(Untitled)

[incaution]

Characters: Dean & Jo
Location: The new Roadhouse building
Planet: Coruscant
When: Right now
What: Jo gives Dean the surprise she's been promising him.
Rating: PG-13, for Jo and Dean being...themselves.

Comments

[likedillinger]

[Dean's a little (unsure) about this whole blindfold business for a moment, and shoots her the most skeptical look ever, but part of him thinks maybe he's signing up for some kind of kinky sex game, so whatever, he'll put it on without bitching.

He wonders idly, while standing there waiting for whatever this is, if maybe she's done some decorating or something while he's been busy dealing with Dad. Or... hell, he doesn't even know. She said it was a surprise for him, but...

The second she says music, his eyebrows lift beneath the blindfold, and climb even higher when he hears some insanely familiar chords that feel a lot like old friends he hasn't seen in a very long time]

... No freaking way. [And then the blindfold's whipped off and she's smiling and looking incredibly pleased with herself, her eyes sparkling as she unveils her little surprise, and he can only stare slack jawed for a second with a dumbass smile on his face.

This is probably the most thoughtful gift anyone's ever given him in his life, considering most of the gifts he's gotten have been either weapon or joke-related. He's honest to God speechless for a moment as he just revels in the sound, and looks back and forth between her and the jukebox. He walks past her slightly, to get a closer look at it, eyes raking over some of the song selection, and he shakes his head, a humongous grin breaking over his features as he turns around. He looks ridiculously happy. Mostly because he is] "Awesome"'s not gonna quite cut it. You're a friggin' miracle worker.

[incaution]

[That only gets her to look more pleased with herself, and she walks over to stand beside him.]

I know, I know. I'm pretty much the best person ever.

[She hasn't really ever seen him ridiculously happy before. She's seen him smile when he's sad, seen him smile when a joke is funny, seen him smile those lopsided lovesick grins at her when he doesn't know she's looking. But a smile like this?

This makes all of the annoyance and money she had to go through to get it for him worth it.]

I'm glad you like it, Dean.

[And really, she is. She already knew that making him happy makes her feel happy in return, but this particular instance is giving her a pretty amazing state of content. She leans her head up against his arm and smiles fondly at the music selection. She really is just the best girlfriend ever.]

[likedillinger]

Are you kiddin'? [He glances down at where she's cuddled up to his arm and slides his hand around her waist, so pleased that he's chuckling] I don't even know what to say.

[He turns his head to look at her] I love it. How'd you even-- [No, never mind, he doesn't even want to know yet] Nicest thing anybody's ever done for me. [that wasn't something like 'sell my soul so you can live' which Dean is not counting as... nice.

A chagrined thought strikes him.] Dunno how I'm ever gonna top this.

[incaution]

You don't have to top it. [She grins up at him, shaking her head. For once, Jo doesn't want to compete over something. Competing to top one another in the gift department would cheapen everything, and she doesn't want that.]

I know it sounds at least fifty different kinds of cheesy, but I like seeing you happy. It's one of those weird relationship things where seeing you happy makes me happy, and it's just a whole ball of nauseating happiness that makes everyone around us sick and disgusted.

'Sides, you sticking it out with me for this long tops pretty much anything I could give you, anyway.

[like_dillinger]

[His smile softens quite a bit as he watches her, all that joy just pouring right into his eyes instead] Sucks to be them. [The comment's played for laughs, but the warmth doesn't leave his expression for an instant - he just wants to watch her smile]

You know, doesn't sound so cheesy from where I'm standin'.

[He gives her a pointed look, lowering his eyes at her slightly] And I thought I told you I wasn't plannin' on going anywhere. You didn't believe me?

[incaution]

Of course I believe you, I just - [As she looks back up to meet his eye, the expression on his face and the warmth there makes her take pause, mostly because her little heart is melting and all normal thoughts leave her head. She has to stop, and swallow, and force herself to not be one of those little cartoons with hearts floating above her head, before she makes an ass out of herself.]

It's been a long month, a whole lot of crap has happened. And now you're dealing with your dad. [Which means her place in his life has been knocked down quite a few pegs. The tone in her voice owns up to the sting caused by that, but the look on her face shows nothing but happiness and understanding. She's good at training her face into lying.]

And it's not like we haven't fought. I'm just real grateful we're able to work our way through this crap and still be together at the end of the day.

[like_dillinger]

[Oh right. All of... that. LOOK, HE IS LARGELY SURPRISED A WOMAN HAS PUT UP WITH HIM FOR THIS LONG. Surprise creeps into his expression slightly followed by a hint of understanding and his eyes slip off hers, looking back towards the jukebox, though he keeps his arm around her]

Dad showin up's... unexpected, sure, but it's not like it's gonna change everything we're doin' around here. Maybe we'll focus more on hunting things again, but that's not much different than what we've been doin', just a different kinda work. And you and Ellen-- [are used to the life, is what he wants to say, but then there's that guilt inside of him, gnawing away at the heart of his happy moment for a second. The 'life' means something different where Winchesters are concerned, and nobody realizes what they're signing up for when they get tangled up with them. Ellen & Jo already learned that once, it seems.

But that's back home, he tells himself firmly. Here things are different. Even what happened with Jo and the virus, that was happening to everyone, it wasn't because of her connection to them...

He raises his eyes to look at her again, and some of his woobie feelings come pouring out.] Even for all that crap? For Buffy and... her vampires... and Gabriel and whatever else.

[He exhales slightly, sounding as if he's just realizing this as he says it, because it's pretty much true] I don't remember bein' this damn happy. [He laughs once, eyes drifting to the ceiling] Hell. Ever.

[Sam was here and they weren't fighting, Dad was here, they were all alive and together, Jo had Ellen and they were getting their roadhouse back, no demons had followed them here, and death wasn't even a permanent feature in this world.

And he had Jo, and he didn't have to feel guilty for it, or feel torn over it, and it was good.

Great, even.]

... Has it really been a month?

[incaution]

[He's really happy? She...yeah, she makes him happy, she already knows that. But still, hearing him say it makes her just grin and grin, and she leans in to kiss him before responding to that last part.]

Sure has. I normally wouldn't keep track, but I guess you're a special case. And uh...I don't exactly remember ever being this happy either. I mean, I've been happy, just not...like this. [She presses their foreheads together, the tips of their noses squishing together, and she laughs.

God, she's so happy right now it feels wrong, like something terrible will happen to come rip it all away from her. In between the music, and Dean admitting actual feelings, and the closeness between them she's not really sure that she has it in her to properly express just how amazing she's feeling.]

Even with the parents showing up, you still owe me a trip to Nar Shadda. Don't forget about that.

[Only they could manage to be excited about killing hellhounds, excited enough to talk about it during the middle of a heartfelt and romantic conversation.]

[likedillinger]

[She's not the only one with that hideous underpinning sense of foreboding and dread, but Dean stuffs it way down deep like he loves to do with his feelings, and just lets the happy ones ride along the surface for now. He smiles again, even at the mention of Nar Shaddaa, looking down between them so she can't notice the spark of anxiety in the back of his eyes over that.] Won't forget. Just figure we should get things settled with your Ma and my Dad before we go anywhere.

You uh, didn't tell her, did you? [His eyes flash up again, uncertainty blooming behind them. Maybe even a dash of fear. Ellen Harvelle is a frightening woman]

[incaution]

About us? [He should know she's definitely not planning on telling her mother that they're going off to face down some hellhounds. Because she is not that stupid of a person.]

She has to guess it, but I don't think she outright knows anything yet.

[Now she looks worried and a little disappointed at life.]

No matter what she says when she finds out, don't listen to any of it. She's still sour over what happened back in Carthage, and you haven't even lived through any of that crap yet.

[Her arms wrap tightly around him, in a possessive embrace.]

Once she sees I'm actually happy and you wouldn't hurt me on purpose, she'll cool off. Just know I'm not actually gonna listen when she shouts and hollers for me to get the hell away from you.

[likedillinger]

[His hands rub against her back reassuringly, and he seems to consider something for a second] You think it'd go better or worse if I was the one to break it to her? [He feels like a pussy not making the offer at least, but he really hopes Jo'll argue that it's better if she tells her mother alone. Maybe then Ellen can let off some steam before she actually runs into him.

Doubtful but... maybe]

[incaution]

Worse. [Dear God, would it be worse.]

I'm still kinda hoping that maybe she just...figures it out and never says anything. [There's a pause, and she looks away.] Ever.

[Because the talk she will have with her mother over Dean Winchester will NOT be a pretty one.]

If she hasn't pieced it together by the time we get back from Nar Shadda, I'll tell her. But it's not like she's stupid, she'll figure it out. And when she does, don't run from her, it's only gonna make her wanna shoot you more.

[likedillinger]

[He laughs at that, even if it's not funny at all, because that is not really an exaggeration, but whatever] Pretty good at standing my ground. Just not... the parents thing. [As in he has never had to deal with this ever, and is ready to flounder helplessly when the moment arrives, but he at least... won't run away. Probably. Too far.

At that timely moment, the music changes to the very distinct sound of something that makes Dean look up and away from her as if he just smelled something rotten.]

... Keep On Loving You? [He trains a skeptical look of subtle horror back on her] Seriously? [And the beautiful REO power ballad continues]

[incaution]

[How dare he insult her precious REO. Frowning up at the look on his face, she reaches up to punch his shoulder.]

Don't be an ass, Winchester. It's damn near perfect, and I've got the memory of you singing this with me to prove it. [And now she's grinning and laughing, because his look of horror is now amusing to her, since upon hitting him she was done being offended.]

You know you secretly know all the words to it, so don't even act like you don't appreciate it.

[likedillinger]

[He grabs hold of her fist after she slugs him and pulls it down between them, massaging her hand with his as he rolls his eyes and smirks, stepping in closer to her] Actually, that was Can't Fight This Feeling... [wait, he probably shouldn't admit to knowing their songs so well by just a few bars. oops. anyways.] ... You put that on here too, didn't you? [A groan that's just for mockery's sake] You paid good credits for that crap?

[incaution]

[She bites at her lip and looks up at him, slowly nodding.] There's one or...two other surprises too. Look, if I'm gonna pay money for music, I'm gonna get some of my songs, too.

[But then she's smiling and stepping in closer to him, turning her hand so she's locking fingers with him.]

Most of it is crap you'll like, so don't bellyache about it too much.