History is Written by the Victor - Part 10
History is Written by the Victor
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chris/Steve, Tom/Mike
Category: M/M, AU, Futuristic (i.e. it is set in space!)
Summary: The Core planets have declared war on the Rim planets. When Captain Ackles and his squadron are taken prisoner by the enemy, their jailer turns out to be a young man called Jared. What will Jared do when Jensen's interrogation begins?
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/25378.html
Part Ten
Jensen sat in his fighter for a moment, collecting himself. He knew Jeff would want to tear a strip off of him at some point, but for now, he just wanted to be strong for his squad. He climbed down and was immediately met by Steve. His eyes were bright with emotion, but his words were simple. “Thank you, Jensen.” They gripped each other’s forearm and spoke a million words with that one solid point of contact.
Chris was next to arrive, dragging Steve into his arms and hugging him tight. Steve, who had never been fond of public displays, patted him awkwardly on the back. Chris pulled back and shook the smaller man. “Damn it, Steve! Don’t you ever...”
“I’m fine.” Steve soothed. “Thanks to Jensen here.”
That drew Chris’ attention to his Captain. “I always forget,” he murmured.
“Forget what?” Jensen frowned.
“That you were always the craziest pilot, the one with no fear.”
Jensen kind of blushed and didn’t really know what to say. Chris just wrestled him into another bone crushing hug until he relaxed and let out a soft laugh. Mack and Tom arrived together, flushed and talking at the same time in rapid bursts of admiration, scolding and recounting. Until, that is, Misha stepped in and pulled Mack into a heated kiss. He pulled back and she started to protest his very public setting, but Misha just cut her off with another bruising crush of lips. When he drew back this time, she stayed dazedly silent.
Mike and Jared appeared in the hanger bay moments later, both desperate to see for themselves that their lovers had returned. Mike did his usual once over before pouncing on Tom. As always, Tom accepted it with resigned aplomb. Jared, however, stepped up to Jensen and gently cupped the smaller man’s face in his palms. Jensen could feel him quivering and wrapped his hands around Jared’s wrists.
“Hey, Jay.” He whispered. “I’m here. I came back to you.”
“It was so close...” Jared’s voice broke.
“Not close enough to take me away from you.” Jensen reassured, and Jared curled into him. It was no easy feat, but Jensen managed to wrap himself around Jared in a strong embrace. He spoke quietly to his squadron. “Debriefing can wait until this afternoon. Everybody get some rest and I’ll see you at fifteen hundred.”
With that command, they all disbursed, in groups of two. Jensen took Jared’s hand and led him back to his quarters.
***
When he had the door closed and locked behind them, Jensen turned back to Jared. The younger man pursed his lips to speak, but Jensen silenced him with a finger to his lips. “I know, Jay. I know everything you’re about to say. Just let me look after you. Okay?” Jared nodded. “Just stand here for a moment.”
Jensen went to the bed and dragged the top blanket off. He laid it out on the carpeted floor, added the pillow, and then held out his hand. Jared went to him quickly, needing to be close, and this gained him a smile - one of the soft, wide smiles that Jensen reserved for Jared alone. Quietly, Jensen began to remove the taller man’s clothes, his movements agile and tender all at once. Jared let himself be moved this way and that, helping where he could. The only sounds in the room were the soft rustle of clothes and their hushed breathing. Jared understood; this was about touch, about reassurance, not recriminations or anything that could be expressed by words.
When he had Jared naked, Jensen quickly stripped out of his flight suit before stepping in to Jared’s space, pressing up against him, and leaning in to kiss him. Like everything else, the kiss was gentle, but full of all the emotions they felt for one another. This time, it was Jared who opened up under it, giving Jensen the control to take this where he wanted. Jensen took up the reins as easily as he usually gave them over, deepening the kiss and lowering them slowly to the blanket. Once Jared was laid out, Jensen above him, the older man drew back from the kiss. He looked down into Jared’s eyes, his own brimming with love, and caressed the unruly bangs off of Jared’s forehead. He placed a soft kiss to the newly bared skin before laying a light trail of lip brushes over his eyebrows, across his eyes, and then in a crisscross upon his nose and cheeks and chin. Jared sighed and relaxed into the cocoon of affection being woven around him, more than happy to experience this as yet unknown side of Jensen.
Until now, Jensen’s hands had rested between them, helping him to balance, but as he moved lower he used them to add another layer of sensation. Where his hands went, his lips soon followed - neck, shoulders, pecs and abs - leaving a heated path all over Jared’s body. When he reached Jared’s belly button, he wriggled his tongue in the small hollow, and Jared let out an embarrassing giggle. Jensen looked up at him, his eyes crinkled from his smile, and Jared relaxed further, the tension slowly melting away. When Jensen’s hands moved to his hips, Jared assumed they would be moving on to the next event, but it seemed Jensen had set himself a task and was determined to finish it. Skipping over the most sensitive part of Jared’s anatomy, he continued to caress and kiss and lick his way down Jared’s leg before then moving back up the other one. Finally, there was only one place Jared remained untouched, and his cock twitched with anticipation.
Jensen huffed out a small breath of laughter, but he didn’t draw it out any longer. He took the base in his hand, a tight grip designed to hold him steady and add pressure, and then took the head in his mouth. Fiery hot and damp, it felt incredible, and Jared’s hips jerked up, trying to get deeper. Jensen didn’t try to stop him, letting him slide further into his mouth with an encouraging hum. Jared couldn’t help the tiny little thrusts of his hips, and it was clear Jensen didn’t want him to stop, so he let himself go. When Jensen’s lips met his hand, Jared assumed that would be it, but instead Jensen took his hand away, laying both on Jared’s hips to hold him still, and then swallowing Jared down to the base. Jared shouted, his hips fighting against Jensen’s hold. He could feel Jensen’s throat constricting around the head, and the thought alone was enough to take Jared to the edge, let alone the reality.
“Jen...gonna’...” He panted. Jensen stroked Jared’s hip with his thumb, tacit approval to go ahead. It was the only signal Jared needed; the pleasure shot through him and poured into Jensen’s mouth. Jared wasn’t even sure what kind of sounds he was making, but as he eased down from the high, he whispered, “Jensen. Love you. Love you.”
With a few last expert licks, Jensen let Jared fall from his mouth. He nuzzled affectionately at the groove where groin met thigh and agreed, “Love you too, Jay. So much.” Jared’s hand, which had been clutching at the blanket throughout the whole experience, came up to stroke through the silky strands of Jensen’s hair. The other man rumbled like a contented cat, but a moment later he told him, “Turn over, Jay. M’not done.”
Jared stilled. There was more? With a shaky laugh, he turned over as requested. “What’re you up to, Jen?”
“Finishing the job.” Jensen told him, and then latched onto the back of Jared’s neck, sucking a bruising kiss into the spot. Jared shuddered. As he had on the front, Jensen made a leisurely exploration of Jared’s back, his fingers pressing firmly into the muscles Jared hadn’t realised were still taut. It was both the best massage Jared had ever experienced, and one of the hottest things anyone had ever done to him. He giggled and jerked when Jensen licked the back of his knee, but moaned when the other man pressed hard into the pads of his feet. Moving back up again, Jensen’s hands came to rest on Jared’s ass, tentatively pulling the cheeks apart. Jared felt the warmth of Jensen’s breath an instant before the hot swipe of his tongue over the exposed hole.
“Jen?”
“Have you ever bottomed, Jay?” There was nothing but curiosity in Jensen’s voice, no expectation or judgement.
“Yes, but I’ve never...done this...” He answered truthfully.
“No one has ever rimmed you?” Jensen clarified, and this time Jared could hear the smile in his voice.
“I think there might be a joke in there somewhere...” Jared chuckled.
Jensen groaned. “That’s bad, Jay. I could stop?”
“Shutting up.” Was Jared’s quick response.
“Good choice.” Jensen muttered against Jared’s flesh and then returned to what he had been doing. Their humour quickly evaporated as Jensen used his tongue to slick Jared’s hole. Using fluttering licks and quick, stiff jabs, Jensen began to open him up. Jared moaned and sighed and squirmed under the onslaught. When Jensen added a finger to the mix, Jared’s vocal encouragement only rose in volume. And then Jensen was pulling away, and Jared looked over his shoulder to see why.
“Don’t stop.” Jensen smiled back at him and moved to reach into the bedside drawer. Jared knew what was kept in there, so he settled back down.
“If we want to move this along, spit isn’t going to be enough.” Jensen told him.
Jared wriggled his ass invitingly. “Yeah, let’s move this along.”
Shaking his head, Jensen whispered fondly, “Impatient boy.” By now, though, they were both getting a little impatient, so Jensen didn’t draw it out any longer. He coated his fingers and reached down to circle the little whorl with one finger. Pushing slowly, there was no resistance to that finger, so Jensen added a second. This was tighter, but caused Jared no discomfort, so a third finger was introduced. Instead of just pushing it in beside the others, Jensen pressed around the rim, encouraging the muscle to stretch enough to let him inside. When he was able to move all three fingers about smoothly, he twisted and crooked them until Jared’s sharp cry let him know he had found the right spot. He continued to stroke the sensitive little bundle of nerves until Jared whined.
“Jensen, please...”
“Okay. Okay. Shhh.” Jensen withdrew his fingers and poured more lube onto his own member. Jared stilled as he felt Jensen line up against him, and then he was pressing inside, insistent but careful. Jensen groaned quietly as Jared’s tight channel stretched to let him in. Jared concentrated on keeping his breathing calm and his body relaxed until Jensen was fully sheathed. They remained like that for several heartbeats, and then Jensen started to withdraw as slowly as he had entered. He slid back in easier, and then easier again, setting up a solid rhythm that was neither slow nor fast, soft nor hard. Jared knew you could tell a lot about a man by the way he made love. With Jensen, it was making love, not just sex. He felt no need to rush, or to tease and torment. Jensen was a simple, steady man when it came to loving, giving of himself and content with what he got in return. He was strong and sure and would see everything through to the end. Jared felt his eyes heating as he marvelled once again that Jensen had chosen him. The tears leaked over when he remembered that he also could have lost him.
Jensen must have sensed his distress, for he leaned down, draping himself completely over Jared, only continuing to move his hips. His hand came up to wipe at Jared’s face before he placed gentle kisses along Jared’s jaw. “It’s okay. I’m here. It’s okay. We’re all fine.” Jensen soothed, his rhythm never faltering.
Jared let the tears take their course, but refused to dwell on it any more right now. He started to meet Jensen’s thrusts, silently asking the other man to take it further. Jensen gave him what he needed, increasing the speed and force until Jared was moaning again. Jared could feel it coiling within himself, tingling at the base of his spine and spreading outwards. He started to whisper Jensen’s name, over and over, begging for more.
“Can you come like this?” Jensen breathed the question into his ear. Jared shook his head slightly. It felt good, but he had never been able to reach his climax without further stimulation. Jensen bit his earlobe, letting Jared know he wasn’t disappointed, and told him, “Lift your hips for me, just a little.”
Jensen lifted some of his own weight off of Jared, making it easier to get his hips up off the ground enough for Jensen’s hand to slip under and find him, hard and slick and ready. Again, Jensen didn’t draw it out. He stroked his hand up and down Jared’s shaft almost in time with the push and pull of his thrusts, whispering heated words of love and forever into Jared’s ear. It was everything Jared would ever need, and his second release poured out of him. Jensen’s hips stuttered, his panted words coming to a stop, and he lost his rhythm to his own body’s demand of simply deeper, tighter, more. It was only a few more thrusts into Jared’s rippling muscles and Jensen let out a sharp cry, his seed coating Jared and making the glide even smoother.
They came slowly to stillness, breathing deeply. Jensen gently pulled out of Jared and then moved to lay beside him. Jared turned on his side and dragged Jensen into his arms, catching his lips in a breathless kiss. When he pulled back, he whispered, “I’m going to have to get used to this, aren’t I?”
Jensen sighed. “I can’t ‘fly safe’, Jay.” He moved infinitesimally closer. “Did I ever tell you that I never went through flight training?”
“What? No!” Jared looked down into Jensen’s eyes and could see he was telling the truth. “Then how...?”
“I was taught by my father, from an early age, how to pilot our freighters. As I got older, I started to fly other craft. When the war started, and they asked for pilots, I volunteered. The fighters weren’t so very different, they just had better manoeuvrability and greater speed. Those of us who showed an aptitude were rushed out to the battle cruisers as quickly as possible.” Jensen shrugged slightly. “I fly how I fly. I’m sorry, Jared. I can’t promise you to be any different. This is who I am.”
At that, Jared smiled. “I know.” He hugged him tight. “I know, Jen. I love you just as you are. Just...don’t expect me not to worry, or freak out when you take chances like that.”
With a soft laugh, Jensen nodded. “Deal.”
Jared reached up and pulled the sheet from the bed, dragging it to cover their cooling bodies. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and he was certain that it would never get any less painful to watch Jensen and his squadron risk their lives. For this, though, for as much of this as he could get, Jared would take the bad that couldn’t outweigh the good. Nothing would get in the way of how he felt about Jensen, especially not when Jensen gave him a last, drowsy kiss and murmured, “I love you, Jared.”
***
“Jensen!” Tom called down the hallway, slight panic in his voice. “Jensen, come quick!”
“What is it?” Jensen jogged up to Tom, saw the worry in his eyes, and began to feel concerned himself.
“It’s Jared. Mike...” Tom trailed off helplessly.
“So help me, Welling. If that crazy ass boyfriend of yours has gone too far...”
“I know.” Tom didn’t sound happy.
“Where?”
“Holo Rec Room 3.”
Jensen stopped dead and gave Tom a horrified look before he turned and started to run down the hall. Tom was right on his heels. They skidded to a halt in front of the third rec room and rushed inside. The whole squad was already there, even Misha and Jeff. Jared stood behind them all. “Jared! Whatever it is, don’t do it!”
“Oh, you want him to do this.” Mike said from his position by the door. He pressed a button and the holo program flickered to life. Suddenly, they were all standing in a field of flowers. They were knee-high and brilliant blue, like nothing Jensen had ever seen before, but he knew what they were.
“This is Ieress.” Jared spoke up and slowly came forward. “Or was. This field was behind my home. These flowers never grew anywhere else. I wanted you to see it.”
“Jared.” Jensen whispered.
“I also wanted you to know, it doesn’t hurt as much now, to see this. Because now I have a new home, and another family. And you gave it to me. I...wanted to make sure you could never take it away.” Hesitantly, Jared smiled and held out his hand. In the centre of his palm sat two rings.
Jensen didn’t say anything. He didn’t have the words to properly express everything he was feeling in that moment. Instead, he closed the last small distance between them and picked up one of the rings, then he held out his left hand to Jared. Their eyes locked, both trying to communicate just how much this meant, and Jared slid the ring onto Jensen’s finger. Jensen did the same for Jared. “This is only to let everyone else know what was already true, Jared. I was yours from the moment I opened my eyes and you were there taking care of me.” He sealed the promise with a kiss and the others erupted into applause and cheers. Jensen pulled back, but they may as well have not been there; he only saw Jared and they joy in his eyes.
***
Epilogue
After ten years of fighting, the Rim Forces had, against all odds, caused great losses to the Core Forces. Despite aging tech and fewer numbers, the Rim fought with a tenaciousness that no one in the Core could have foreseen. Seeing their sons and daughters enlisted to the Core Forces, year after year, and so few coming home, it was the people of the Core who finally began to question the war. Outer Core planets began to request diplomatic exchanges with the Inner Rim. As more and more planets became aware that it had not been the Rim, but the Core, who had made unreasonable demands, they lended their voices against the Core Government’s war.
Facing rebellion amongst those planets they had previously controlled, the Core Government had been forced to concentrate on matters closer to home. When the Rim had let it be known that they wanted what they had always wanted - half of their crops for their own use and half as tribute - the alliance of Core planets had forced the Government’s hand. A Peace Accord was signed and both Forces dissolved. - Excerpt from a new Modern History text book.
Jensen survived the war, Jared by his side. They returned to Corsar and settled down into a simple farming life that kept Jared from worrying himself into an early grave, and kept Jensen in coffee. Jensen’s family had welcomed Jared with open arms and, that first night, Jared had cried for the family he had lost so long ago. He never cried for them again because, although he would always miss them, he knew they would want him to embrace his new life and new family. Or families, as it turned out.
Chris had also returned to Corsar and his family. Steve had come with him. Steve’s family were travelling musicians, so he didn’t really have a planetside home. They played every other night at the town Bar, drawing crowds from many neighbouring towns, and spent the rest of their time helping out on Chris’ family’s farm. Mike and Tom visited regularly, as Mike had been assigned a diplomatic position amongst the Rim planets. No one asked how he had gotten the assignment, and he never offered the information. Tom said that, as long as he got to see his family every few months, he didn’t mind following Mike from one end of the Rim to the other. Misha, to everyone’s surprise, had been born and raised in the Outer Core. His family business was accounting, which had brought much amusement to the squadron. Not wishing to take up the numbers again, so he said, he and Mack had returned to Mack’s family home. They ran a trading business which, among many other planets, also supplied to Corsar, so they too were often visiting.
Jeff retired to his home in the Outer Rim to look after his aging mother. Once a year, however, he came to Corsar to remember the death of his friend with the Ackles family. He earned something of a reputation as a playboy recluse, much to Jensen’s amusement and Jeff’s chagrin. Doc Beaver and his family returned to Tamar where he continued to practice medicine. Amanda, now a teenage beauty, spent her summers on Corsar with her favourite uncle and his teddy bear. She also had a crush on Chris, which often turned the older man into a stuttering idiot and provided Steve with great delight.
They all knew that they were lucky to be here, to have their second chances. There had been plenty of close shaves and some things would never leave them; Tom now sported a scar down the left side of his face that Mike claimed made him look dangerous, and Steve had a small limp from a hip injury that hadn’t healed correctly. Jared still clung to Jensen tightly at night, and Jensen sometimes woke up from a nightmare, sweating and breathing hard. Every one of them took each day for the blessing it was, making the most of it and never missing any opportunities that came their way.
Jensen started a tradition by gathering them all together on the anniversary of their release date. Looking at the men and women that surrounded him - his ex-squad, his family, his friends - he called for a toast. “This is why we fought, why we won. We weren’t just following orders. We had a purpose, a reason, and gave everything we had. We fought to protect everything we love, and love prevailed.”
“For love!” They toasted, and Jared pulled him in for a kiss.
“For love.” He echoed.
THE END
A/N: So, that's it. I hope you enjoyed it. This was one of those fics that ate at my brain and demanded I write it. For those of you waiting on the next installment of Mganolia's Boughs, I swear I haven't abandoned it! This just...kind of got in the way.
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chris/Steve, Tom/Mike
Category: M/M, AU, Futuristic (i.e. it is set in space!)
Summary: The Core planets have declared war on the Rim planets. When Captain Ackles and his squadron are taken prisoner by the enemy, their jailer turns out to be a young man called Jared. What will Jared do when Jensen's interrogation begins?
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/25378.html
Part Ten
Jensen sat in his fighter for a moment, collecting himself. He knew Jeff would want to tear a strip off of him at some point, but for now, he just wanted to be strong for his squad. He climbed down and was immediately met by Steve. His eyes were bright with emotion, but his words were simple. “Thank you, Jensen.” They gripped each other’s forearm and spoke a million words with that one solid point of contact.
Chris was next to arrive, dragging Steve into his arms and hugging him tight. Steve, who had never been fond of public displays, patted him awkwardly on the back. Chris pulled back and shook the smaller man. “Damn it, Steve! Don’t you ever...”
“I’m fine.” Steve soothed. “Thanks to Jensen here.”
That drew Chris’ attention to his Captain. “I always forget,” he murmured.
“Forget what?” Jensen frowned.
“That you were always the craziest pilot, the one with no fear.”
Jensen kind of blushed and didn’t really know what to say. Chris just wrestled him into another bone crushing hug until he relaxed and let out a soft laugh. Mack and Tom arrived together, flushed and talking at the same time in rapid bursts of admiration, scolding and recounting. Until, that is, Misha stepped in and pulled Mack into a heated kiss. He pulled back and she started to protest his very public setting, but Misha just cut her off with another bruising crush of lips. When he drew back this time, she stayed dazedly silent.
Mike and Jared appeared in the hanger bay moments later, both desperate to see for themselves that their lovers had returned. Mike did his usual once over before pouncing on Tom. As always, Tom accepted it with resigned aplomb. Jared, however, stepped up to Jensen and gently cupped the smaller man’s face in his palms. Jensen could feel him quivering and wrapped his hands around Jared’s wrists.
“Hey, Jay.” He whispered. “I’m here. I came back to you.”
“It was so close...” Jared’s voice broke.
“Not close enough to take me away from you.” Jensen reassured, and Jared curled into him. It was no easy feat, but Jensen managed to wrap himself around Jared in a strong embrace. He spoke quietly to his squadron. “Debriefing can wait until this afternoon. Everybody get some rest and I’ll see you at fifteen hundred.”
With that command, they all disbursed, in groups of two. Jensen took Jared’s hand and led him back to his quarters.
***
When he had the door closed and locked behind them, Jensen turned back to Jared. The younger man pursed his lips to speak, but Jensen silenced him with a finger to his lips. “I know, Jay. I know everything you’re about to say. Just let me look after you. Okay?” Jared nodded. “Just stand here for a moment.”
Jensen went to the bed and dragged the top blanket off. He laid it out on the carpeted floor, added the pillow, and then held out his hand. Jared went to him quickly, needing to be close, and this gained him a smile - one of the soft, wide smiles that Jensen reserved for Jared alone. Quietly, Jensen began to remove the taller man’s clothes, his movements agile and tender all at once. Jared let himself be moved this way and that, helping where he could. The only sounds in the room were the soft rustle of clothes and their hushed breathing. Jared understood; this was about touch, about reassurance, not recriminations or anything that could be expressed by words.
When he had Jared naked, Jensen quickly stripped out of his flight suit before stepping in to Jared’s space, pressing up against him, and leaning in to kiss him. Like everything else, the kiss was gentle, but full of all the emotions they felt for one another. This time, it was Jared who opened up under it, giving Jensen the control to take this where he wanted. Jensen took up the reins as easily as he usually gave them over, deepening the kiss and lowering them slowly to the blanket. Once Jared was laid out, Jensen above him, the older man drew back from the kiss. He looked down into Jared’s eyes, his own brimming with love, and caressed the unruly bangs off of Jared’s forehead. He placed a soft kiss to the newly bared skin before laying a light trail of lip brushes over his eyebrows, across his eyes, and then in a crisscross upon his nose and cheeks and chin. Jared sighed and relaxed into the cocoon of affection being woven around him, more than happy to experience this as yet unknown side of Jensen.
Until now, Jensen’s hands had rested between them, helping him to balance, but as he moved lower he used them to add another layer of sensation. Where his hands went, his lips soon followed - neck, shoulders, pecs and abs - leaving a heated path all over Jared’s body. When he reached Jared’s belly button, he wriggled his tongue in the small hollow, and Jared let out an embarrassing giggle. Jensen looked up at him, his eyes crinkled from his smile, and Jared relaxed further, the tension slowly melting away. When Jensen’s hands moved to his hips, Jared assumed they would be moving on to the next event, but it seemed Jensen had set himself a task and was determined to finish it. Skipping over the most sensitive part of Jared’s anatomy, he continued to caress and kiss and lick his way down Jared’s leg before then moving back up the other one. Finally, there was only one place Jared remained untouched, and his cock twitched with anticipation.
Jensen huffed out a small breath of laughter, but he didn’t draw it out any longer. He took the base in his hand, a tight grip designed to hold him steady and add pressure, and then took the head in his mouth. Fiery hot and damp, it felt incredible, and Jared’s hips jerked up, trying to get deeper. Jensen didn’t try to stop him, letting him slide further into his mouth with an encouraging hum. Jared couldn’t help the tiny little thrusts of his hips, and it was clear Jensen didn’t want him to stop, so he let himself go. When Jensen’s lips met his hand, Jared assumed that would be it, but instead Jensen took his hand away, laying both on Jared’s hips to hold him still, and then swallowing Jared down to the base. Jared shouted, his hips fighting against Jensen’s hold. He could feel Jensen’s throat constricting around the head, and the thought alone was enough to take Jared to the edge, let alone the reality.
“Jen...gonna’...” He panted. Jensen stroked Jared’s hip with his thumb, tacit approval to go ahead. It was the only signal Jared needed; the pleasure shot through him and poured into Jensen’s mouth. Jared wasn’t even sure what kind of sounds he was making, but as he eased down from the high, he whispered, “Jensen. Love you. Love you.”
With a few last expert licks, Jensen let Jared fall from his mouth. He nuzzled affectionately at the groove where groin met thigh and agreed, “Love you too, Jay. So much.” Jared’s hand, which had been clutching at the blanket throughout the whole experience, came up to stroke through the silky strands of Jensen’s hair. The other man rumbled like a contented cat, but a moment later he told him, “Turn over, Jay. M’not done.”
Jared stilled. There was more? With a shaky laugh, he turned over as requested. “What’re you up to, Jen?”
“Finishing the job.” Jensen told him, and then latched onto the back of Jared’s neck, sucking a bruising kiss into the spot. Jared shuddered. As he had on the front, Jensen made a leisurely exploration of Jared’s back, his fingers pressing firmly into the muscles Jared hadn’t realised were still taut. It was both the best massage Jared had ever experienced, and one of the hottest things anyone had ever done to him. He giggled and jerked when Jensen licked the back of his knee, but moaned when the other man pressed hard into the pads of his feet. Moving back up again, Jensen’s hands came to rest on Jared’s ass, tentatively pulling the cheeks apart. Jared felt the warmth of Jensen’s breath an instant before the hot swipe of his tongue over the exposed hole.
“Jen?”
“Have you ever bottomed, Jay?” There was nothing but curiosity in Jensen’s voice, no expectation or judgement.
“Yes, but I’ve never...done this...” He answered truthfully.
“No one has ever rimmed you?” Jensen clarified, and this time Jared could hear the smile in his voice.
“I think there might be a joke in there somewhere...” Jared chuckled.
Jensen groaned. “That’s bad, Jay. I could stop?”
“Shutting up.” Was Jared’s quick response.
“Good choice.” Jensen muttered against Jared’s flesh and then returned to what he had been doing. Their humour quickly evaporated as Jensen used his tongue to slick Jared’s hole. Using fluttering licks and quick, stiff jabs, Jensen began to open him up. Jared moaned and sighed and squirmed under the onslaught. When Jensen added a finger to the mix, Jared’s vocal encouragement only rose in volume. And then Jensen was pulling away, and Jared looked over his shoulder to see why.
“Don’t stop.” Jensen smiled back at him and moved to reach into the bedside drawer. Jared knew what was kept in there, so he settled back down.
“If we want to move this along, spit isn’t going to be enough.” Jensen told him.
Jared wriggled his ass invitingly. “Yeah, let’s move this along.”
Shaking his head, Jensen whispered fondly, “Impatient boy.” By now, though, they were both getting a little impatient, so Jensen didn’t draw it out any longer. He coated his fingers and reached down to circle the little whorl with one finger. Pushing slowly, there was no resistance to that finger, so Jensen added a second. This was tighter, but caused Jared no discomfort, so a third finger was introduced. Instead of just pushing it in beside the others, Jensen pressed around the rim, encouraging the muscle to stretch enough to let him inside. When he was able to move all three fingers about smoothly, he twisted and crooked them until Jared’s sharp cry let him know he had found the right spot. He continued to stroke the sensitive little bundle of nerves until Jared whined.
“Jensen, please...”
“Okay. Okay. Shhh.” Jensen withdrew his fingers and poured more lube onto his own member. Jared stilled as he felt Jensen line up against him, and then he was pressing inside, insistent but careful. Jensen groaned quietly as Jared’s tight channel stretched to let him in. Jared concentrated on keeping his breathing calm and his body relaxed until Jensen was fully sheathed. They remained like that for several heartbeats, and then Jensen started to withdraw as slowly as he had entered. He slid back in easier, and then easier again, setting up a solid rhythm that was neither slow nor fast, soft nor hard. Jared knew you could tell a lot about a man by the way he made love. With Jensen, it was making love, not just sex. He felt no need to rush, or to tease and torment. Jensen was a simple, steady man when it came to loving, giving of himself and content with what he got in return. He was strong and sure and would see everything through to the end. Jared felt his eyes heating as he marvelled once again that Jensen had chosen him. The tears leaked over when he remembered that he also could have lost him.
Jensen must have sensed his distress, for he leaned down, draping himself completely over Jared, only continuing to move his hips. His hand came up to wipe at Jared’s face before he placed gentle kisses along Jared’s jaw. “It’s okay. I’m here. It’s okay. We’re all fine.” Jensen soothed, his rhythm never faltering.
Jared let the tears take their course, but refused to dwell on it any more right now. He started to meet Jensen’s thrusts, silently asking the other man to take it further. Jensen gave him what he needed, increasing the speed and force until Jared was moaning again. Jared could feel it coiling within himself, tingling at the base of his spine and spreading outwards. He started to whisper Jensen’s name, over and over, begging for more.
“Can you come like this?” Jensen breathed the question into his ear. Jared shook his head slightly. It felt good, but he had never been able to reach his climax without further stimulation. Jensen bit his earlobe, letting Jared know he wasn’t disappointed, and told him, “Lift your hips for me, just a little.”
Jensen lifted some of his own weight off of Jared, making it easier to get his hips up off the ground enough for Jensen’s hand to slip under and find him, hard and slick and ready. Again, Jensen didn’t draw it out. He stroked his hand up and down Jared’s shaft almost in time with the push and pull of his thrusts, whispering heated words of love and forever into Jared’s ear. It was everything Jared would ever need, and his second release poured out of him. Jensen’s hips stuttered, his panted words coming to a stop, and he lost his rhythm to his own body’s demand of simply deeper, tighter, more. It was only a few more thrusts into Jared’s rippling muscles and Jensen let out a sharp cry, his seed coating Jared and making the glide even smoother.
They came slowly to stillness, breathing deeply. Jensen gently pulled out of Jared and then moved to lay beside him. Jared turned on his side and dragged Jensen into his arms, catching his lips in a breathless kiss. When he pulled back, he whispered, “I’m going to have to get used to this, aren’t I?”
Jensen sighed. “I can’t ‘fly safe’, Jay.” He moved infinitesimally closer. “Did I ever tell you that I never went through flight training?”
“What? No!” Jared looked down into Jensen’s eyes and could see he was telling the truth. “Then how...?”
“I was taught by my father, from an early age, how to pilot our freighters. As I got older, I started to fly other craft. When the war started, and they asked for pilots, I volunteered. The fighters weren’t so very different, they just had better manoeuvrability and greater speed. Those of us who showed an aptitude were rushed out to the battle cruisers as quickly as possible.” Jensen shrugged slightly. “I fly how I fly. I’m sorry, Jared. I can’t promise you to be any different. This is who I am.”
At that, Jared smiled. “I know.” He hugged him tight. “I know, Jen. I love you just as you are. Just...don’t expect me not to worry, or freak out when you take chances like that.”
With a soft laugh, Jensen nodded. “Deal.”
Jared reached up and pulled the sheet from the bed, dragging it to cover their cooling bodies. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and he was certain that it would never get any less painful to watch Jensen and his squadron risk their lives. For this, though, for as much of this as he could get, Jared would take the bad that couldn’t outweigh the good. Nothing would get in the way of how he felt about Jensen, especially not when Jensen gave him a last, drowsy kiss and murmured, “I love you, Jared.”
***
“Jensen!” Tom called down the hallway, slight panic in his voice. “Jensen, come quick!”
“What is it?” Jensen jogged up to Tom, saw the worry in his eyes, and began to feel concerned himself.
“It’s Jared. Mike...” Tom trailed off helplessly.
“So help me, Welling. If that crazy ass boyfriend of yours has gone too far...”
“I know.” Tom didn’t sound happy.
“Where?”
“Holo Rec Room 3.”
Jensen stopped dead and gave Tom a horrified look before he turned and started to run down the hall. Tom was right on his heels. They skidded to a halt in front of the third rec room and rushed inside. The whole squad was already there, even Misha and Jeff. Jared stood behind them all. “Jared! Whatever it is, don’t do it!”
“Oh, you want him to do this.” Mike said from his position by the door. He pressed a button and the holo program flickered to life. Suddenly, they were all standing in a field of flowers. They were knee-high and brilliant blue, like nothing Jensen had ever seen before, but he knew what they were.
“This is Ieress.” Jared spoke up and slowly came forward. “Or was. This field was behind my home. These flowers never grew anywhere else. I wanted you to see it.”
“Jared.” Jensen whispered.
“I also wanted you to know, it doesn’t hurt as much now, to see this. Because now I have a new home, and another family. And you gave it to me. I...wanted to make sure you could never take it away.” Hesitantly, Jared smiled and held out his hand. In the centre of his palm sat two rings.
Jensen didn’t say anything. He didn’t have the words to properly express everything he was feeling in that moment. Instead, he closed the last small distance between them and picked up one of the rings, then he held out his left hand to Jared. Their eyes locked, both trying to communicate just how much this meant, and Jared slid the ring onto Jensen’s finger. Jensen did the same for Jared. “This is only to let everyone else know what was already true, Jared. I was yours from the moment I opened my eyes and you were there taking care of me.” He sealed the promise with a kiss and the others erupted into applause and cheers. Jensen pulled back, but they may as well have not been there; he only saw Jared and they joy in his eyes.
***
Epilogue
After ten years of fighting, the Rim Forces had, against all odds, caused great losses to the Core Forces. Despite aging tech and fewer numbers, the Rim fought with a tenaciousness that no one in the Core could have foreseen. Seeing their sons and daughters enlisted to the Core Forces, year after year, and so few coming home, it was the people of the Core who finally began to question the war. Outer Core planets began to request diplomatic exchanges with the Inner Rim. As more and more planets became aware that it had not been the Rim, but the Core, who had made unreasonable demands, they lended their voices against the Core Government’s war.
Facing rebellion amongst those planets they had previously controlled, the Core Government had been forced to concentrate on matters closer to home. When the Rim had let it be known that they wanted what they had always wanted - half of their crops for their own use and half as tribute - the alliance of Core planets had forced the Government’s hand. A Peace Accord was signed and both Forces dissolved. - Excerpt from a new Modern History text book.
Jensen survived the war, Jared by his side. They returned to Corsar and settled down into a simple farming life that kept Jared from worrying himself into an early grave, and kept Jensen in coffee. Jensen’s family had welcomed Jared with open arms and, that first night, Jared had cried for the family he had lost so long ago. He never cried for them again because, although he would always miss them, he knew they would want him to embrace his new life and new family. Or families, as it turned out.
Chris had also returned to Corsar and his family. Steve had come with him. Steve’s family were travelling musicians, so he didn’t really have a planetside home. They played every other night at the town Bar, drawing crowds from many neighbouring towns, and spent the rest of their time helping out on Chris’ family’s farm. Mike and Tom visited regularly, as Mike had been assigned a diplomatic position amongst the Rim planets. No one asked how he had gotten the assignment, and he never offered the information. Tom said that, as long as he got to see his family every few months, he didn’t mind following Mike from one end of the Rim to the other. Misha, to everyone’s surprise, had been born and raised in the Outer Core. His family business was accounting, which had brought much amusement to the squadron. Not wishing to take up the numbers again, so he said, he and Mack had returned to Mack’s family home. They ran a trading business which, among many other planets, also supplied to Corsar, so they too were often visiting.
Jeff retired to his home in the Outer Rim to look after his aging mother. Once a year, however, he came to Corsar to remember the death of his friend with the Ackles family. He earned something of a reputation as a playboy recluse, much to Jensen’s amusement and Jeff’s chagrin. Doc Beaver and his family returned to Tamar where he continued to practice medicine. Amanda, now a teenage beauty, spent her summers on Corsar with her favourite uncle and his teddy bear. She also had a crush on Chris, which often turned the older man into a stuttering idiot and provided Steve with great delight.
They all knew that they were lucky to be here, to have their second chances. There had been plenty of close shaves and some things would never leave them; Tom now sported a scar down the left side of his face that Mike claimed made him look dangerous, and Steve had a small limp from a hip injury that hadn’t healed correctly. Jared still clung to Jensen tightly at night, and Jensen sometimes woke up from a nightmare, sweating and breathing hard. Every one of them took each day for the blessing it was, making the most of it and never missing any opportunities that came their way.
Jensen started a tradition by gathering them all together on the anniversary of their release date. Looking at the men and women that surrounded him - his ex-squad, his family, his friends - he called for a toast. “This is why we fought, why we won. We weren’t just following orders. We had a purpose, a reason, and gave everything we had. We fought to protect everything we love, and love prevailed.”
“For love!” They toasted, and Jared pulled him in for a kiss.
“For love.” He echoed.
THE END
A/N: So, that's it. I hope you enjoyed it. This was one of those fics that ate at my brain and demanded I write it. For those of you waiting on the next installment of Mganolia's Boughs, I swear I haven't abandoned it! This just...kind of got in the way.