Second City Sin, 10/15 [NC-17] Jared/Jensen, Historical RPS AU

[truelyesoteric]

Title: Second City Sin

Author: truelyesoteric

Rating: NC-17

Summary: In between sin and goodness, in between innocence and knowledge, in between day and night. Chicago 1900. The Everleigh Club. Two people who never would have met otherwise meet as the world rumbles around them.

Pairings: Jared/Jensen

Warnings: The Everleigh Club is a very nice brothel. Boys doing boys. Chad visits whorehouses. Did I mention Historical AU RPS?

Spoilers: None for Supernatural or real life. However there are spoilers for Sin In The Second City, which the whole kit and caboodle is based on. If you need to have background information Wikipedia this (or if you don’t believe that it exists).

Disclaimer: I'm playing with real people in fake situations. Jensen and Jared are real people and did not do any of this, unless they have a time machine. Minna and Ada were also real people, I mean no offense. I definitely do not own the Everleigh house because it’s illegal to own brothels.



PROLOGUE
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.

A/N: kitiaria was my excellent beta. She held my hand during this chapter and smoothed it out by pointing out some rough edges, which means that this chapter is fairly long.

keyweegirlieto make me a banner cause I love this story to pieces and I want it to be special.

Warning: Mentions of underage prostitution. Nothing graphic, just mentions.

Chapter 9

“Fucking bitch,” Jensen swore as he tried to breathe into the pants that he was supposed to wear that night. Ada had been adamant that Jensen was going to wear these particular chaps, which seemed to be about three sizes too small.

Mike was snickering. He could. He was wearing soft buckskin pants and fringe vest. His clothing was tight, but it still allowed for breathing room.

“Do you think that she knows that this is not my size?” Jensen breathed in and tried to will the pants on.

Tom came to the doorway between his and Mike’s room and the common room. Tom of course was dressed in black leather pants and a black leather vest. The outfit was complete with pistols crossing over his six pack abs.

Tom looked at the pants half on Jensen and cocked his head, “I’m pretty sure that Ada knows exactly what size your ass is.”

Jensen, very not amused, glared at Tom. The Jensen Ackles stare was not to be taken lightly, Jensen Ackles had invented the glare.

Tom just shrugged at him and snickered.

He went into the hallway and yelled, “Sophia, bring the powder.”

Jensen scrambled into his room, hiding in propriety from Sophia who had seen more than it all.

Sophia popped into Jensen’s room a few minutes later and held out a jar.

“Here is some powder to help you get those pants up your sweaty thighs,” Sophia held out the jar with both hands, looking up innocently, “Want help.”

Jensen glared at her, “Give me the fucking jar.”

Sophia winked at him, “Can’t wait to see them on you, hot buns.”

**

When Jared entered the backdoor his heart nearly stopped. He could see Jensen there, bare to the waist, and wearing impossibly tight chaps, hipbones visible over the waistline.

Jared was struck dumb. He had seen Jensen naked on multiple occasions. However there was something about the soft leather that clung to Jensen’s legs like a second skin was the sexier than nakedness. It looked like someone was painted on, but all body parts were covered and that seemed to taunt Jared.

Jensen grinned under Jared’s look, Jensen knew exactly what Jared was thinking. Instead of a sultry smile, a grin crossed his face.

Jensen put out his arms and slowly turned, showing Jared the way the pants hugged every part of his legs and round ass covered in dark soft leather.

Jared’s mouth went completely and totally dry.

It was a moment before he realized that Jensen was looking up at him eyes bright.

“You look…nice,” Jared finally managed.

Jensen held up a finger and made the motion for Jared to do a similar turn around. Jared couldn’t do anything besides stumble as he turned around slowly.

Jensen looked at Jared from head to toe, just as appraisingly. He noted the huge belt buckle that couldn’t be made anywhere but in Texas. His incredibly long legs were glad in faded denim that seemed to fall perfectly. On his head was an honest to god Stetson. Jared had left Texas years ago, but it was still burned into him. He looked ever inch the Texan he was.

Jensen found nothing wrong and everything right about the man before him.

Jared just blushed under the intense scrutiny he wasn’t used to anyone looking so much at him, someone seeing him. He tried to remember how to breathe and he heard the clinking in his pockets.

He remembered and pulled out the contents, in his huge hands were little vials.

“I brought the girls presents,” Jared said hopelessly blissful.

Jensen took the treasure trove from Jared’s hands and uncorked one bottle. He held it to his nose. It was oil.

Jensen raised an eyebrow at the generous gift.

In the newly emerging world of automobiles those who couldn’t afford such a luxury often took to wearing oil as perfume. It really was all the rage.

Jared thought it was weird, but it reminded him of summers in the dusty sun and nights listening to the cicadas.

And girls in the Everleight house went gaga over it, so he wanted to indulge them in something he had in abundance.

Jensen inhaled again. The smell was stirring something in his gut.

For a moment he was very silent. Just remembering. He was remembering something before. He remembered childhood, in that before time that he didn’t believe was real anymore.

Jensen looked up at Jared and Jared could see the memories in his eyes.

“This reminds me of home. You remind me of home,” Jensen drawled in a daydream.

Finally, Jensen shook himself out of that world, that world that didn’t belong here.

He stepped forward, taking out a bandana and came to stand before Jared. He leaned in and put the bandana on Jared, covering the lower half of his face, touching the curls that unfurled under his neck.

Goosebumps rose on Jared’s neck and he couldn’t resist a shudder.

And Jared was lost in the green of the eyes and yellow flecks of Jensen’s eyes. He wanted to know what was behind those eyes, what Jensen saw in those far away moments.

“How long has it been since you’ve been home?” Jared asked quietly, mildly curious.

And Jared wanted to sink into Jensen, wanted to be part of his little world, a world that seemed safe and happy.

Jensen got a curiously unguarded look in his eyes. He had been thinking of BEFORE, not the reason he left, he didn’t want to think of what he had to do when he left. Not with Jared right there.

“Far too long,” was all that Jensen would offer.

There was a moment of touching, a moment when the honesty threatened to break this world of make-believe. Then Jensen cleared his throat.

And that was enough to break the spell.

Jensen pulled away from Jared and it almost hurt.

“I’m pretty booked up tonight. These pants are bringing in the guys, so I don’t have time tonight, but the madams would adore your company.”

Jared followed him for a moment and then came to a dead stop.

“C’mon Jared,” Jensen said, “This is my job. You know it’s like this sometimes.”

Intellectually Jared knew what happened with Jensen, but something hurt a little bit that he could have a little part of Jensen and it didn’t seem to make a difference. He would just go on like this morning, like everything, had never happened.

Jared had to ask, he just had to know.

“Do you ever think about me when you’re with them?”

It was so out of the left field that Jensen had to stop and think about the question for a moment. He weighed his options and for the millionth time he wished that the kid wasn’t getting so close to him. The honestly was getting dangerous, it was cutting into everything he knew.

“No Jared,” Jensen said softly, “You’re never in the room when I’m with them. You’re a safe place for me. It would be sacrilege to bring you into the room, even in thought. I never think of you when it is someone else.”

“Oh,” Jared said, somewhat dumbfounded.

Jensen turned, lifting his eyes to meet Jared’s in the dark hallway. He raised an eyebrow and something warm fell over Jared. The jealousy dissipated. He knew that he had a part of Jensen that they didn’t.

“I’m glad,” he said softly.

Jensen looked at him, really looked at him; then looked through him and shook his head.

“I’ve got to work now,” Jensen said, far too raw, “And by work I mean I will be fucking people and not thinking of you.”

Jared couldn’t think of a reply to that. It was harsh and terrible, but it was still like the greatest love sonnet ever written. Jensen nodded and turned to go up the stairs.

Jared couldn’t do a thing but follow.

**

Jared looked over the banister into the room. The girls were dressed in corsets and tiny dresses, as was Mike, not so strangely. He could see Minna and Ada as they sat on their perch watching the happenings downstairs; it was an honest to god saloon. The girls were dancing with their striped socks and lacy garters showing.

“Hey boy,” Minna said when she noticed him, coming to kiss his cheek. She offered him a flute before pouring Champagne into it.

“You guys have been to Texas,” Jared noted; the authenticity of the décor below proved that.

Minna nodded, “We’ve been everywhere Jared.”

Jared watched for a moment, watched Jensen cozy up to a man in a suit. He was in full on business mode, he was smoldering. Jared knew what this was; he knew what Jensen did with these men. And it had never bothered him until this moment. He had seen so deep into Jensen he didn’t want to share. He felt something strangely possessive and it wrenched his gut in ways he was not prepared to talk about.

“You’ve been coming around a lot,” Minna commented, knowing exactly where his attention was.

Jared looked up sheepishly, but defiantly, “You said I could, you said it was fine.”

Ada looked at him, “We said that you could be here, but do you remember our terms?”

“I’m not interfering,” he said with his newfound confidence, “I’m here when he’ll let me.”

Minna looked over the balcony to the little façade below, “He’s not going to give up this life Jared. You aren’t the kind of guy who will share for long.”

Jared stood still, “You’re kicking me out?”

Ada stood up, “Jared we just want to make it clear what this is. This dalliance is wonderful for him, but I want to make something very clear. If he were ever to ask, we would let him go, but he will never ask. He has been doing this for fifteen years and he’s independent now. He will never become someone’s property. Never again.”

Jared wanted to ask about Jensen’s past, he wanted to know what a thirteen-year-old boy had to do to survive, to support his family. Then he found he really didn’t want to know.

“He has enough money to leave,” Ada continued, “He makes more money than any of the girls. He came here with more than enough money to retire, but he won’t. He has the money for himself and for his kid sister. We offer him something he can’t find out there. He feels safe here and he is. The world doesn’t like his kind.”

“What a prostitute?” Jared bit out, hating her for perpetuating something that would make Jensen so unlikeable.

“No,” Minna said softly, “The world doesn’t like men who like other men. It’s just a fact. Homosexuals are not welcomed typically. I’ve seen men get beaten to death for liking other men and the police hardly raised a finger. We offer him safety, and that is the one thing he came here asking us for.”

“Know what you’re getting into Jared,” Ada said in her brisk manner, “You stopped being a child a while ago, I’ve watched it happen. But know this; the world isn’t your parlor and full of pretty things.”

Jared chugged down his Champagne and held out his glass, “You’ve given me the rules and I’ve followed them. Are you changing them now?”

Minna smiled for show and Ada tightly wrapped her lips around her teeth, “No Jared, you’re still welcome here. We do like you quite a bit, everyone here likes you.”

“Having you in the house is like a breath of fresh air,” Minna agreed.

Jared’s glass was filled and Ada lit a cigarette.

“So tell me about Paris,” Minna said, sitting down prettily, “Jensen’s says you’ve been. Don’t leave out any detail.”

Jared was a little shell-shocked at the abrupt change in conversation, but he spoke about the Seine and the carousels, he spoke of the art and the vibrancy of life. Minna interrogated him about fashion and Ada asked of Versailles. Jared uncoiled a little bit, talking and giving as much information as he could remember.

There was something though, when he was watching Jensen make his way in the room, cheeks flushed and body taught, that made him want to throw up. He had never thought this was wrong before, but he wanted something more, something more than just sex.

He wanted Jensen in his bed tonight, not for sex, but for those raspy late night conversations. Seeing him with other men felt like an ache that was just beginning, but couldn’t be anything good.

**

Tom came up for awhile once the madams left. Jared had, had little contact with him since his time here and was surprised to learn that he was a complete and total gossip. He knew things about everyone, customers and employees alike.

He shared his knowledge with a bored flutter, as if everyone should know that Daneel was completely in love with all men who liked other men and how Sophia was in love with Alona. He told stories that were so ridiculously funny that Jared almost forgot to be depressed.

Tom told stories about Jared’s peers and shared way too much information on his brother.

“Dear lord stop,” Jared gasped, covering his ears.

Tom held that far too innocent smile and looked down at the floor where Jensen was going for patron number three.

For once second Jensen looked up and caught Jared’s eye.

“He’s crazy about you,” Tom said conversationally from his place on the lounge chair, “We’ve worked here for four years together, he’s been here a little longer than that, but I’ve never seen him actually like someone he’s fucking.”

Jared watched Jensen’s retreating figure, trying not to jump over the banister and kill the man down there.

“Would you leave and stay away,” Tom asked coming up besides him silently, “If it were too much for him to bear?”

Jared swallowed, “Is it?”

Tom shook his head, “Not yet, but promise me that you’ll leave, because he’ll never ask you to.”

Jared was tired of the warnings, of all these people telling him what to do.

“Tell me to leave right now,” Jared growled, “Or let what is between me and him to be between me and him.”

Tom held up his hands in submission.

“No,” Jared said vehemently, “I’m tired of all the cloaked warnings and stupid people telling me how to live my life. For a few blessed hours a week I get to relax and speak my mind and be me. I’m not hurting anyone. I just get a chance to relax and not to care about anything besides this. I like him and I think he likes me. Why can’t I have a few hours a week that mean something? Why can’t he? We’re not fucking children! We can make up our own minds.”

Tom looked at him steadily and then smiled, “Welcome to the Everleigh Club, where all your dreams can come true. You surprise me kid; you’re not what I would have pegged you for when you first came in.”

Jared glared daggers at him.

Tom smiled, “I mean that in the best way Jared. You have the girls wrapped around your fingers, Minna and Ada sing your praises, and Mike grumbles that he doesn’t see you enough. And Jensen..well, you all about that. You’ve got more back bone than I have ever given you credit for.”

Jared’s hands balled up at his side.

Tom looked at him seriously and let out a sigh, “I know Jensen tells you this is just the fantasy, but you’ve really got to know that this is as much the real world as the place outside of these doors. It can hurt and be happy just as much.”

Jared gripped the banister, his knuckles turning white with the pressure.

That lesson was being learned every moment of every day.

**

It was almost dawn when Jensen came in, a very drunk Sophia was entertaining Jared.

Jensen’s hair was wet and he was wearing simple trousers and a soft jersey shirt. He sat next to Jared, his hands folded. One look and Sophia scurried out of the balcony

Jared didn’t speak for longer than Jensen had ever heard him not speak.

“I know they’ve been talking,” Jensen finally said, “Just stop thinking and get it out.”

Jared was quiet as he gathered his words.

“I’ve had all of the people in this place who love you, telling me to stay away,” Jared said, looking at his hands, “Tell me to leave if that is what you want. Tell me to go away.”

Jared’s voice broke and Jensen knew what this was and he didn’t want to go there. Jensen didn’t want to go there, but he had let Jared in a little and it threatened to tear him apart if he didn’t let him in all the way. He didn’t want to do this, but something at him was clawing at him, was clawing its way out from a place that he didn’t even recognize.

So he breathed in air of confidence and let out a string of confessions, because Jared needed to know the whole story.

“I was thirteen and the only thing I’ve ever loved was dying. My sister was mine to protect and I did what I had to. My mom was dead and my brother was an outlaw,” Jensen said, willing himself not to cry, “For the last fifteen years all I could do was put one foot in front of the other and continue on. I did what I needed to in order to survive, and most of it hasn’t been pretty. I’ve done things that make me feel dirty just to think about, but then I’m standing in front of you and I feel clean, I feel as if the past decade and a half wasn’t me. When I’m standing in front of you something in me feels whole, I feel like a real person. You see me as a real person and that is all I can feel.”

Jared looked at him, drinking in Jensen.

“I didn’t fuck any of them Jared,” Jensen said, not meeting Jared’s eyes, “They wanted to. I-I just couldn’t. I could still feel you. It just seemed wrong.”

The last part was barely a whisper. It was forced out as if it was too much to bear.

Jensen hated himself for saying it, but the look in Jared’s eyes had been of betrayal, which wasn’t fair, but it was there. Jensen had to say something real, to let Jared know that.

Jared reached out and traced down Jensen’s jaw-line. He leaned in for a kiss.

And that is when the shots rang out.

Ten.