," he said, his eyes sparkling.
Stevie returned the laugh and leaned in a little closer. "Yes, you can," she agreed. "And if you must know, I'm working on something for your son."
"Jay?"
"You have another one I don't know about?"
"No," he grinned. "Tell me."
"When it's time to, I will."
He watched her plant a quick kiss on his lips and then grab her keys from the hook by the door. She snagged her jacket, too, and opened the front door. "I'll be back in a while!"
Some time passed, just a few days, and he forgot about the whole thing. The phone stopped ringing as much, and Stevie was back to normal. She wasn't sneaking around anymore. Jeffrey forgot to ask any more about what she had planned. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Until the weekend, when Jeffrey had fallen asleep in the sofa chair. He awoke to the sound of a loud motor outside. He was disoriented at first, and thought someone was taking the muscle car. He woke with a start and sat up in the chair. When he couldn't move quickly, he looked down at the soft-cast on his leg.
"Son of a bitch," he grumbled, tired of the impairment. He sat up straighter in the chair and looked out the window. Stevie hopped out of a truck. Behind her was Dani, Chris Kane's girlfriend. Around the opposite side of the truck, the driver's side, emerged Chris. A moment later, Jensen himself showed his face.
Chris had a tube-like barbecue smoker in his hands, dragging it out of the bed of the truck. Stevie pointed to the garage, gesturing emphatically as she always did. Chris carried the smoker to where Jeffrey's own barbecue grill was already sitting, Dani not far behind him. Jensen pushed a blue, plastic cooler to the edge of the tailgate, and then hopped down. He took the cooler off the truck and nodded to where Chris had gone. Stevie apparently agreed, directing Jensen to put the cooler nearby.
"What the hell?" Jeffrey asked no one. He got up and walk stiff-legged over to the front door. "You havin' a party?" he called to them.
Stevie turned, shielding her eyes from the sun that was starting to set behind the house. "Yeah, actually," she said. "Come help."
He knew she was humoring him; he couldn't help all that much. But he could straw-boss. And she was so beautiful, standing there in the sunlight, that he couldn't resist.
Hot water was a gift from the gods, Jared decided. Standing in the shower, he set both hands upon the tile and leaned against his inked arms. He let the spray hit him directly upon the forehead, the water cascading down his face, neck, arms and chest. He kept his eyes closed, his mouth open to breathe, and let the warm water wash away some of the memories of prison. The showers there weren't nearly as comforting. Eyes were always on you. Jared swore he could feel the crow tattoo burning into his skin. He decided to call Eric soon and have it covered up. He was tired of having the reminder of the past on his back. And it had proved to come back to haunt him after all.
After each shower at home, Jared felt a tiny bit of himself return. As if, with each wash, he was getting rid of a small portion of the prison grime. His bruises had all but healed up, save for a stubborn few, and he was looking back to normal again. Out of the shower, he toweled off and pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and a T-shirt that had clearly seen better days. He didn't care about the hole under the arm, nor the threadbare hem around the collar, sleeves and waist. In bare feet and carrying his wet towel, he stepped along the hallway and down the stairs, stopping short when he moved into the living room.
Jensen was there, staring back at him.
Jeffrey hadn't been sure that Jared would be okay with seeing Jensen again, but, quite honestly, he was tired of tip-toeing around the boy regarding Jensen. Granted, Jeffrey had a soft-spot for Jared, and he was willing to give him time to heal. But Jared was being pig-headed and stubborn, and he needed to face things, get back to life.
Both of them looked like the proverbial deer caught in headlights. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. Stevie only watched them, her sneaky plan finally complete. She had spoken to Donna repeatedly about getting the boys to talk to each other again. Jensen was wholly willing, she knew. It was Jared that needed convincing. Stevie didn't give him a chance to refuse her though. Instead, she set up the meeting to shove Jared back into life.
"Jared?"
Jensen's voice was soft, gentle. So many memories there, Jared thought. He nodded, unable to speak for a moment. "Yeah," he finally managed.
Chris glanced over at Jeffrey and Stevie. He had known about Stevie's plan, had been part of it all. There had been more than enough room to have a party at Donna's new condo, but she claimed cramped quarters so that Jeffrey would offer to have the party there.
All so cunning, Jeffrey thought, nodding at Stevie.
"When did you get out?" Jensen asked.
He seemed wounded, Jared thought. He felt a moment of remorse tug at his heart. "Um," he began, looking down at the dirty towel in his hands. "A few...a few days."
Jensen should have been relieved, but he wasn't. Instead, he felt more than just a little betrayed. Jared hadn't wanted him to know. He turned away, hands on his hips.
"I gotta go," Jared said. By trying to protect Jensen from him, he'd only ended up hurting him. He had a need to get on his bike and drive until the gas tank was empty. His fingers itched to feel the bike vibrating against his skin, taking him far from his woes.
"Jared?"
He stopped short and turned to look at Stevie.
"I need to you to pick up a few things for me," she said. "We're having a birthday party for Jensen. Can I give you a list?"
He didn't want to be there, didn't want to be part of the festivities. He looked at Jeffrey and saw the man nod at him, encouraging him. His eyes moved back to Stevie and he nodded at her. "Okay," he agreed. "Just let me get some boots on."
Stevie smiled and moved to the refrigerator, where she kept the grocery list.
He had been put in charge of grilling. Jared was pretty sure it was to keep him there, so that he couldn't drive off on the Suicycle. Jeffrey was in a lawn chair, his leg propped up on Stevie's chair. Chris and Jensen sat side-by-side, Dani resting on Chris' knee. A chair sat empty beside Jensen. Jared had only sat down for a little while, sporadically joining in on the laughing and conversation. They didn't talk about Jared's short stint in prison, and he didn't offer any information. He was glad about that.
Donna, Kenzie, Josh and Cathy showed up a little bit late, but they all finally sat down in their lawn chairs and had dinner, laughing and talking with each other. Jensen felt part of something wonderful, and Jared was quickly reminded of how great his family really was. Even Shelby was in on everything, running around the yard, caught between wanting to play with Kenzie, or beg for more food from Jared.
After hotdogs and hamburgers, and plenty of beer, Chris covered Jensen's eyes as the cake was brought out.
"It's not like I don't know what you're doing," he said, laughing.
"Shut up," Chris said. "Act surprised."
The cake was set on a small, plastic lawn table, candles burning brightly in the chilly night, offset by the chimera burning warmly nearby.
"Wow, a birthday cake!" he said, acting badly. "I never would have suspected a thing!"
Jared laughed at his hammy acting and took another swig of beer. Everyone but him sang happy birthday, and Kenzie added in something about a monkey in a zoo. As Jensen blew out the candles, he lit a cigarette and headed to the end of the driveway to smoke in relative peace. After a few minutes, Jensen stepped closer, handing him a piece of cake on a paper plate. Jared took it from him, inhaling one last drag from the cigarette before tossing it away.
Jensen watched him, picking up his plastic fork. "When did you pick that up?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound judgmental.
"I told you I smoked before," Jared reminded him. He took a bite of cake, conveniently avoiding Jensen's eyes the whole time.
"I know," he shrugged. "I was just wondering if it was because of nerves."
"Nerves?"
"Yeah, from being back in prison."
Jared looked at him this time, but he didn't seem angry at the mention of County. He shrugged, looking back down at his cake. "Maybe," he said.
It was quiet for a few minutes, neither of them particularly interested in the cake they were eating. Finally, Jensen spoke.
"I'm sorry about everyth--"
"Don't apologize," Jared interrupted. "Just do me a favor?"
"What?"
Jared took a deep breath and sighed. "You have a good future going for yourself," he nodded. "Make a good life for you and... Whoever."
The request annoyed Jensen more than it comforted him. "You know what?" he said. "I hate to break it to you, but you're part of that future, you big jerk."
Jared was taken aback. "Why are you calling me a jerk?" he asked. "I wish you well, and you call me a jerk?"
"Yes," he nodded. "Because you are. You're so busy wallowing that you haven't taken notice of anything around you. Look at all these people who love you, regardless of what's happened. They've had their own amount of shit happen too, but they're not dwelling on it. You, however, are. So if you got your head out of your ass, you'd realize that I chose my own future. And last I checked, you were a big part of it."
Jared didn't know what to say. He stood there at the end of the driveway, somewhat stunned. He watched Jensen turn on his heel and start to walk away. "Hey," he found himself saying.
Jensen turned back around again, looking at Jared, still angry with him. "What?"
Frowning, Jared looked down at the cracked pavement for a moment, then back over to Jensen. He nodded, trying to smile. "I missed you."
Jensen closed his eyes, briefly, then looked straight into Jared's. "Well, you don't have to anymore," he returned.
Donna left Jeffrey's house around midnight, as did Josh and Cathy. Chris hefted Kenzie into his arms, and while Josh and Cathy headed out in Josh's car, Chris tucked Dani, Donna and Kenzie into his truck. He gave Jensen a hug, holding him close for several seconds.
"There's still room in the back, son," he said, throwing a thumb back at the truck.
Standing beside Jared, Jeffrey nudged his adoptive son with his elbow.
Jared knew what the nudge was about and frowned just slightly. He still didn't feel up to any of it, regardless of Jensen's earlier reprimand. Regardless, he reached up to massage the back of his neck, taking a step forward. "Jen?"
Jensen turned and looked at Jared. There wasn't any further conversation between them, yet he understood. "I'll be okay," he said, looking back over at Chris. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Alright," he agreed. "Happy birthday, man."
"Thanks." He watched Chris get into the truck. He waved as they pulled away from the house, turning around in the middle of the street to head back home. He remained at the end of the driveway, alone, until Jeffrey spoke.
"Alright, kids," he said, loud enough for Jensen to hear too. "We're off to bed. We're pretty tired, so I doubt we'll hear a thing."
Jared had to smile. He shook his head and watched Jeffrey and Stevie move back into the house. "Subtle," he called to him.
Jeffrey just gave him a thumbs-up sign and continued on his way.
Jensen moved closer, a smile on his face as well. He made a mental note to thank Jeffrey and Stevie for the party when he saw them the next morning, even though he'd already said a thank-you. "So," he said, having no intention of continuing.
Jared scratched at his chin and eyed the young man. "Movie?" he asked.
Jensen smiled brighter. "Movie," he agreed with a nod.
In the garage, Jared put in a Jackie Chan flick. They started out watching it, but eventually lost track of it when they started talking. Regardless of how much he didn't want to socialize, Jared found it much easier to talk than he'd thought it'd be. Jensen asked questions about prison, what it was like, if anyone hurt him, what the fight had been over, who helped him.
"So, it was just over the crow?"
Jared chuckled. He looked down at Jensen, who was laying down on the sofa, his head rested on Jared's thigh. "That crow's a big deal, Jen," he said. "I did a lot of bad shit to get that."
"Like what?"
"Like..." He paused for a moment, debating on whether or not to go through with telling him everything. "Like a lot of bad shit."
"Did you kill someone?"
Jared only looked at him.
"No," Jensen said, answering his own question. "Did you steal?"
"Yes."
"Did you steal something big?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Did you rob a bank?"
"No," he said.
"Did you steal a car?"
"Yes."
"A motorcycle?"
"More than once," he agreed.
"Did you commit arson?"
"Twice," Jared nodded. "Once for insurance fraud, and once just for revenge."
"Did you bust a cap in someone's ass?"
The question was asked with such innocence, and not an ounce of street-wise slang to it, that Jared couldn't help but laugh, his head rocking back. It felt good to laugh like he used to. "Yes," he answered. "I busted many a cap."
"What happened to Horton?"
Seriousness returned, and Jared's smile faded. He thought about the letter; how, when he dropped it into the mail box, it had sounded hollow and sad. "I don't know. Nothing, I hope," he answered, but he wondered if he was trying to convince Jensen of that, or perhaps himself.
Jensen sensed a need for silence. They watched the movie for a minute or two, Jared's hand coming to rest at Jensen's chest.
"Why were you so angry with me?" Jensen finally asked.
Jared bit at his bottom lip for a second. "I was mad at everyone."
"I'm sorry."
The apology infuriated Jared. He pushed Jensen off of him, making him sit up. "Don't... Stop saying you're sorry."
He nodded. "Okay," he agreed. "Why?"
"Because I'm sorry."
His brow creased in curiosity. "For what?"
Jared sighed. "For fucking up your life," he said.
Jensen shook his head. "You're not."
"Jen, I'm drowning, and I'm taking you down with me."
Jensen took a deep breath and sighed aloud. He'd had it. He crawled atop Jared, straddling the man's lap, turning to face him. He sat there, just looking at him for a moment. "I've told you once, and I'll tell you again," he finally said after a good measure of silence. "I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions."
Jared gazed up at him. He had so much going on in his head. So many voices pulling him in ten million different directions. "But I'm a bad one," he said softly, shaking his head.
Jensen smiled and returned the shake of the head. "You're the best one," he said.
Jared could see Jensen moving in for a kiss. He shook his head again, more trying to avoid the embrace than anything else. But Jensen was insistent. Jared felt the young man's hands at either side of his face, holding him there. The kiss was soft, innocent and mostly one-sided. Jared returned it, but only half-heartedly.
Jensen traced a fingertip along Jared's brow, leaning into him again. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips grazing against Jared's. He'd never told him such a thing before, even though he'd thought it a million times. He wasn't going to hold back such things anymore.
Reluctantly, Jared kissed him. His hands were at Jensen's waist. He could haul him off of his lap any time he wanted to. But he didn't want to. "Jen," he warned, trying to shake his head again.
Jensen coerced another kiss out of Jared. This time, the embrace deepened and Jared's hands crawled up Jensen's back. When Jared's fingers wound their way into Jensen's hair, the kiss turned needful and brutal. Jensen repaid the favor, twisting Jared's locks around his own fingers. He used his teeth in the kiss, scraping them along Jared's jaw, up to his ear and then back down to his mouth again. Jared's breathing was already erratic, which sent a rush of adrenaline through Jensen's system. The fact that he could do that to Jared always gave him a high.
Hands sliding down, Jensen took hold of the ratty hem on Jared's tee. He pulled at it, tugging the shirt over Jared's head. Almost immediately, Jensen noticed the absence of the nipple rings. "They're gone," he said, gently grazing his fingers over the dark pink flesh.
Jared nodded, looking down at his chest. "Can't have them in the joint," he said. "I'll get 'em again."
Jensen smiled devilishly. "Can I watch?"
Slowly, Jared returned the smile. "Yeah," he agreed. "I think maybe."
Jensen chuckled softly and bent down. Even though it was a little awkward, he bent his body enough to take one of Jared's nipples into his mouth. He nipped carefully and lapped away the pain he'd caused, feeling Jared arch against him.
It felt different without the rings. Not a bad kind of different, but maybe the kind that made him nostalgic in a way, remembering the days before the rings. It woud be fun to get them again, to rediscover the sensations again. Eyes closed, Jared reached out to Jensen, pressing a hand to the back of the young man's head. He opened his eyes long enough to watch Jensen switch to the other side of his chest, then closed his eyes again, his head rocking back.
Jensen worked his way back up to Jared's neck, finding all of the old places that he knew made him weak. He felt chills rise up on Jared's skin, felt the man's arms tighten around him as he nipped at his ear, kissed his way back down to Jared's mouth.
Clinging to him, Jared looked up at Jensen. They remained close enough to kiss, but didn't. Instead, they merely breathed each other in. Their chests heaved against each other's, their eyes darkened with lust. Jensen gave Jared a fleeting, barely-noticeable kiss, their lips grazing slightly over one another's.
"Jen..."
Jensen looked into Jared's eyes, waiting for another protest, another demand that Jensen move on with his life. He was prepared to fight, but Jared didn't make such a remark. Instead, he said something else. Something he'd wanted to say for too long.
"I love you."
This time, chills flashed across Jensen's skin. He stared down at Jared, surprised. It seemed like forever before he blinked, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He nodded at Jared, his heart swelling with love. "I know," he whispered back.
--TBC--