Money 'Verse: Learning Jared 1 of 1
Title: Learning Jared
Author: KliqzAngel
Verse: Story #2 in the Money Can’t Buy Love ‘Verse
Characters: Jared, Jensen, and Mike Rosenbaum (Mentions of several characters being introduced)
Content: M/M Relationship leading into M/M/M Relationship, Language
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one in this story.
Summary: Mike and Jensen learn more about their new housemate as feelings between the three start to grow.
Previous Parts found Here
Jensen lay on his back on the couch with his head cradled in Mikey’s lap. His eyes were at half-mast, drowsy with sleep. His mind was pleasantly clear of anything resembling thought as Mikey ran his fingers through his hair. It was nice, one of his favorite things in fact and Mikey knew it. The TV had some odd history show program that Mikey was watching on mute while, a random mixture of songs and artists was playing on the CD player. He was almost asleep when a loud bang came from Jared’s room waking him up with a jerk.
“Goddamnit! Doesn’t he know how to be quiet?” Jensen swore angrily.
“Hey, Jen, easy,” Mike said frowning down at his lover. “It’s not his fault you’re a sloth. It’s like 2 in the afternoon.”
“Yeah well he’s been at it since freakin’ 6 am!” Jensen bit back frustrated then grunted unhappily when his pillow stood leaving his head to fall to the couch.
“And he’s been working in there all that time, Jen,” Mike replied turning and looking down at his boyfriend. “Seriously, ease up on the kid. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t called a single person, since he got here? I don’t think he has any friends, man. So take the burr outta your ass and have a little patience.”
Sitting up Jensen frowned at the retreating back of his boyfriend before laying back down and curling up to finish his nap. Maybe the universe would make sense again when he woke up.
Pausing at Jared’s door Mike watched as the younger man picked up a pile of books off the floor. It looked like the bottom to one of his boxes had broken. “You need some help man?” Mike finally asked leaning against the jam, and fought to remain relaxed when Jared looked up at him almost suspiciously.
It had been a couple days since the kid moved in. His stuff had been delivered the day before, but so far Jared hadn’t shown any sign of relaxing. “I swear man, no funny stuff. You just look like you could use a hand.”
Carefully, Jared shrugged and soundlessly nodded still eyeing Mike as if he wasn’t sure if he should trust him or pitch him outta his room on his head. Deciding that his actions would speak louder than words, Mike carefully entered the room kneeling beside Jared. As he stacked books into piles, Mike couldn’t help but notice the titles. Smiling he studied one of the books before putting it in the pile he was creating. “Emeril’s TV Dinners?” Mike asked smiling then picked up another sensing a theme. “Emeril’s New New Orleans Cooking. You cook, man?”
Looking up from where he’d been studying the cover of his Better Homes and Garden’s Cook Book as he set it on top of another more recent version of the same title, Jared smiled shyly and nodded. “Yeah, I can cook most anything, but I like theme dinners mostly. You know, Italian, Mexican, Seafood Night, Creole Night, or Best of Emeril.”
Mike whistled then grinned big picking up a pile as Jared picked up the other heading to his bookshelf. Watching as Jared carefully placed the books on the shelf in what appeared to be some particular order instead of just throwing them all on there as he woulda done, Mike couldn’t help but bounce. “Does that mean that we’re going to be able to con you into cooking for us?”
Surprised Jared looked up from his task and again studied his housemate, but only saw sincerity in his smile before Jared himself smiled back somewhat more restrained. “Yeah, I’d be happy to cook if you want. I usually schedule my classes early so I have time to work or cook after class.”
Mike cocks his head to one side at Jared’s words puzzled. “Work? As in, you have a job. But, I thought you were like some… Richie Rich or something.”
Grinning genuinely for the first time since he had gotten there, Jared nodded. “Yeah I am, but I like working on cars. So when I can I usually find a garage somewhere that will let me come in a couple days a week to work. I just… you know… wanna be like everyone else.” Shrugging shyly again Jared turned his attention back to the shelf, now taking books off Mike’s stack one at a time. Usually, when people who knew he had money found out he had a job too, he found himself in the receiving end of varying degrees of flack. He tried to hope that wouldn’t be the case here, but experience was sometimes too much to overcome.
Fortunately, though, Jared was beginning to realize that Mike was a class all onto himself. “That’s cool man! Did you do your car yourself then? Jen and I don’t have cars, can’t afford them. We were gonna try and get one and share it though before the jackass raised the rent. However, then you paid it all so… HEY! You think you could help us find something cool?”
Again, Jared couldn’t help but grin at the unbridled enthusiasm Mike seemed to have for just about every little new thing that he discovered in his life. “I’d be happy to. Just let me know what price range you’re thinkin’ about, and I’ll see what I can find.”
Having been freed of the last book he’d been holding, Mike found himself wandering around the room. Perching on the edge of the too neatly made bed, he picked up what appeared to be an old picture on a silver frame. The picture was of a child, no more than 4 in the arms of a young man. Mike judged the older one was at least in his early twenty’s in the picture. The child was clinging to the man his eyes were all you needed to see how unhappy he was, while the older one’s eyes were clenched together tightly as he held the boy in his arms. It was obvious it had been an emotional moment, and Mike began to feel like a peeper looking at the picture, as if he was invading a moment that wasn’t his to look at.
“That’s my big brother,” Jared said softly sitting on the floor with another box of books putting them on the lower shelves of the bookcase. "I haven’t been able to see him, since I was little. My dad an’ his mother don’t get along. Dad says he’s… a disappointment. But, then he says the same about me these days, so I guess that don’t mean much.”
Mike looked up slightly, studying Jared’s profile, as his fingers unconsciously caressed the frame. He didn’t have any brothers himself, but Jen did. Jensen’s older brother Eric was almost three years older than he was, but they’d always been close. In fact, Eric had right from the start of Mike’s relationship with Jensen, treated him as much like a younger brother as he did Jensen. It’d meant more to Mike than he’d ever been able to express, being an only child himself. He couldn’t imagine not having Eric a part of his life now, and couldn’t imagine what it must be like for someone like Jared, who had obviously been so young when he lost something so vital.
Then, for your only reminder to be a picture which was as depressing in its emotional value as it was painfully heartwarming, must make things only that much harder. “Can’t you like, look for him or something? I mean with your money you should be able to hire one of those private investigator people, right?”
Jared smiled sadly before carefully breaking down the now empty box of books. “As much money as I have, my father has more. No matter how disappointed in me that he is; he still thinks there’s hope that I’ll ‘come around’ as he says and ‘see the error of my ways’. He’s determined that I not find out anything about my brother. I don’t even really know his first name. I just remember calling him Gee when I was a little. The house staff is completely different now. Most of the workers from back then were immigrants and have been ‘mysteriously’ deported. You can’t find school records without his name. As little as I know about him, I know even less about his mother. Hell, I don’t even know if she’s alive. I just… I just keep hoping that he’ll find me. I remember he said he would, you know… someday.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Mike nodded and carefully set the picture aside. Looking up he saw Jensen hovering just outside the doorframe. From the shininess of his eyes, Mike gathered that he’d heard Jared’s tale and was trying to predict what his own life would have been like if he’d been torn away from Eric and raised by a parent so cruel he wouldn’t even give you his name.
“Hey, I don’t know about you two, but I’m starved,” Jensen finally said clearing his throat and drawing Jared’s attention. “Y’all wanna go to Johnny Bean’s? Steve told me the other day he was playin’ tonight with his new singer.”
Jared bit his lip, tension seeping back into his body. He hated this never-ending feeling of uncertainty and was trying so hard to be hopeful, but no matter how hard he tried, his past kept reminding him that he shouldn’t hope too much. “Wha… What's Johnny Bean’s?”
Hearing the name of his favorite hangout place mentioned, Mike bounded off the bed and bounced around Jared earning himself another half grin. “It’s this cool pub restaurant place we hang out at! You’ll love it. This old gay couple runs it. They met in England where Bean grew up. Johnny was backpacking through Europe when they met in Papa Bean’s pub. Johnny managed to break his leg that night and Bean’s family put him up until he was better. By then they were in love and Bean followed Johnny back here to the states! They ended up here in town where Johnny’s brother was attending college and decided to settle here.”
Jensen shook his head at Mike, who was looking at Jared as he was watched Mike with wide-eyed fascination. He figured he should be jealous. He had a feeling though that for someone like Jared, Mike would be nearly impossible to resist becoming attracted to, and that was something that Jensen could sympathize with.
“Who’s Steve?” Jared asked smiling once again as he watched Mike, all thoughts of his missing brother gone.
“Steve’s a buddy of mine,” Jensen answered easily relaxed against the doorframe. “Well ours, but I knew him first from high school. He was friends with my big brother Eric. He kinda hangs out here around town when classes are going on, probably to keep an eye on me for Eric. He’s an awesome musician though and really laid back. I bet you two will hit it right off.”
Jared shrugged shyly standing before looking at the clock then moving to the closet. “So, what should I wear to this place?”
Jensen and Mike looked at each other somewhat dumbfounded. Jensen found himself feeling a little twisted up inside. It hurt that this kid had spent four years so far in college, and had lived so little of life that he hadn’t experienced the local college hangout. At this rate Jensen was gonna be calling every person, he’d ever known, to thank them for being so good to him.
Pushing away from his position, Jensen finally entered the room and made his way to stand behind Jared, eyebrow lifted at the excessive organization of his closet. Deciding to leave it for now Jensen moved around Jared and began making his way through the clothes. Eventually, he pulled off a pair of what appeared to be well worn and comfortable jeans along with a hoodie and another of what seemed to be Jared’s many rock t-shirts. “This’ll do man.” Patting Jared on the shoulder, Jensen grabbed Mike and pulled him out, giving Jared some privacy to dress.
Fifteen minutes later Jensen headed into the bathroom to put some gel in his hair only to find Jared already there with a few pill bottles on the counter. Knocking he smiled weakly at Jared before heading in feeling somewhat awkward. “They’re for my OCD and anxiety,” Jared said softly before popping a few pills into his mouth chasing them with water.
The explanation only made Jensen feel that much more awkward, unsure of what to say. “There um… Anything we should know. I mean you know… just in case shit happens?”
When Jared turned to him looking somewhat startled, Jensen wondered if he’d spoken wrong. Maybe he should have just nodded and ignored it, but then Jared smiled at him, probably the first real smile he’d given Jensen, since he’d moved in.
“Not really,” Jared said unsure how to respond. No one had ever cared about him enough before to ask. “Well, I mean…” Jared shrugged and grinned lopsided. “No one’s ever asked before.” He finally admitted. “I guess if you find me organizing the kitchen at 3AM putting the cans in some weird alphabetical and by the color of the food in the can order, you might wanna call my shrink. The anxiety you might need to get…” Jared shrugged. “I take them regular, but I can take an extra one if I freak out. It happens sometimes. My doctor says I never learned how to deal well with certain situations, since I wasn’t exposed to them. Crowds can be a big one. I can’t go to concerts, since I’d have to go alone and there’d be no one there to help if something happens. Fights, fights are a big one. You know big shouting, shoving, and name calling dramas. I just… I don’t like ‘em. So, you know… If I do flip out just give me one of these.”
Jared handed one of the pill bottles to Jensen who in turn studied the label carefully even taking the top off to see what the pills looked like. The question had simply been the first thing he could think of. However, Jared’s candid comment that ‘no one else had cared enough’ transformed it into a responsibility he would take seriously. It seemed the more he found out about this kid, the further Jared worked his way under Jensen’s skin. It confused Jensen, but he wasn’t sure how to fight it.
He found himself wanting to take Jared and protect him from the world. To just put him in a cocoon of safety with himself and Mike. Jensen loved Mike. Loved him with every ounce of passion he possessed, but Jared… Jensen just didn’t understand what was going on there. “No worries, Jay. You can count on me. I promise.” Jared just smiled in response, but the light in his eyes was, for Jensen, thanks enough.
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Introducing: Sean Bean, Johnny Depp, Elijah Wood (Johnny’s Brother in the story), George Eads (Jared’s brother), Eric Szmanda (Jensen’s older brother), Steve Carlson, Kid Rock “Bobby Richie” (Steve’s new singer)
Next Part: Here
Author: KliqzAngel
Verse: Story #2 in the Money Can’t Buy Love ‘Verse
Characters: Jared, Jensen, and Mike Rosenbaum (Mentions of several characters being introduced)
Content: M/M Relationship leading into M/M/M Relationship, Language
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one in this story.
Summary: Mike and Jensen learn more about their new housemate as feelings between the three start to grow.
Previous Parts found Here
Jensen lay on his back on the couch with his head cradled in Mikey’s lap. His eyes were at half-mast, drowsy with sleep. His mind was pleasantly clear of anything resembling thought as Mikey ran his fingers through his hair. It was nice, one of his favorite things in fact and Mikey knew it. The TV had some odd history show program that Mikey was watching on mute while, a random mixture of songs and artists was playing on the CD player. He was almost asleep when a loud bang came from Jared’s room waking him up with a jerk.
“Goddamnit! Doesn’t he know how to be quiet?” Jensen swore angrily.
“Hey, Jen, easy,” Mike said frowning down at his lover. “It’s not his fault you’re a sloth. It’s like 2 in the afternoon.”
“Yeah well he’s been at it since freakin’ 6 am!” Jensen bit back frustrated then grunted unhappily when his pillow stood leaving his head to fall to the couch.
“And he’s been working in there all that time, Jen,” Mike replied turning and looking down at his boyfriend. “Seriously, ease up on the kid. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t called a single person, since he got here? I don’t think he has any friends, man. So take the burr outta your ass and have a little patience.”
Sitting up Jensen frowned at the retreating back of his boyfriend before laying back down and curling up to finish his nap. Maybe the universe would make sense again when he woke up.
Pausing at Jared’s door Mike watched as the younger man picked up a pile of books off the floor. It looked like the bottom to one of his boxes had broken. “You need some help man?” Mike finally asked leaning against the jam, and fought to remain relaxed when Jared looked up at him almost suspiciously.
It had been a couple days since the kid moved in. His stuff had been delivered the day before, but so far Jared hadn’t shown any sign of relaxing. “I swear man, no funny stuff. You just look like you could use a hand.”
Carefully, Jared shrugged and soundlessly nodded still eyeing Mike as if he wasn’t sure if he should trust him or pitch him outta his room on his head. Deciding that his actions would speak louder than words, Mike carefully entered the room kneeling beside Jared. As he stacked books into piles, Mike couldn’t help but notice the titles. Smiling he studied one of the books before putting it in the pile he was creating. “Emeril’s TV Dinners?” Mike asked smiling then picked up another sensing a theme. “Emeril’s New New Orleans Cooking. You cook, man?”
Looking up from where he’d been studying the cover of his Better Homes and Garden’s Cook Book as he set it on top of another more recent version of the same title, Jared smiled shyly and nodded. “Yeah, I can cook most anything, but I like theme dinners mostly. You know, Italian, Mexican, Seafood Night, Creole Night, or Best of Emeril.”
Mike whistled then grinned big picking up a pile as Jared picked up the other heading to his bookshelf. Watching as Jared carefully placed the books on the shelf in what appeared to be some particular order instead of just throwing them all on there as he woulda done, Mike couldn’t help but bounce. “Does that mean that we’re going to be able to con you into cooking for us?”
Surprised Jared looked up from his task and again studied his housemate, but only saw sincerity in his smile before Jared himself smiled back somewhat more restrained. “Yeah, I’d be happy to cook if you want. I usually schedule my classes early so I have time to work or cook after class.”
Mike cocks his head to one side at Jared’s words puzzled. “Work? As in, you have a job. But, I thought you were like some… Richie Rich or something.”
Grinning genuinely for the first time since he had gotten there, Jared nodded. “Yeah I am, but I like working on cars. So when I can I usually find a garage somewhere that will let me come in a couple days a week to work. I just… you know… wanna be like everyone else.” Shrugging shyly again Jared turned his attention back to the shelf, now taking books off Mike’s stack one at a time. Usually, when people who knew he had money found out he had a job too, he found himself in the receiving end of varying degrees of flack. He tried to hope that wouldn’t be the case here, but experience was sometimes too much to overcome.
Fortunately, though, Jared was beginning to realize that Mike was a class all onto himself. “That’s cool man! Did you do your car yourself then? Jen and I don’t have cars, can’t afford them. We were gonna try and get one and share it though before the jackass raised the rent. However, then you paid it all so… HEY! You think you could help us find something cool?”
Again, Jared couldn’t help but grin at the unbridled enthusiasm Mike seemed to have for just about every little new thing that he discovered in his life. “I’d be happy to. Just let me know what price range you’re thinkin’ about, and I’ll see what I can find.”
Having been freed of the last book he’d been holding, Mike found himself wandering around the room. Perching on the edge of the too neatly made bed, he picked up what appeared to be an old picture on a silver frame. The picture was of a child, no more than 4 in the arms of a young man. Mike judged the older one was at least in his early twenty’s in the picture. The child was clinging to the man his eyes were all you needed to see how unhappy he was, while the older one’s eyes were clenched together tightly as he held the boy in his arms. It was obvious it had been an emotional moment, and Mike began to feel like a peeper looking at the picture, as if he was invading a moment that wasn’t his to look at.
“That’s my big brother,” Jared said softly sitting on the floor with another box of books putting them on the lower shelves of the bookcase. "I haven’t been able to see him, since I was little. My dad an’ his mother don’t get along. Dad says he’s… a disappointment. But, then he says the same about me these days, so I guess that don’t mean much.”
Mike looked up slightly, studying Jared’s profile, as his fingers unconsciously caressed the frame. He didn’t have any brothers himself, but Jen did. Jensen’s older brother Eric was almost three years older than he was, but they’d always been close. In fact, Eric had right from the start of Mike’s relationship with Jensen, treated him as much like a younger brother as he did Jensen. It’d meant more to Mike than he’d ever been able to express, being an only child himself. He couldn’t imagine not having Eric a part of his life now, and couldn’t imagine what it must be like for someone like Jared, who had obviously been so young when he lost something so vital.
Then, for your only reminder to be a picture which was as depressing in its emotional value as it was painfully heartwarming, must make things only that much harder. “Can’t you like, look for him or something? I mean with your money you should be able to hire one of those private investigator people, right?”
Jared smiled sadly before carefully breaking down the now empty box of books. “As much money as I have, my father has more. No matter how disappointed in me that he is; he still thinks there’s hope that I’ll ‘come around’ as he says and ‘see the error of my ways’. He’s determined that I not find out anything about my brother. I don’t even really know his first name. I just remember calling him Gee when I was a little. The house staff is completely different now. Most of the workers from back then were immigrants and have been ‘mysteriously’ deported. You can’t find school records without his name. As little as I know about him, I know even less about his mother. Hell, I don’t even know if she’s alive. I just… I just keep hoping that he’ll find me. I remember he said he would, you know… someday.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Mike nodded and carefully set the picture aside. Looking up he saw Jensen hovering just outside the doorframe. From the shininess of his eyes, Mike gathered that he’d heard Jared’s tale and was trying to predict what his own life would have been like if he’d been torn away from Eric and raised by a parent so cruel he wouldn’t even give you his name.
“Hey, I don’t know about you two, but I’m starved,” Jensen finally said clearing his throat and drawing Jared’s attention. “Y’all wanna go to Johnny Bean’s? Steve told me the other day he was playin’ tonight with his new singer.”
Jared bit his lip, tension seeping back into his body. He hated this never-ending feeling of uncertainty and was trying so hard to be hopeful, but no matter how hard he tried, his past kept reminding him that he shouldn’t hope too much. “Wha… What's Johnny Bean’s?”
Hearing the name of his favorite hangout place mentioned, Mike bounded off the bed and bounced around Jared earning himself another half grin. “It’s this cool pub restaurant place we hang out at! You’ll love it. This old gay couple runs it. They met in England where Bean grew up. Johnny was backpacking through Europe when they met in Papa Bean’s pub. Johnny managed to break his leg that night and Bean’s family put him up until he was better. By then they were in love and Bean followed Johnny back here to the states! They ended up here in town where Johnny’s brother was attending college and decided to settle here.”
Jensen shook his head at Mike, who was looking at Jared as he was watched Mike with wide-eyed fascination. He figured he should be jealous. He had a feeling though that for someone like Jared, Mike would be nearly impossible to resist becoming attracted to, and that was something that Jensen could sympathize with.
“Who’s Steve?” Jared asked smiling once again as he watched Mike, all thoughts of his missing brother gone.
“Steve’s a buddy of mine,” Jensen answered easily relaxed against the doorframe. “Well ours, but I knew him first from high school. He was friends with my big brother Eric. He kinda hangs out here around town when classes are going on, probably to keep an eye on me for Eric. He’s an awesome musician though and really laid back. I bet you two will hit it right off.”
Jared shrugged shyly standing before looking at the clock then moving to the closet. “So, what should I wear to this place?”
Jensen and Mike looked at each other somewhat dumbfounded. Jensen found himself feeling a little twisted up inside. It hurt that this kid had spent four years so far in college, and had lived so little of life that he hadn’t experienced the local college hangout. At this rate Jensen was gonna be calling every person, he’d ever known, to thank them for being so good to him.
Pushing away from his position, Jensen finally entered the room and made his way to stand behind Jared, eyebrow lifted at the excessive organization of his closet. Deciding to leave it for now Jensen moved around Jared and began making his way through the clothes. Eventually, he pulled off a pair of what appeared to be well worn and comfortable jeans along with a hoodie and another of what seemed to be Jared’s many rock t-shirts. “This’ll do man.” Patting Jared on the shoulder, Jensen grabbed Mike and pulled him out, giving Jared some privacy to dress.
Fifteen minutes later Jensen headed into the bathroom to put some gel in his hair only to find Jared already there with a few pill bottles on the counter. Knocking he smiled weakly at Jared before heading in feeling somewhat awkward. “They’re for my OCD and anxiety,” Jared said softly before popping a few pills into his mouth chasing them with water.
The explanation only made Jensen feel that much more awkward, unsure of what to say. “There um… Anything we should know. I mean you know… just in case shit happens?”
When Jared turned to him looking somewhat startled, Jensen wondered if he’d spoken wrong. Maybe he should have just nodded and ignored it, but then Jared smiled at him, probably the first real smile he’d given Jensen, since he’d moved in.
“Not really,” Jared said unsure how to respond. No one had ever cared about him enough before to ask. “Well, I mean…” Jared shrugged and grinned lopsided. “No one’s ever asked before.” He finally admitted. “I guess if you find me organizing the kitchen at 3AM putting the cans in some weird alphabetical and by the color of the food in the can order, you might wanna call my shrink. The anxiety you might need to get…” Jared shrugged. “I take them regular, but I can take an extra one if I freak out. It happens sometimes. My doctor says I never learned how to deal well with certain situations, since I wasn’t exposed to them. Crowds can be a big one. I can’t go to concerts, since I’d have to go alone and there’d be no one there to help if something happens. Fights, fights are a big one. You know big shouting, shoving, and name calling dramas. I just… I don’t like ‘em. So, you know… If I do flip out just give me one of these.”
Jared handed one of the pill bottles to Jensen who in turn studied the label carefully even taking the top off to see what the pills looked like. The question had simply been the first thing he could think of. However, Jared’s candid comment that ‘no one else had cared enough’ transformed it into a responsibility he would take seriously. It seemed the more he found out about this kid, the further Jared worked his way under Jensen’s skin. It confused Jensen, but he wasn’t sure how to fight it.
He found himself wanting to take Jared and protect him from the world. To just put him in a cocoon of safety with himself and Mike. Jensen loved Mike. Loved him with every ounce of passion he possessed, but Jared… Jensen just didn’t understand what was going on there. “No worries, Jay. You can count on me. I promise.” Jared just smiled in response, but the light in his eyes was, for Jensen, thanks enough.
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Introducing: Sean Bean, Johnny Depp, Elijah Wood (Johnny’s Brother in the story), George Eads (Jared’s brother), Eric Szmanda (Jensen’s older brother), Steve Carlson, Kid Rock “Bobby Richie” (Steve’s new singer)
Next Part: Here