Which to bury, us or the hatchet (3/13)
So here's part 3, hope you enjoy it and a massive thanks to masja_17 for a super fast beta :)
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He's beautiful to watch, there's no other way of putting it, and Jared's pretty sure he'd get punched in the face for mentioning that aloud, because hey this is hockey after all and that is Jensen and he's not exactly Mr.Sunshine.
For a lot of people hockey is about the violence, the speed, the unpredictability, but this right here, this is what Jared watches it for. It's the way a player simply comes alive when they step onto that ice, the way they push themselves 100% and then throw in that extra 10 when you think there's nothing left to give. And tonight that's Jensen. He's graceful across the ice and Jared's never really noticed that before, sure everyone on the team can skate, but there's a fluidity to Jensen's movements as he turns, dodging a defenseman, pulls back his stick and lets loose. The resounding thunk of the puck hitting the net has the fans screaming again. "ACKLES! ACKLES! ACKLES!" The roar of the crowd is deafening as Jensen glides across the ice, stick raised in the air in triumph and Jared can't help but watch on in awe.
He glances at the clock, 9:45, they're past the half-way line, they're leading the Canadiens 3-2 and Jared's falling head over heels for Jensen Ackles. Again. Since he got here, since he'd met Jensen for the second time he'd been wondering what he'd ever seen in the guy, he'd been irritable, he'd been rude, hell, he'd been downright nasty. That wasn't really Jared's type but it's there, he can see it now, the fight, the drive, the emotion, it's right there on the ice for Jared to see and it isn't damn fair.
Restlessly the game unfolds before him, agonisingly they concede two, trail the Canadiens 3-4 and Jared can't feel anything but helpless sat on the side-lines. He's itching for the chance to get out there, to make a difference. A hand on his twitching thigh soothes Jared's nerves and he turns to look at Mike. There's a knowing smile on his lips.
"There's time." He says and Jared nods, lets out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding as the buzzer sounds signalling the end of the second period.
The mood is tense in the locker room, Jared looks around at the faces, sees the determination there, the will to win. It might be pre-season but each and every guy is playing for more than just a win, they're playing for a place on this team, for the chance to be a Bruin. And Kripke tells them that, he pulls no punches, and Jared kind of likes that about the guy.
"You want a place on this team? You gotta show me you deserve it, you gotta show me you want it! Each of you is better than that score-line, they're showing us up out there and it's like you're just willing to take it. Do you want to win this?"
There's a hum around the room before Kripke interrupts. "I said do you want to win this?"
The players raise their voices, Chris' 'hell yeah' standing out over the rest and Kripke looks somewhat pleased with the response. "Then go out there and show me!"
The talk descends into plays and tactics and Jared suddenly feels more at ease. The people may be different, the crowd may be bigger, the players more recognisable, the team legendary, but right here in the locker room, nothing's changed, it's still all about what happens out there on the ice. And that's the one place Jared's always known he's good.
There's an added edge as they take to the ice for the final third. It all comes down to this, and it's like each of them know it. The hits are a little harder, the skating a little faster and the tension turns up a notch. Mike doesn't still his twitching leg this time.
Jared's eyes are glued to Jensen, he hasn't got the puck, but he can see the wheels turning, can see him gear up to make his move and Chris sees it too. Chris is skating straight at the goal, Jensen to his right, defensemen on his tail. The goal keeper crouches waiting for the shot he thinks is coming. At the last minute Chris makes a pass to the right, Jensen doesn't hesitate, a gentle tap, the puck slides behind the goal keeper and sails into the net.
Jared can't help it he's on his feet with the rest of the team, the rest of the fans as they cheer Jensen on. It's two minutes in and they're all square, Jared watches as Chris embraces Jensen arms wide, and as Jensen's laughter rings out Jared can't quite shake the feeling that he should be out there.
With five minutes left in the game Mike puts the Bruins in front again and Jared's too lost in the shouting, in the sheer excitement of it all to hear Kripke call his number. "Padalecki!" His name breaks the haze and Jared turns to the coach. "You're up kid, show us what you've got."
His palms are sweaty in his gloves as he steps out onto the ice, his breathing just a little laboured, this is it, this is his shot. He takes his position on the right of Jensen shooting him a broad smile, to which Jensen merely rolls his eyes. Focus, he mouths and Jared sets his jaw, he can do this, he can show them.
The whistle sounds, Jensen easily winning the puck sees Jared free, sends it his way. He doesn't fumble the pass, receives it smoothly and pushes forward, speed building. He's boxed in, a guy to his left, one to the right but he pushes on, looking for an opening, a pass and he sees Chris, far side, moving forward. He draws back his stick, trying to get off the pass as he's jostled from either side, but it doesn't deter him and he sends the puck sailing straight into Chris' path, he takes a shot and sends the puck soaring straight between the goal keepers legs. Jared doesn't see the goal, but hears the crowd go wild and then groan in protest as he's forcibly crushed against the boards.
He's vaguely aware of a whistle being blown as he struggles to get his breath back. The guy hadn't been any bigger than him, not many people in the NHL were, but still when a fully grown man slams his body into yours, trapping you between wall and him, it takes a while to push through that pain. Jared shakes his head to clear the haze and finds Mike in front of him. "You good?"
"Yeah, I'm not that fucking delicate, man." He grits out, his side is stinging but he's had worse, he's played through worse, he can play through this.
"Coulda fooled me." Chris laughs as he skates past, turns to look back and shouts over the crowd. "Nice assist JT."
And Jared's smile blooms across his face as he looks back at Mike, because he just made his first assist in the NHL, he opens his mouth to say something, but he's too stunned for words, and Mike just chuckles at him as he pushes him off into the middle of the rink.
There'd been doubt he realises. He'd doubted himself. Maybe he wasn't good enough, maybe the NHL was too big for him. There'd been all those expectations, the fans, the coaches, his manger and even from himself. They'd been weighing down on him, still are, but it feels like it's just a little lighter now, because it's just Hockey and Jared feels like he's home.
The Canadiens' 43 makes his way off the ice as the ref signals a two minute penalty for interference, and the defensemen change, Steve slapping Jared's back in congratulations as he takes to the ice. The power play is about to start and Jared's still out there, he'd half expected that would be it for his first game, not that he's complaining.
He wills his brain to focus as he thinks over the plays, he's memorized them could describe them in his sleep, but putting it all together out there on the ice is a whole other thing. It feels like a dream, it's all playing out in slow motion in front of him, Jensen winning the face-off, making a pass behind to Chris and they move forward, Chris weaving, Jensen at his side, and Jared recognises the play, gets himself free as he follows them into the offensive zone.
And then the puck is at his feet, cradled by his stick and it's just him vs. the goal, he draws back faking left, sees the goalie take the bait and shoots, his heart in his throat as the puck hits the right top corner and Jared stares in disbelief.
The crowd is chanting. "PADALECKI! PADALECKI!" That's his name right? The crowd is chanting his name and Jared just stands there to the right of the goal, eyes scanning around the arena. He just fucking scored!
Chris is there and Jensen and Steve and there's words but he can't make them out, can't understand and he just smiles goofily at them as they surround him, pats on the back, punches to the shoulder and Jared's heart aches, he's never felt as part of something as he does out there, with his team.
Jared makes his way back to the bench feeling on top of the world, and Kripke slaps a hand against his back before he takes a seat. He'd been waiting for something, he'd felt like an outsider an intruder, but this moment, as the guys tease and congratulate he suddenly feels like one of them. And as the last few minutes wind down on the clock, the score remains 7-4. Jared just won his first game as a Boston Bruin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
There's jubilation in the locker room, laughter and celebration and Jared's right there with it.
"You survived Kid." Mike laughs, ruffling Jared's wet hair.
"Yeah, way to not fall on your face." Jensen states as he walks past.
He's back to hostile, Jared realises, no trace of the man he'd seen out there on the ice in front of him. It makes Jared wonder though, how can a guy just shut down a side of himself like that? It's like out there on the ice all Jensen's walls come tumbling down and Jared can see the real Jensen, the hope, the drive, the frustration. He wants to see more, needs to see more, and dammit Jared realises that makes him pretty much fucked.
"He's just jealous." Chris pipes up, head peeking round the end locker. "Jenny here, spent his first 10 minutes of ice time with his face permanently attached to it. Thought we were gonna have to stage a love intervention."
Chris draws out the love, making his voice a pitch higher and Jensen's up like a flash arm snaking out as Chris disappears back behind the lockers, laugh ringing out.
"Dick." Jared hears Jensen shout out.
"Now don't be like that Jenny."
Jared can't help but move forward, past the end locker. Jensen's got his arm round Chris' neck, bent over and to Jared's surprise Jensen is laughing. They grapple before both falling away from each other.
"So who won that round?" Tom asks as he emerges from the showers, towel slung low across his hips.
"Draw." Mike says.
"Hey." Both Jensen and Chris state in protest and then it's descends into chaos, Chris straining to get Jensen into a headlock this time as they shout over each other. And Jared thinks he's going to like it here, even if he can see Rafferty glaring at him from the other side of the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~~*~**~
They play the Washington Capitals the next night. The crowd as energetic as the Canadiens game, the tension just as high, because one good game doesn't guarantee a place for the season, especially for the rookies. There's no previous seasons to show their consistency, it all comes down to these seven pre-season games.
They play better than they did against the Canadiens, Jared plays his best yet, 2 goals, 1 assist and he should be happy right? They've won their first two pre-season games, and Jared's helped with that, he's made an impact, but he can't quite shake the phone conversation from the other night.
Fuck Sandy and her fucking insights.
He watches Jensen, yeah, he feels like a goddamn crazy stalker, but he can't help himself over the next few days, over the training sessions, the home game against the Red Wings, the away game. He's not sure what he was expecting to see, what he wanted to see, but he's noticing a pattern. When Jared's not around, when Jensen doesn't notice he's there, Jared sees a little more of the guy he'd seen on the ice. He's open and happy, he laughs and jokes, and none of it's an act, it's just Jensen.
Jared wants to know that guy, he thinks he might even like that guy. He starts up conversations, mostly one-sided, but he keeps with it despite the cool reception. If Jensen is pissed or worried about the past like Sandy's theory suggests then maybe Jared just needs to put him at ease, maybe Jensen just needs to get to know him, to see he isn't a threat.
He's distracted by the whole thing, his mind's not on the hockey anymore, it's on getting Jensen to like him, he feels like a goddamn 12 year-old again mooning over the head-cheerleader, or in his case, the captain of the football team. He finds himself asking Mike about Jensen, asking Chris, hell, he asks anyone who will tell him something. He likes to think he's offhand about it, nonchalant, he hopes he is anyway, no one else needs to know about his big little-girl crush on the NHL superstar.
He phones Sandy for help but she's no use. She tells him to keep his distance, that Jensen will get past it in his own time, that he "needs to focus on his hockey", but he refuses to listen and she calls him a stubborn ass and hangs up on him. Some friend she is, putting these ideas in his head and then abandoning him with them.
One week after the Candiens game they play at home to the Capitals. They're complacent, the team riding on the high of four undefeated wins, and Jared isn't the only one distracted. It's a dirty game filled with penalties and fights and they lose 6-2.
The moral lower than Jared's seen it, there's a unanimous agreement of drinks after the game and Jared tags along, his mood dark.
"You win some, you lose some." Mike states as he sets a beer in front of Jared, they may be in a dive, but at least it's a dive that doesn't ID.
"That's bullshit and you know it." Chris spits out. The next few minutes are silence, bottles tipped back. And then Chris points to the couple across the bar, girl draped over a guy at least twice her age. "Gotta be something illegal about that." The laughter rings out easily, the mood lightening.
The drinks flow, the conversation is loud but no one seems to mind and Jared gets swept along with it. A couple of hours tick by in what seems like minutes and Jared finds he's actually enjoying himself, the defeat pushed to the back of their minds, there'll be time for that tomorrow.
"It's your round Kid." Steve shouts from across the table as he drains his bottle and Jared lazily makes his way to the bar glancing at his watch, one more round before curfew. He's a little buzzed as he leans ordering the beer, doesn't notice the way the guy across the bar is eyeing him, he just smiles over when he catches the guy's eye.
"Haven't seen you in here before." The guy's sat right there, Jared must be a little more than buzzed if he missed that. "Local?"
" Yeah. First time here, me and the guys were looking for something a little low key, you know?" Jared's always found conversation easy.
"Hockey players?" He asks and Jared chuckles to himself, so much for low key. Guy probably wants a few autographs.
"Yeah, Boston Bruins. Had a game tonight. We lost but you know, just letting off some steam." He pays the barman, lifts the tray of beers and smiles in farewell as he walks back over to the table. Doesn't catch the guy's puzzled look.
"You dirty dog." Chris nabs a beer off his tray laughing at Jared, and he looks around the table baffled. Mike's laughing too, Steve chuckling, but Jensen, Jensen's jaw is set tight and if looks could kill Jared reckons he'd be about six feet under right now.
"What?" Jared asks.
"He was trying to get in your pants, Hun." Heads turn in the direction of the female voice, Jared included, a pretty brunette stands at the right of Jensen. Jared's surprised as he sees her arms wind around Jensen's neck from behind.
He'd chosen that moment before her words had rung out to take a swig of his beer and Jared nearly chokes, because that was not a pass, no way was that a pass, that doesn't happen to him. "What... No he... Really?" He splutters out, feeling his face go beetroot red in embarrassment. That embarrassment grows as the guys laugh, as Jensen turns to look at the brunette, smile widening. Just who is she, that can she put that look on his face?
And then she's leaning in lips reaching for Jensen's and Jared can't look away as Jensen sinks into her, feels his dick jerk in response, because he remembers what that feels like, remembers what that tastes like and jealousy tightens his gut. His eyes are glued on them and it feels like minutes, hours but it's merely agonising seconds before the break apart. Jared's skin feels on fire and he feels his face flaming again when Jensen's gaze catches with his.
Clearing his throat he looks towards Mike brow raised in question as the brunette starts up a conversation with Chris and Steve, easy and familiar. "Danneel." Mike tells him, voice low, lost in the noise around them. "Jensen's... erm... I guess girl friend, sometimes. Well, she's a girl and a friend and they fuck." He shrugs.
Well fuck, Jared thinks, he really was Jensen's college experiment and he feels his ego take a swan dive.
Jared wants to hate Danneel on principle, but he can't, she's bubbly and fun and she sits herself down next him, draping an arm across his shoulders.
"So you're the Bruins' new rising star." She drawls. "I thought you were gonna be all bambi on ice you know, with that height, but you handled yourself well. Don't sweat tonight's game I'm sure Mike already told you 'you win some you lose some' " She's dead on with her impression of Mike and it makes Jared laugh, how well does she know these guys, he thinks. Pretty damn well he figures and all of a sudden he feels on the outside again.
The conversation with her is easy and Jared can see why Jensen likes her, why all the guys do, she's clever and into sport and she's got stories to tell by the dozen.
Yeah Jared wants to hate her, but he'll settle for hating Jensen instead. He's pretty sure he deserves it even if Jared doesn't really mean it.
Find it on AO3 | Masterpost
Back (Part 2) | Part 3 | Next (Part 4)
Find it on AO3 | Masterpost
Back (Part 2) | Part 3 | Next (Part 4)
He's beautiful to watch, there's no other way of putting it, and Jared's pretty sure he'd get punched in the face for mentioning that aloud, because hey this is hockey after all and that is Jensen and he's not exactly Mr.Sunshine.
For a lot of people hockey is about the violence, the speed, the unpredictability, but this right here, this is what Jared watches it for. It's the way a player simply comes alive when they step onto that ice, the way they push themselves 100% and then throw in that extra 10 when you think there's nothing left to give. And tonight that's Jensen. He's graceful across the ice and Jared's never really noticed that before, sure everyone on the team can skate, but there's a fluidity to Jensen's movements as he turns, dodging a defenseman, pulls back his stick and lets loose. The resounding thunk of the puck hitting the net has the fans screaming again. "ACKLES! ACKLES! ACKLES!" The roar of the crowd is deafening as Jensen glides across the ice, stick raised in the air in triumph and Jared can't help but watch on in awe.
He glances at the clock, 9:45, they're past the half-way line, they're leading the Canadiens 3-2 and Jared's falling head over heels for Jensen Ackles. Again. Since he got here, since he'd met Jensen for the second time he'd been wondering what he'd ever seen in the guy, he'd been irritable, he'd been rude, hell, he'd been downright nasty. That wasn't really Jared's type but it's there, he can see it now, the fight, the drive, the emotion, it's right there on the ice for Jared to see and it isn't damn fair.
Restlessly the game unfolds before him, agonisingly they concede two, trail the Canadiens 3-4 and Jared can't feel anything but helpless sat on the side-lines. He's itching for the chance to get out there, to make a difference. A hand on his twitching thigh soothes Jared's nerves and he turns to look at Mike. There's a knowing smile on his lips.
"There's time." He says and Jared nods, lets out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding as the buzzer sounds signalling the end of the second period.
The mood is tense in the locker room, Jared looks around at the faces, sees the determination there, the will to win. It might be pre-season but each and every guy is playing for more than just a win, they're playing for a place on this team, for the chance to be a Bruin. And Kripke tells them that, he pulls no punches, and Jared kind of likes that about the guy.
"You want a place on this team? You gotta show me you deserve it, you gotta show me you want it! Each of you is better than that score-line, they're showing us up out there and it's like you're just willing to take it. Do you want to win this?"
There's a hum around the room before Kripke interrupts. "I said do you want to win this?"
The players raise their voices, Chris' 'hell yeah' standing out over the rest and Kripke looks somewhat pleased with the response. "Then go out there and show me!"
The talk descends into plays and tactics and Jared suddenly feels more at ease. The people may be different, the crowd may be bigger, the players more recognisable, the team legendary, but right here in the locker room, nothing's changed, it's still all about what happens out there on the ice. And that's the one place Jared's always known he's good.
There's an added edge as they take to the ice for the final third. It all comes down to this, and it's like each of them know it. The hits are a little harder, the skating a little faster and the tension turns up a notch. Mike doesn't still his twitching leg this time.
Jared's eyes are glued to Jensen, he hasn't got the puck, but he can see the wheels turning, can see him gear up to make his move and Chris sees it too. Chris is skating straight at the goal, Jensen to his right, defensemen on his tail. The goal keeper crouches waiting for the shot he thinks is coming. At the last minute Chris makes a pass to the right, Jensen doesn't hesitate, a gentle tap, the puck slides behind the goal keeper and sails into the net.
Jared can't help it he's on his feet with the rest of the team, the rest of the fans as they cheer Jensen on. It's two minutes in and they're all square, Jared watches as Chris embraces Jensen arms wide, and as Jensen's laughter rings out Jared can't quite shake the feeling that he should be out there.
With five minutes left in the game Mike puts the Bruins in front again and Jared's too lost in the shouting, in the sheer excitement of it all to hear Kripke call his number. "Padalecki!" His name breaks the haze and Jared turns to the coach. "You're up kid, show us what you've got."
His palms are sweaty in his gloves as he steps out onto the ice, his breathing just a little laboured, this is it, this is his shot. He takes his position on the right of Jensen shooting him a broad smile, to which Jensen merely rolls his eyes. Focus, he mouths and Jared sets his jaw, he can do this, he can show them.
The whistle sounds, Jensen easily winning the puck sees Jared free, sends it his way. He doesn't fumble the pass, receives it smoothly and pushes forward, speed building. He's boxed in, a guy to his left, one to the right but he pushes on, looking for an opening, a pass and he sees Chris, far side, moving forward. He draws back his stick, trying to get off the pass as he's jostled from either side, but it doesn't deter him and he sends the puck sailing straight into Chris' path, he takes a shot and sends the puck soaring straight between the goal keepers legs. Jared doesn't see the goal, but hears the crowd go wild and then groan in protest as he's forcibly crushed against the boards.
He's vaguely aware of a whistle being blown as he struggles to get his breath back. The guy hadn't been any bigger than him, not many people in the NHL were, but still when a fully grown man slams his body into yours, trapping you between wall and him, it takes a while to push through that pain. Jared shakes his head to clear the haze and finds Mike in front of him. "You good?"
"Yeah, I'm not that fucking delicate, man." He grits out, his side is stinging but he's had worse, he's played through worse, he can play through this.
"Coulda fooled me." Chris laughs as he skates past, turns to look back and shouts over the crowd. "Nice assist JT."
And Jared's smile blooms across his face as he looks back at Mike, because he just made his first assist in the NHL, he opens his mouth to say something, but he's too stunned for words, and Mike just chuckles at him as he pushes him off into the middle of the rink.
There'd been doubt he realises. He'd doubted himself. Maybe he wasn't good enough, maybe the NHL was too big for him. There'd been all those expectations, the fans, the coaches, his manger and even from himself. They'd been weighing down on him, still are, but it feels like it's just a little lighter now, because it's just Hockey and Jared feels like he's home.
The Canadiens' 43 makes his way off the ice as the ref signals a two minute penalty for interference, and the defensemen change, Steve slapping Jared's back in congratulations as he takes to the ice. The power play is about to start and Jared's still out there, he'd half expected that would be it for his first game, not that he's complaining.
He wills his brain to focus as he thinks over the plays, he's memorized them could describe them in his sleep, but putting it all together out there on the ice is a whole other thing. It feels like a dream, it's all playing out in slow motion in front of him, Jensen winning the face-off, making a pass behind to Chris and they move forward, Chris weaving, Jensen at his side, and Jared recognises the play, gets himself free as he follows them into the offensive zone.
And then the puck is at his feet, cradled by his stick and it's just him vs. the goal, he draws back faking left, sees the goalie take the bait and shoots, his heart in his throat as the puck hits the right top corner and Jared stares in disbelief.
The crowd is chanting. "PADALECKI! PADALECKI!" That's his name right? The crowd is chanting his name and Jared just stands there to the right of the goal, eyes scanning around the arena. He just fucking scored!
Chris is there and Jensen and Steve and there's words but he can't make them out, can't understand and he just smiles goofily at them as they surround him, pats on the back, punches to the shoulder and Jared's heart aches, he's never felt as part of something as he does out there, with his team.
Jared makes his way back to the bench feeling on top of the world, and Kripke slaps a hand against his back before he takes a seat. He'd been waiting for something, he'd felt like an outsider an intruder, but this moment, as the guys tease and congratulate he suddenly feels like one of them. And as the last few minutes wind down on the clock, the score remains 7-4. Jared just won his first game as a Boston Bruin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
There's jubilation in the locker room, laughter and celebration and Jared's right there with it.
"You survived Kid." Mike laughs, ruffling Jared's wet hair.
"Yeah, way to not fall on your face." Jensen states as he walks past.
He's back to hostile, Jared realises, no trace of the man he'd seen out there on the ice in front of him. It makes Jared wonder though, how can a guy just shut down a side of himself like that? It's like out there on the ice all Jensen's walls come tumbling down and Jared can see the real Jensen, the hope, the drive, the frustration. He wants to see more, needs to see more, and dammit Jared realises that makes him pretty much fucked.
"He's just jealous." Chris pipes up, head peeking round the end locker. "Jenny here, spent his first 10 minutes of ice time with his face permanently attached to it. Thought we were gonna have to stage a love intervention."
Chris draws out the love, making his voice a pitch higher and Jensen's up like a flash arm snaking out as Chris disappears back behind the lockers, laugh ringing out.
"Dick." Jared hears Jensen shout out.
"Now don't be like that Jenny."
Jared can't help but move forward, past the end locker. Jensen's got his arm round Chris' neck, bent over and to Jared's surprise Jensen is laughing. They grapple before both falling away from each other.
"So who won that round?" Tom asks as he emerges from the showers, towel slung low across his hips.
"Draw." Mike says.
"Hey." Both Jensen and Chris state in protest and then it's descends into chaos, Chris straining to get Jensen into a headlock this time as they shout over each other. And Jared thinks he's going to like it here, even if he can see Rafferty glaring at him from the other side of the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~~*~**~
They play the Washington Capitals the next night. The crowd as energetic as the Canadiens game, the tension just as high, because one good game doesn't guarantee a place for the season, especially for the rookies. There's no previous seasons to show their consistency, it all comes down to these seven pre-season games.
They play better than they did against the Canadiens, Jared plays his best yet, 2 goals, 1 assist and he should be happy right? They've won their first two pre-season games, and Jared's helped with that, he's made an impact, but he can't quite shake the phone conversation from the other night.
Fuck Sandy and her fucking insights.
He watches Jensen, yeah, he feels like a goddamn crazy stalker, but he can't help himself over the next few days, over the training sessions, the home game against the Red Wings, the away game. He's not sure what he was expecting to see, what he wanted to see, but he's noticing a pattern. When Jared's not around, when Jensen doesn't notice he's there, Jared sees a little more of the guy he'd seen on the ice. He's open and happy, he laughs and jokes, and none of it's an act, it's just Jensen.
Jared wants to know that guy, he thinks he might even like that guy. He starts up conversations, mostly one-sided, but he keeps with it despite the cool reception. If Jensen is pissed or worried about the past like Sandy's theory suggests then maybe Jared just needs to put him at ease, maybe Jensen just needs to get to know him, to see he isn't a threat.
He's distracted by the whole thing, his mind's not on the hockey anymore, it's on getting Jensen to like him, he feels like a goddamn 12 year-old again mooning over the head-cheerleader, or in his case, the captain of the football team. He finds himself asking Mike about Jensen, asking Chris, hell, he asks anyone who will tell him something. He likes to think he's offhand about it, nonchalant, he hopes he is anyway, no one else needs to know about his big little-girl crush on the NHL superstar.
He phones Sandy for help but she's no use. She tells him to keep his distance, that Jensen will get past it in his own time, that he "needs to focus on his hockey", but he refuses to listen and she calls him a stubborn ass and hangs up on him. Some friend she is, putting these ideas in his head and then abandoning him with them.
One week after the Candiens game they play at home to the Capitals. They're complacent, the team riding on the high of four undefeated wins, and Jared isn't the only one distracted. It's a dirty game filled with penalties and fights and they lose 6-2.
The moral lower than Jared's seen it, there's a unanimous agreement of drinks after the game and Jared tags along, his mood dark.
"You win some, you lose some." Mike states as he sets a beer in front of Jared, they may be in a dive, but at least it's a dive that doesn't ID.
"That's bullshit and you know it." Chris spits out. The next few minutes are silence, bottles tipped back. And then Chris points to the couple across the bar, girl draped over a guy at least twice her age. "Gotta be something illegal about that." The laughter rings out easily, the mood lightening.
The drinks flow, the conversation is loud but no one seems to mind and Jared gets swept along with it. A couple of hours tick by in what seems like minutes and Jared finds he's actually enjoying himself, the defeat pushed to the back of their minds, there'll be time for that tomorrow.
"It's your round Kid." Steve shouts from across the table as he drains his bottle and Jared lazily makes his way to the bar glancing at his watch, one more round before curfew. He's a little buzzed as he leans ordering the beer, doesn't notice the way the guy across the bar is eyeing him, he just smiles over when he catches the guy's eye.
"Haven't seen you in here before." The guy's sat right there, Jared must be a little more than buzzed if he missed that. "Local?"
" Yeah. First time here, me and the guys were looking for something a little low key, you know?" Jared's always found conversation easy.
"Hockey players?" He asks and Jared chuckles to himself, so much for low key. Guy probably wants a few autographs.
"Yeah, Boston Bruins. Had a game tonight. We lost but you know, just letting off some steam." He pays the barman, lifts the tray of beers and smiles in farewell as he walks back over to the table. Doesn't catch the guy's puzzled look.
"You dirty dog." Chris nabs a beer off his tray laughing at Jared, and he looks around the table baffled. Mike's laughing too, Steve chuckling, but Jensen, Jensen's jaw is set tight and if looks could kill Jared reckons he'd be about six feet under right now.
"What?" Jared asks.
"He was trying to get in your pants, Hun." Heads turn in the direction of the female voice, Jared included, a pretty brunette stands at the right of Jensen. Jared's surprised as he sees her arms wind around Jensen's neck from behind.
He'd chosen that moment before her words had rung out to take a swig of his beer and Jared nearly chokes, because that was not a pass, no way was that a pass, that doesn't happen to him. "What... No he... Really?" He splutters out, feeling his face go beetroot red in embarrassment. That embarrassment grows as the guys laugh, as Jensen turns to look at the brunette, smile widening. Just who is she, that can she put that look on his face?
And then she's leaning in lips reaching for Jensen's and Jared can't look away as Jensen sinks into her, feels his dick jerk in response, because he remembers what that feels like, remembers what that tastes like and jealousy tightens his gut. His eyes are glued on them and it feels like minutes, hours but it's merely agonising seconds before the break apart. Jared's skin feels on fire and he feels his face flaming again when Jensen's gaze catches with his.
Clearing his throat he looks towards Mike brow raised in question as the brunette starts up a conversation with Chris and Steve, easy and familiar. "Danneel." Mike tells him, voice low, lost in the noise around them. "Jensen's... erm... I guess girl friend, sometimes. Well, she's a girl and a friend and they fuck." He shrugs.
Well fuck, Jared thinks, he really was Jensen's college experiment and he feels his ego take a swan dive.
Jared wants to hate Danneel on principle, but he can't, she's bubbly and fun and she sits herself down next him, draping an arm across his shoulders.
"So you're the Bruins' new rising star." She drawls. "I thought you were gonna be all bambi on ice you know, with that height, but you handled yourself well. Don't sweat tonight's game I'm sure Mike already told you 'you win some you lose some' " She's dead on with her impression of Mike and it makes Jared laugh, how well does she know these guys, he thinks. Pretty damn well he figures and all of a sudden he feels on the outside again.
The conversation with her is easy and Jared can see why Jensen likes her, why all the guys do, she's clever and into sport and she's got stories to tell by the dozen.
Yeah Jared wants to hate her, but he'll settle for hating Jensen instead. He's pretty sure he deserves it even if Jared doesn't really mean it.
Find it on AO3 | Masterpost
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