Of Wings To Fly (Part Two)
Title: Of Wings to Fly
Author:
hunters_retreat
Rating: R
Summary: Jared Padalecki is the world’s foremost Augmentor, an expert in making life better through technological advancement. He’s designed steam-fueled carriages and even made improvements to his brother’s airship. His passion though is to help the less fortunate, to use mechanics and gear work to help heal broken bodies. In all his years as an Augmentor, Jared has never let any of his clients get under his skin, but no other client has ever been like Jensen Ackles before. Jensen is a Mer with surgically created legs instead of a tail and a broken exoskeleton that should make it possible for him to walk.
It isn’t a simple task. From the first observation, something feels wrong to Jared. His desire to help Jensen takes him on a long journey, through confidantes and betrayal, airship flights and naval battles, to grief and love. As Jared and Jensen find the truth behind the broken exoskeleton, they find an even greater truth. It doesn’t take wings to learn to fly.
Or, the J2 AU Steampunk Little Mermaid.
The eatery was busy as Jared walked into the main dining room and smoothed down his jacket and vest. He nodded to a few respectable citizens that he’d met at civil meetings and turned the corner to see an older gentleman sitting in a table by the window. He had salt and pepper hair with a pure white beard but his smile was wide and warm as he saw Jared coming closer. He stood and Jared drew his mentor into a quick embrace.
“Jeff, it’s been too long,” Jared said as he took a moment to look at the older man.
Jeff gave him the same perusal before he met Jared’s eye and smiled. “Jared, it’s good to see you, son.”
“What brings you to the city? Last I heard, you were heading inland on the lecturing circuit. I didn’t expect to see you in a sea port anytime soon.”
Jared’s voice was kind as he spoke but Jeff’s eyes hardened a little all the same. Almost six years ago, Jeff’s daughter had gone to live with the Mer. Gen was a brilliant scientist, almost as gifted as Jeff himself, and she’d wanted to study the sea life that Humans couldn’t experience. Jeff had designed a deep water swimming suit for her himself. Gen had been happy living among the Mer, until a storm overhead had turned to harsh currents and she’d been dashed into the deep sea coral she loved to study.
It had been going on five years now since Jeff had left his practice and disappeared with only an occasional letter to Jared to let him know he was still alive. Jared wanted to help his friend but he’d needed time to settle his grief and Jared could see it was still hard on him, which made him even more curious about why Jeff was in the port city again.
“I got your letter. Since I was going to be passing through, I decided to take care of some business and see an old friend at the same time. Should we order before you tell me what your trouble is?”
Jared nodded and Jeff motioned the server over. He ordered for the both of them and Jared settled into the easy relationship he’d always had with Jeff. Jeff was one of the top Augmentors in the world and Jared had been in awe of the other man when he’d been offered an apprenticeship with him. He still held Jeff with a high level of respect. It was an honor to know that Jeff held him in the same regard.
They talked about the upcoming trends of their field, the new technology that they were both on the edge of. Jeff was on a guest lecture circuit that let him teach new methods and allowed him to meet the upcoming minds in their field. Jared’s reputation meant that he got a large variety of interesting requests and he regaled Jeff with some of his more curious or thought-provoking cases.
When the food arrived, they talked about more worldly topics. Politics was mentioned briefly and the state of the Mer-Human relations. With the death of the King and the disappearance of his youngest son, the Mer world was in upheaval.
“The Centurion is gone and the Legatus haven’t been able to keep up with his post. No one knows where he is or what could have happened to him,” Jeff commented. Jared was more than a little surprised that Jeff had kept abreast of the Mer politics, considering his current feelings about the Mer in general.
“I have a metal supplier who has been having trouble to the south,” Jared commented. “He said since the Centurion went missing the number of pirate attacks on trading vessels has tripled. His prices have become absorbent but he is still the best ore-man in the business so I will continue to line his pockets.”
Jeff laughed as he finished his glass of wine. “You aren’t the only one. Even on the lecture circuit we’ve had trouble. Travel plans disrupted and hands on training reduced to lecture because the supplies were lost at sea. The Centurion seems to have played a larger role in the human traffic routes than we were aware of. Without his oversight, I’m afraid things will only continue to get worse.”
“And the Legatus have no other support?”
“When the king died, his three sons should have been able to support one another, however with the Centurion gone and troubles rising on the seas, the Mer houses have threatened to rise against the current ruling house. The Legatus have been trying to stop a civil war. They have enough trouble without trying to defend human merchants.”
It was a sad state of affairs, but Jared pushed the Mer troubles from his mind. He had enough trouble with Mer at the moment. Or with one of them. As they finished their meal, silence filled the air around them.
“So,” Jeff said as their table was finally cleared and a silver tea tray was set between them. “Tell me about this trouble you’re having.”
Jared sighed. “Have you ever had a client you couldn’t help?” It was a senseless question because it was the first thing you learned as an Augmentor. You couldn’t help everyone no matter how you wanted to. Jared had turned people down almost monthly since he started his practice. He was the top in his field but he wasn’t a miracle worker. There was only so much mechanics could do.
Jeff gave him a tight smile. “Got one under your skin?”
“Yes,” Jared admitted. “He’s a Mer. Jeff, someone … I can’t imagine why someone would do this to another living creature.”
“What happened?”
“He had his tail surgically turned into legs.”
“They wouldn’t functionally work,” Jeff said with a furrowed brow.
“I know. He might look like he has legs if you ignored the scales but the muscles and bones aren’t strong enough to support him.”
“So he came to you to get a skeleton.”
“No, he got legs and an exoskeleton from another Augmentor. The exoskeleton broke though and the doctor has disappeared. My client came to me to try to fix the skeleton. Jeff, I just don’t know if I can.”
“Jared, if you can’t, no one can,” Jeff said with a kind smile. “Who was the doctor? Maybe I’ve heard of him?”
“Dr. Maxwell Johns. No one has heard of him. He’s not registered as a doctor or an Augmentor anywhere. I’ve talked to the board to see if there had been anyone dismissed or inactive by that name but they have no record of a Dr. Johns.”
“Jared, did you think that maybe your client isn’t telling you everything? Have you found any identifying marks on the exoskeleton?”
“There is nothing there either and the work is superior quality. This wasn’t an inexperienced hand. The metal work has all the tells of an experienced professional but there is no professional brand to identify the maker. There are design and structural errors though that a second day apprentice would know to avoid. The neural connectors and transceivers are locked into position so I can’t replace them without doing permanent damage. There are places were a hollow tube is used where a solid metal pin is needed and vice versa. I don’t understand how a professional could do such fine work and yet make these kinds of simple mistakes.”
“Have you thought about removing the exoskeleton and sending him to a Mer-healer? Maybe he can’t walk but he may be able to swim again?”
Jared shook his head. “He has a wasting disease that affects his tail. He said he can’t swim anymore, no matter what happens.”
“Maybe it’s for the best. We’ve made great strides forward in our relationship with the Mer because of our technology but it isn’t without a price. Maybe we need to have less contact with them until their current turmoil is settled.”
“At least, until you find a way to develop a foolproof waterlung.”
“Sure, Jared. I’ll get that figured out as soon as you find a way to make those wings for that aeronaut brother of yours.”
Jared laughed as he took a sip of his tea. “I’m close. One of these days, I’ll get wings and Noah will have wings for his men. Better dust off the drawing board, Jeff. It’ll be any day now.”
The both laughed and Jared spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of his mentor.
Jared had been more than a little surprised when he received the letter from Jensen, asking him to tea. They’d talked about Jared coming to see his home so that he could understand the way Jensen lived but the Mer had been reticent to let him in further. Jared needed to know about Jensen’s life if he were going to be able to design an exoskeleton that would fit his lifestyle.
The house he stood in front of was modest but well kept. Jared would have expected something bigger, grander from what he’d learned about Jensen. Jensen himself kept quiet but when Jared had begun asking about him in a professional manner, people in the business spoke very highly of Mr. Ackles. He was well known for his ability to plot courses that would shave time - hours or even days - off of normal trade routes. He used his knowledge of the currents and the winds to create a lucrative life for himself. He was well paid for his time and he had even been known to give lectures to small groups of discerning captains and navigators.
He’d been in the public eye for years before he’d lost his tail, though he hadn’t become readily available until he’d gotten legs and come to live on land. No one knew what he did when he was with the Mer, but the tales grew bigger and more outlandish as Jared asked. No one knew for certain but most people believed, and Jared’s own observations supported, that Jensen had hidden his true identity when he was on land because of the anti-human sentiment that was growing among the Mer.
Whoever Jensen was, the only thing the rumors agreed on was that he had made a small fortune in his time with humans. Jared hoped he hadn’t wasted it all on a pair of legs. Whatever he found inside, Jared’s true reason for visiting was to gain a little insight into the man Jensen was.
“Dr. Padelecki?” The door to Jensen’s home opened and the maid left him in the parlor. Jensen wheeled his chair forward immediately. “Please, come in.” Jensen said with a polite smile.
“Thank you.”
Jared took a seat on a small couch as Jensen motioned him into a seat. As he looked around the room, there was little in the way of personal items. No photographs hung on the walls or in fine china frames around the room. There were no trinkets collected from travels around the world. The apartment was meticulously cultivated to give an air of warmth and welcome without showing any personality.
It was off putting to Jared who wanted to get to know his client better. The man wasn’t one for words but Jared knew that when Jensen let him into his apartment, it had been a large sign of trust on the other man’s part.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“Oh, yes, please.”
A tea tray sat on a table in the center of the room and Jensen began serving. Jared sat on the edge of the couch and accepted the tea politely.
“You have a beautiful home, Mr. Ackles.”
“I thought we were past those sort of formalities, Doctor.”
Jared laughed lightly. “Alright, Jensen. I can see the adjustments you’ve made for the chair, to be able to move around in your home. I’d like to take a look around to see if there are other things I can do to make you more comfortable.” His professional reason for being there was to see how Jensen lived, to understand the amount of activity and how active his lifestyle was. He couldn’t design an exoskeleton without knowing what sort of life it’s wearing would lead.
“Jared, I just need my legs fixed.”
Jared gave him a tight smile but he didn’t say anything more about it. Being in Jensen’s space and seeing him move through his home would tell him what he needed. “Why don’t you tell me what you do when you’re not in my office?” Jared asked.
Jensen sighed but he seemed to realize that Jared needed to know more so he nodded towards the door and Jared followed as he rolled out of the room and down the hallway.
The walls were tastefully decorated with artful renderings of flowers and birds. Jared would have expected to see more nautical themes but there was nothing that would indicate he was one of the Mer. When Jensen paused to throw open a pair of sliding doors, Jared stepped up behind him to see what they were heading into.
It was obviously Jensen’s work space. Whereas there was no nautical art in the home, there were charts of oceans and major water ways all over the walls and the three tables that were set about the room. Navigational tools were on the tables and Jared watched as Jensen wheeled himself into the room.
“This is what I do,” Jensen said as he moved behind the largest of the tables. “I am a navigational engineer. I spent a lot of time with the Mer, navigating the most treacherous currents our oceans have. Once I left the water, I used my knowledge to help other pilots. It has been a profitable endeavor.”
“Is it hard?”
“What?”
“Being surrounded by reminders of the ocean? Of the life you once had.”
“I chose to leave the ocean, Jared. That doesn’t bother me.” He pointed to his exoskeleton. “This does.”
It tickled in the back of his mind, Jensen’s words. Yes, he chose to leave the Mer but only because of a wasting disease. He was a stronger person than most to work in that world and not feel some sort of resentment for being forced to this. He didn’t seem to be bothered by it though. It was just the broken shell of a skeleton that had his attention. Jared wasn’t sure if it was sanity that drove him to focus on that one thing or if it was insanity that kept him from reacting to everything else.
He had no ideas, but he couldn’t imagine how a sane person could do what Jensen had done. There were other alternatives, other ways to live if Jensen had wanted to be landside instead of water bound. He knew a Mer that lived a perfectly happy life on land. He had a special pool in his home that allowed him to keep his scales healthy and a specially designed wheel chair that gave his tail the space he needed and still allowed travel in most places. Jared had designed it himself, including the pumps and specially designed filters that allowed his pool to remain at the correct Ph balance for the Mer.
Jared nodded but there was nothing else he could say. In time, he hoped Jensen would see he was trying to do justice to the service he was paying for, but until then, he would take the forceful reminders of Jensen’s trouble in stride. He wasn’t the first client Jared had who had demanded immediate results after all. He wouldn’t be the last.
Jared just needed to understand the whole picture and there were things that just didn’t add up about Jensen Ackles and his mysterious Dr. Johns.
After the meeting at Jensen’s home, Jared asked Jensen to meet him next at a restaurant. While Jensen’s home had been modified to allow his wheelchair free access to the rooms, Jared wanted to see how Jensen moved in public. It was still as much about finding out who Jensen was as it was about seeing how the man moved in different settings.
The restaurant was the finest in town and had the most decadent desserts that had Jared drooling just by thinking of them. Jared enjoyed the finer things in life but he didn’t often go to the trouble. He was as happy eating his own half-burnt meals as he was getting dressed up to the nines to attend a formal meal.
He did dress to the nines tonight though, with his dark tuxedo and brass colored vest. His bowtie matched and Alona said it was his most dapper outfit. As much as Jared was a dedicated professional and would never jeopardize his standing with his client, he couldn’t keep up the pretense that Jensen was just another client. He wanted to impress the Mer, to get his attention and really get to know the man behind the polite facade.
When Jensen arrived, there was no way to tell that he was actually one of the Mer. Jared didn’t know how he’d found a way to get pants made to cover his legs that didn’t interfere with the exoskeleton but he had. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and a sea green vest. He looked beautiful, even if Jared would never be able to tell him so.
“Jensen,” Jared said as the server walked Jensen back to the table. Jared had been specific in his instructions that the table needed to be easily reached by his client in the wheelchair. The restaurant had been happy to oblige him.
Jensen wheeled himself to the table and Jared smiled as he stood and offered the other man his hand.
“Jared,” he said as they shook hands. His demeanor was polite and even though the more uncouth of the patrons stared, Jensen acted as if he didn’t notice it. Jared decided to do the same.
“Have you been here before?” Jared asked as he took his seat.
“When I first came to the city, I came here. The company wasn’t as good but the food was excellent.”
Jared’s smile widened at the words and when the server brought their menus, Jared ordered wine for the both of them. Jensen approved of his choice but as the waiter disappeared, he frowned.
“I’m sorry if what I said was inappropriate,” he said softly.
Jared was surprised at the words. “I haven’t noticed anything you’d need to apologize for.”
Jensen nodded. “Good. I sometimes forget that humans aren’t accepting of two men who enjoy one another’s company. Sometimes the line between what I may say to a human man is blurred, even when my intention is purely innocent. I have been taken to task before for admitting to enjoying someone’s company.”
Jared wondered for a moment what it would be like, to live in a world that accepted him as he was, that let him be with the person that he wanted to be with instead of having to feign interest in a gender he had no inclinations towards. “There was no offense taken,” Jared said. Jensen let out a small breath and his shoulders relaxed a little. “I should probably be the one apologizing. To be honest, there are a number of rumors circulating about me and who I enjoy spending my time with. Being seen with me could tarnish your reputation.”
A smile grew on Jensen’s face and he let out a small laugh. It was the first time Jared had seen anything but his polite façade and he craved more. Jensen’s smile was a little on the crooked side but humor lit his eyes and Jared wanted to touch the small laugh lines around them. “If my reputation could be so easily sullied, I wouldn’t be who I am. I may live among humans but I am still Mer. I have no guilt or shame about whom I care for. I would not ‘tarnish’ myself by allowing others to dictate where I spend my time.”
There was something warm in his eyes then when he looked at Jared. “And I meant it when I said you are good company. I know you’ve been spending time with me because of the exoskeleton, but if I did not have that I would still want to know you, Jared Padalecki. I will still want to know you once this is all done.”
Jared wanted to do something reckless and stupid, like reach across the table and place his hand over Jensen’s where it lay, but even as he thought it, the waiter arrived with their wine and Jared was saved from his own impulses. They set about the business of planning their meals then, though Jared found himself looking at Jensen often. Jensen noticed but he never said anything, just held Jared’s gaze with the same warmth he’d shown. Jared ordered the fish course when the waiter came back because he couldn’t remember what else was on the menu. Jensen had laughed again and claimed to have eaten enough fish for a lifetime so he chose the lamb.
“How has your day been, Jensen?” Jared asked as the server took their menus and left them to their conversation. He needed to find his way back to more appropriate conversation. He wasn’t sure he trusted his impulse control after Jensen’s earlier words.
“Busy. I have three clients in town at the moment and all of them vying for my time. I’m usually lucky enough to have only one client in port at any given time.”
Jared nodded. “It can be a bit daunting, to have so many clients at once.”
“Do you normally have that problem?”
Jensen had never asked much about his practice, other than how it related to him personally and Jared was pleased to discuss it. “I have a number of clients at the moment. Many of them I won’t meet until it is time to actually implement the designs of their augmentation. They’ll travel to town as the time grows closer. Most of my correspondence is through letters.”
“That must take some time.”
“I have the uncommon luck to have a brother who is able to deliver most of my letters in a timelier manner than the mail carrier. He is an Aeronaut and Captain of the Chaser. When he docks in another city, he has a boy who delivers and picks up mail from my clients in those cities.”
“An Aeronaut? What a wonderful family you come from, Jared.”
Jared smiled. “Noah was always going to be in the sky. We grew up on an airship. For some time, I thought I might return and join him. He’s offered many times to make me part of his crew. An airship can always use an Augmentor.”
“I thought you only worked with people?”
“I prefer to work with individual clients but it isn’t my only area of expertise. If I were ever to leave my practice, it would be to explore the challenges of working in the open air. There are a more than a few improvements on my brother’s ship already that have my stamp on them.”
“I would love to see it someday,” Jensen said wistfully. He seemed to realize how informal his words were because then he blushed. “I’m sorry, that was far too personal again.”
Jared shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m rather fond of showing off the Chaser as well as my handiwork in her designs. My brother will be in town soon and he wanted to discuss some more modifications when he arrives. If you would like to see the ship, I could arrange it.”
“I would love that. Thank you, Jared.”
“You seem interested in airships.”
“I spent much of my time working with Aeronauts in the past. I have always been fascinated by them. As a Mer, I wasn’t able to board one though.”
“No? There are technologies that would allow a Mer to leave the water to travel on an airship for a short time.” He had developed one himself at his brother’s request for when he dealt with trade negotiations.
“The Mer-King forbade it. He had a fear that we would learn to love the skies more than the seas.”
“That seems to be an odd fear.” Jared had heard something of the sort before though. He had one other Mer client that he’d helped settle on land and his choice had sentenced him to an exile from his family and home.
“It was true, for me at least. I didn’t fall in love with sandy beaches or rolling hills. I came to the surface in my youth to watch the skies. The clouds moved in such mockery of our currents and I loved to feel the wind on my face.”
“Perhaps once the new king is established, he will rescind the order?”
Jensen gave Jared a tight lipped smile. “Jared, when I had my surgery I left the Mer world behind. I am a Mer in exile. I no longer need to worry about what the King would or would not want of me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“No one did really,” Jensen said. He was about to say something else, but then the server came forward with the first course of their meal and they turned their attention to their food and happier topics.
After dinner ended, Jared walked Jensen back to his home. He lived close to the restaurant which was one of the reasons Jared had picked it. He had fallen into his professional courtesies then, as he asked about Jensen’s health and how his legs felt. If he’d had any more success when he did the exercises that Jared had prescribed for him.
“I thought you were off the clock by this time as night, Doctor,” Jensen asked as he wheeled himself to his front door.
Jared let out a small laugh and nodded. “I truly am, I promise. I can’t help but be concerned for your health though.”
Jensen gave him a soft smile, one that he had yet to see. It was almost shy as he looked up through his eyelashes and spoke. “I think, perhaps, I was not the only one who needed to get out for the evening. Not the only one to enjoy the company.”
He shook Jared’s hand quickly but his other hand came to rest over Jared’s and he squeezed ever so slightly. When he let go, he wheeled himself quickly inside. Jared stood there and watched, caught completely off guard. Had … had Jensen been flirting with him? He knew the Mer didn’t have the same concerns about same gender relationships as his own society and there might have been that hint at the restaurant, but could he honestly be interested in Jared? Or was he simply being friendly and unaware of the implications of his words?
When he saw a light come on in the study, he saw Jensen in the window. The Mer gave him a fond wave and Jared waved back. Maybe, just maybe, there was something there.
It made his heart gambol and he walked the whole way home with a skip in his step.
On to Chapter Three
Author:
hunters_retreat
Rating: R
Summary: Jared Padalecki is the world’s foremost Augmentor, an expert in making life better through technological advancement. He’s designed steam-fueled carriages and even made improvements to his brother’s airship. His passion though is to help the less fortunate, to use mechanics and gear work to help heal broken bodies. In all his years as an Augmentor, Jared has never let any of his clients get under his skin, but no other client has ever been like Jensen Ackles before. Jensen is a Mer with surgically created legs instead of a tail and a broken exoskeleton that should make it possible for him to walk.
It isn’t a simple task. From the first observation, something feels wrong to Jared. His desire to help Jensen takes him on a long journey, through confidantes and betrayal, airship flights and naval battles, to grief and love. As Jared and Jensen find the truth behind the broken exoskeleton, they find an even greater truth. It doesn’t take wings to learn to fly.
Or, the J2 AU Steampunk Little Mermaid.
The eatery was busy as Jared walked into the main dining room and smoothed down his jacket and vest. He nodded to a few respectable citizens that he’d met at civil meetings and turned the corner to see an older gentleman sitting in a table by the window. He had salt and pepper hair with a pure white beard but his smile was wide and warm as he saw Jared coming closer. He stood and Jared drew his mentor into a quick embrace.
“Jeff, it’s been too long,” Jared said as he took a moment to look at the older man.
Jeff gave him the same perusal before he met Jared’s eye and smiled. “Jared, it’s good to see you, son.”
“What brings you to the city? Last I heard, you were heading inland on the lecturing circuit. I didn’t expect to see you in a sea port anytime soon.”
Jared’s voice was kind as he spoke but Jeff’s eyes hardened a little all the same. Almost six years ago, Jeff’s daughter had gone to live with the Mer. Gen was a brilliant scientist, almost as gifted as Jeff himself, and she’d wanted to study the sea life that Humans couldn’t experience. Jeff had designed a deep water swimming suit for her himself. Gen had been happy living among the Mer, until a storm overhead had turned to harsh currents and she’d been dashed into the deep sea coral she loved to study.
It had been going on five years now since Jeff had left his practice and disappeared with only an occasional letter to Jared to let him know he was still alive. Jared wanted to help his friend but he’d needed time to settle his grief and Jared could see it was still hard on him, which made him even more curious about why Jeff was in the port city again.
“I got your letter. Since I was going to be passing through, I decided to take care of some business and see an old friend at the same time. Should we order before you tell me what your trouble is?”
Jared nodded and Jeff motioned the server over. He ordered for the both of them and Jared settled into the easy relationship he’d always had with Jeff. Jeff was one of the top Augmentors in the world and Jared had been in awe of the other man when he’d been offered an apprenticeship with him. He still held Jeff with a high level of respect. It was an honor to know that Jeff held him in the same regard.
They talked about the upcoming trends of their field, the new technology that they were both on the edge of. Jeff was on a guest lecture circuit that let him teach new methods and allowed him to meet the upcoming minds in their field. Jared’s reputation meant that he got a large variety of interesting requests and he regaled Jeff with some of his more curious or thought-provoking cases.
When the food arrived, they talked about more worldly topics. Politics was mentioned briefly and the state of the Mer-Human relations. With the death of the King and the disappearance of his youngest son, the Mer world was in upheaval.
“The Centurion is gone and the Legatus haven’t been able to keep up with his post. No one knows where he is or what could have happened to him,” Jeff commented. Jared was more than a little surprised that Jeff had kept abreast of the Mer politics, considering his current feelings about the Mer in general.
“I have a metal supplier who has been having trouble to the south,” Jared commented. “He said since the Centurion went missing the number of pirate attacks on trading vessels has tripled. His prices have become absorbent but he is still the best ore-man in the business so I will continue to line his pockets.”
Jeff laughed as he finished his glass of wine. “You aren’t the only one. Even on the lecture circuit we’ve had trouble. Travel plans disrupted and hands on training reduced to lecture because the supplies were lost at sea. The Centurion seems to have played a larger role in the human traffic routes than we were aware of. Without his oversight, I’m afraid things will only continue to get worse.”
“And the Legatus have no other support?”
“When the king died, his three sons should have been able to support one another, however with the Centurion gone and troubles rising on the seas, the Mer houses have threatened to rise against the current ruling house. The Legatus have been trying to stop a civil war. They have enough trouble without trying to defend human merchants.”
It was a sad state of affairs, but Jared pushed the Mer troubles from his mind. He had enough trouble with Mer at the moment. Or with one of them. As they finished their meal, silence filled the air around them.
“So,” Jeff said as their table was finally cleared and a silver tea tray was set between them. “Tell me about this trouble you’re having.”
Jared sighed. “Have you ever had a client you couldn’t help?” It was a senseless question because it was the first thing you learned as an Augmentor. You couldn’t help everyone no matter how you wanted to. Jared had turned people down almost monthly since he started his practice. He was the top in his field but he wasn’t a miracle worker. There was only so much mechanics could do.
Jeff gave him a tight smile. “Got one under your skin?”
“Yes,” Jared admitted. “He’s a Mer. Jeff, someone … I can’t imagine why someone would do this to another living creature.”
“What happened?”
“He had his tail surgically turned into legs.”
“They wouldn’t functionally work,” Jeff said with a furrowed brow.
“I know. He might look like he has legs if you ignored the scales but the muscles and bones aren’t strong enough to support him.”
“So he came to you to get a skeleton.”
“No, he got legs and an exoskeleton from another Augmentor. The exoskeleton broke though and the doctor has disappeared. My client came to me to try to fix the skeleton. Jeff, I just don’t know if I can.”
“Jared, if you can’t, no one can,” Jeff said with a kind smile. “Who was the doctor? Maybe I’ve heard of him?”
“Dr. Maxwell Johns. No one has heard of him. He’s not registered as a doctor or an Augmentor anywhere. I’ve talked to the board to see if there had been anyone dismissed or inactive by that name but they have no record of a Dr. Johns.”
“Jared, did you think that maybe your client isn’t telling you everything? Have you found any identifying marks on the exoskeleton?”
“There is nothing there either and the work is superior quality. This wasn’t an inexperienced hand. The metal work has all the tells of an experienced professional but there is no professional brand to identify the maker. There are design and structural errors though that a second day apprentice would know to avoid. The neural connectors and transceivers are locked into position so I can’t replace them without doing permanent damage. There are places were a hollow tube is used where a solid metal pin is needed and vice versa. I don’t understand how a professional could do such fine work and yet make these kinds of simple mistakes.”
“Have you thought about removing the exoskeleton and sending him to a Mer-healer? Maybe he can’t walk but he may be able to swim again?”
Jared shook his head. “He has a wasting disease that affects his tail. He said he can’t swim anymore, no matter what happens.”
“Maybe it’s for the best. We’ve made great strides forward in our relationship with the Mer because of our technology but it isn’t without a price. Maybe we need to have less contact with them until their current turmoil is settled.”
“At least, until you find a way to develop a foolproof waterlung.”
“Sure, Jared. I’ll get that figured out as soon as you find a way to make those wings for that aeronaut brother of yours.”
Jared laughed as he took a sip of his tea. “I’m close. One of these days, I’ll get wings and Noah will have wings for his men. Better dust off the drawing board, Jeff. It’ll be any day now.”
The both laughed and Jared spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of his mentor.
Jared had been more than a little surprised when he received the letter from Jensen, asking him to tea. They’d talked about Jared coming to see his home so that he could understand the way Jensen lived but the Mer had been reticent to let him in further. Jared needed to know about Jensen’s life if he were going to be able to design an exoskeleton that would fit his lifestyle.
The house he stood in front of was modest but well kept. Jared would have expected something bigger, grander from what he’d learned about Jensen. Jensen himself kept quiet but when Jared had begun asking about him in a professional manner, people in the business spoke very highly of Mr. Ackles. He was well known for his ability to plot courses that would shave time - hours or even days - off of normal trade routes. He used his knowledge of the currents and the winds to create a lucrative life for himself. He was well paid for his time and he had even been known to give lectures to small groups of discerning captains and navigators.
He’d been in the public eye for years before he’d lost his tail, though he hadn’t become readily available until he’d gotten legs and come to live on land. No one knew what he did when he was with the Mer, but the tales grew bigger and more outlandish as Jared asked. No one knew for certain but most people believed, and Jared’s own observations supported, that Jensen had hidden his true identity when he was on land because of the anti-human sentiment that was growing among the Mer.
Whoever Jensen was, the only thing the rumors agreed on was that he had made a small fortune in his time with humans. Jared hoped he hadn’t wasted it all on a pair of legs. Whatever he found inside, Jared’s true reason for visiting was to gain a little insight into the man Jensen was.
“Dr. Padelecki?” The door to Jensen’s home opened and the maid left him in the parlor. Jensen wheeled his chair forward immediately. “Please, come in.” Jensen said with a polite smile.
“Thank you.”
Jared took a seat on a small couch as Jensen motioned him into a seat. As he looked around the room, there was little in the way of personal items. No photographs hung on the walls or in fine china frames around the room. There were no trinkets collected from travels around the world. The apartment was meticulously cultivated to give an air of warmth and welcome without showing any personality.
It was off putting to Jared who wanted to get to know his client better. The man wasn’t one for words but Jared knew that when Jensen let him into his apartment, it had been a large sign of trust on the other man’s part.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“Oh, yes, please.”
A tea tray sat on a table in the center of the room and Jensen began serving. Jared sat on the edge of the couch and accepted the tea politely.
“You have a beautiful home, Mr. Ackles.”
“I thought we were past those sort of formalities, Doctor.”
Jared laughed lightly. “Alright, Jensen. I can see the adjustments you’ve made for the chair, to be able to move around in your home. I’d like to take a look around to see if there are other things I can do to make you more comfortable.” His professional reason for being there was to see how Jensen lived, to understand the amount of activity and how active his lifestyle was. He couldn’t design an exoskeleton without knowing what sort of life it’s wearing would lead.
“Jared, I just need my legs fixed.”
Jared gave him a tight smile but he didn’t say anything more about it. Being in Jensen’s space and seeing him move through his home would tell him what he needed. “Why don’t you tell me what you do when you’re not in my office?” Jared asked.
Jensen sighed but he seemed to realize that Jared needed to know more so he nodded towards the door and Jared followed as he rolled out of the room and down the hallway.
The walls were tastefully decorated with artful renderings of flowers and birds. Jared would have expected to see more nautical themes but there was nothing that would indicate he was one of the Mer. When Jensen paused to throw open a pair of sliding doors, Jared stepped up behind him to see what they were heading into.
It was obviously Jensen’s work space. Whereas there was no nautical art in the home, there were charts of oceans and major water ways all over the walls and the three tables that were set about the room. Navigational tools were on the tables and Jared watched as Jensen wheeled himself into the room.
“This is what I do,” Jensen said as he moved behind the largest of the tables. “I am a navigational engineer. I spent a lot of time with the Mer, navigating the most treacherous currents our oceans have. Once I left the water, I used my knowledge to help other pilots. It has been a profitable endeavor.”
“Is it hard?”
“What?”
“Being surrounded by reminders of the ocean? Of the life you once had.”
“I chose to leave the ocean, Jared. That doesn’t bother me.” He pointed to his exoskeleton. “This does.”
It tickled in the back of his mind, Jensen’s words. Yes, he chose to leave the Mer but only because of a wasting disease. He was a stronger person than most to work in that world and not feel some sort of resentment for being forced to this. He didn’t seem to be bothered by it though. It was just the broken shell of a skeleton that had his attention. Jared wasn’t sure if it was sanity that drove him to focus on that one thing or if it was insanity that kept him from reacting to everything else.
He had no ideas, but he couldn’t imagine how a sane person could do what Jensen had done. There were other alternatives, other ways to live if Jensen had wanted to be landside instead of water bound. He knew a Mer that lived a perfectly happy life on land. He had a special pool in his home that allowed him to keep his scales healthy and a specially designed wheel chair that gave his tail the space he needed and still allowed travel in most places. Jared had designed it himself, including the pumps and specially designed filters that allowed his pool to remain at the correct Ph balance for the Mer.
Jared nodded but there was nothing else he could say. In time, he hoped Jensen would see he was trying to do justice to the service he was paying for, but until then, he would take the forceful reminders of Jensen’s trouble in stride. He wasn’t the first client Jared had who had demanded immediate results after all. He wouldn’t be the last.
Jared just needed to understand the whole picture and there were things that just didn’t add up about Jensen Ackles and his mysterious Dr. Johns.
After the meeting at Jensen’s home, Jared asked Jensen to meet him next at a restaurant. While Jensen’s home had been modified to allow his wheelchair free access to the rooms, Jared wanted to see how Jensen moved in public. It was still as much about finding out who Jensen was as it was about seeing how the man moved in different settings.
The restaurant was the finest in town and had the most decadent desserts that had Jared drooling just by thinking of them. Jared enjoyed the finer things in life but he didn’t often go to the trouble. He was as happy eating his own half-burnt meals as he was getting dressed up to the nines to attend a formal meal.
He did dress to the nines tonight though, with his dark tuxedo and brass colored vest. His bowtie matched and Alona said it was his most dapper outfit. As much as Jared was a dedicated professional and would never jeopardize his standing with his client, he couldn’t keep up the pretense that Jensen was just another client. He wanted to impress the Mer, to get his attention and really get to know the man behind the polite facade.
When Jensen arrived, there was no way to tell that he was actually one of the Mer. Jared didn’t know how he’d found a way to get pants made to cover his legs that didn’t interfere with the exoskeleton but he had. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and a sea green vest. He looked beautiful, even if Jared would never be able to tell him so.
“Jensen,” Jared said as the server walked Jensen back to the table. Jared had been specific in his instructions that the table needed to be easily reached by his client in the wheelchair. The restaurant had been happy to oblige him.
Jensen wheeled himself to the table and Jared smiled as he stood and offered the other man his hand.
“Jared,” he said as they shook hands. His demeanor was polite and even though the more uncouth of the patrons stared, Jensen acted as if he didn’t notice it. Jared decided to do the same.
“Have you been here before?” Jared asked as he took his seat.
“When I first came to the city, I came here. The company wasn’t as good but the food was excellent.”
Jared’s smile widened at the words and when the server brought their menus, Jared ordered wine for the both of them. Jensen approved of his choice but as the waiter disappeared, he frowned.
“I’m sorry if what I said was inappropriate,” he said softly.
Jared was surprised at the words. “I haven’t noticed anything you’d need to apologize for.”
Jensen nodded. “Good. I sometimes forget that humans aren’t accepting of two men who enjoy one another’s company. Sometimes the line between what I may say to a human man is blurred, even when my intention is purely innocent. I have been taken to task before for admitting to enjoying someone’s company.”
Jared wondered for a moment what it would be like, to live in a world that accepted him as he was, that let him be with the person that he wanted to be with instead of having to feign interest in a gender he had no inclinations towards. “There was no offense taken,” Jared said. Jensen let out a small breath and his shoulders relaxed a little. “I should probably be the one apologizing. To be honest, there are a number of rumors circulating about me and who I enjoy spending my time with. Being seen with me could tarnish your reputation.”
A smile grew on Jensen’s face and he let out a small laugh. It was the first time Jared had seen anything but his polite façade and he craved more. Jensen’s smile was a little on the crooked side but humor lit his eyes and Jared wanted to touch the small laugh lines around them. “If my reputation could be so easily sullied, I wouldn’t be who I am. I may live among humans but I am still Mer. I have no guilt or shame about whom I care for. I would not ‘tarnish’ myself by allowing others to dictate where I spend my time.”
There was something warm in his eyes then when he looked at Jared. “And I meant it when I said you are good company. I know you’ve been spending time with me because of the exoskeleton, but if I did not have that I would still want to know you, Jared Padalecki. I will still want to know you once this is all done.”
Jared wanted to do something reckless and stupid, like reach across the table and place his hand over Jensen’s where it lay, but even as he thought it, the waiter arrived with their wine and Jared was saved from his own impulses. They set about the business of planning their meals then, though Jared found himself looking at Jensen often. Jensen noticed but he never said anything, just held Jared’s gaze with the same warmth he’d shown. Jared ordered the fish course when the waiter came back because he couldn’t remember what else was on the menu. Jensen had laughed again and claimed to have eaten enough fish for a lifetime so he chose the lamb.
“How has your day been, Jensen?” Jared asked as the server took their menus and left them to their conversation. He needed to find his way back to more appropriate conversation. He wasn’t sure he trusted his impulse control after Jensen’s earlier words.
“Busy. I have three clients in town at the moment and all of them vying for my time. I’m usually lucky enough to have only one client in port at any given time.”
Jared nodded. “It can be a bit daunting, to have so many clients at once.”
“Do you normally have that problem?”
Jensen had never asked much about his practice, other than how it related to him personally and Jared was pleased to discuss it. “I have a number of clients at the moment. Many of them I won’t meet until it is time to actually implement the designs of their augmentation. They’ll travel to town as the time grows closer. Most of my correspondence is through letters.”
“That must take some time.”
“I have the uncommon luck to have a brother who is able to deliver most of my letters in a timelier manner than the mail carrier. He is an Aeronaut and Captain of the Chaser. When he docks in another city, he has a boy who delivers and picks up mail from my clients in those cities.”
“An Aeronaut? What a wonderful family you come from, Jared.”
Jared smiled. “Noah was always going to be in the sky. We grew up on an airship. For some time, I thought I might return and join him. He’s offered many times to make me part of his crew. An airship can always use an Augmentor.”
“I thought you only worked with people?”
“I prefer to work with individual clients but it isn’t my only area of expertise. If I were ever to leave my practice, it would be to explore the challenges of working in the open air. There are a more than a few improvements on my brother’s ship already that have my stamp on them.”
“I would love to see it someday,” Jensen said wistfully. He seemed to realize how informal his words were because then he blushed. “I’m sorry, that was far too personal again.”
Jared shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m rather fond of showing off the Chaser as well as my handiwork in her designs. My brother will be in town soon and he wanted to discuss some more modifications when he arrives. If you would like to see the ship, I could arrange it.”
“I would love that. Thank you, Jared.”
“You seem interested in airships.”
“I spent much of my time working with Aeronauts in the past. I have always been fascinated by them. As a Mer, I wasn’t able to board one though.”
“No? There are technologies that would allow a Mer to leave the water to travel on an airship for a short time.” He had developed one himself at his brother’s request for when he dealt with trade negotiations.
“The Mer-King forbade it. He had a fear that we would learn to love the skies more than the seas.”
“That seems to be an odd fear.” Jared had heard something of the sort before though. He had one other Mer client that he’d helped settle on land and his choice had sentenced him to an exile from his family and home.
“It was true, for me at least. I didn’t fall in love with sandy beaches or rolling hills. I came to the surface in my youth to watch the skies. The clouds moved in such mockery of our currents and I loved to feel the wind on my face.”
“Perhaps once the new king is established, he will rescind the order?”
Jensen gave Jared a tight lipped smile. “Jared, when I had my surgery I left the Mer world behind. I am a Mer in exile. I no longer need to worry about what the King would or would not want of me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“No one did really,” Jensen said. He was about to say something else, but then the server came forward with the first course of their meal and they turned their attention to their food and happier topics.
After dinner ended, Jared walked Jensen back to his home. He lived close to the restaurant which was one of the reasons Jared had picked it. He had fallen into his professional courtesies then, as he asked about Jensen’s health and how his legs felt. If he’d had any more success when he did the exercises that Jared had prescribed for him.
“I thought you were off the clock by this time as night, Doctor,” Jensen asked as he wheeled himself to his front door.
Jared let out a small laugh and nodded. “I truly am, I promise. I can’t help but be concerned for your health though.”
Jensen gave him a soft smile, one that he had yet to see. It was almost shy as he looked up through his eyelashes and spoke. “I think, perhaps, I was not the only one who needed to get out for the evening. Not the only one to enjoy the company.”
He shook Jared’s hand quickly but his other hand came to rest over Jared’s and he squeezed ever so slightly. When he let go, he wheeled himself quickly inside. Jared stood there and watched, caught completely off guard. Had … had Jensen been flirting with him? He knew the Mer didn’t have the same concerns about same gender relationships as his own society and there might have been that hint at the restaurant, but could he honestly be interested in Jared? Or was he simply being friendly and unaware of the implications of his words?
When he saw a light come on in the study, he saw Jensen in the window. The Mer gave him a fond wave and Jared waved back. Maybe, just maybe, there was something there.
It made his heart gambol and he walked the whole way home with a skip in his step.
On to Chapter Three