Song As Old As Rhyme - PART TWO

[amypond45]

After dinner, the men settled into the living room to watch the game. When it became clear that the Rangers were losing (again), Jensen and Chris took guitars off their stands and started to play. Trading song choices and guitar solos, they harmonized and sang until Jensen’s throat felt raw. They finished the bottle of wine and cracked open Jensen’s best whisky, and after an hour, Jensen decided they’d never sounded better.

Jared watched from the armchair, eyes never leaving Jensen’s face. His gaze was heated, intentional, but thoughtful at the same time. Jensen felt known and cared about by the big man, even if they’d only met a few hours before. He still couldn’t make sense of his feelings for Jared, but he was becoming more comfortable with them, even if he couldn’t control the occasional full-body shiver when he met Jared’s eye. He was beginning to enjoy the feeling of being a little out of control where Jared was concerned. Jared was a loose cannon. Unpredictable. Jensen had a feeling that life with Jared would never be boring.

When Jensen started singing “You Make Me Want All of You,” Chris sang soft backups as Jensen locked eyes with Jared, who finally had the decency to blush and look away, biting his lip and grinning adorably.

Chris whistled as the song ended. “And I think that’s my cue to leave you two alone,” he drawled as he got up to set his guitar back on its stand.

As Jensen got up to walk him to the door, he could feel Jared’s eyes on his backside.

“Something tells me things are going to work out after all,” Chris said, turning back to Jensen on the front porch.

Jensen shook his head. “I’m not good with the whole romance thing, Chris, you know that. I’ve always been a love ‘em and leave ‘em type.”

“Got a feeling this time’s gonna be different,” Chris suggested with a knowing grin. “I’ve known you a long time, Jensen, and there’s something about this guy. Something about you two together. It’s gonna be interesting, that’s all I’m saying.”

Jensen took a deep breath, spread his arms, and shrugged. “Maybe?”

Chris reached out and clasped Jensen’s shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze before letting him go.

“See you tomorrow, dude.”

Jensen nodded and watched Chris walk away before turning to walk back into the house. Living close enough to walk to each other’s homes had its perks, especially on drinking nights like this one. Jensen had even considered asking Chris to move in with him, to save his friend the rent on his own place, but Jensen knew himself too well for that. He’d always needed his space. He didn’t share well with others. Roommates had never liked him, and vice versa. He was certain that the best way to ruin his friendship with Chris was to live with him.

Which brought Jensen’s thoughts around to Jared.

“So, you want to move your stuff in?” Jensen asked as he strolled back into the living room, where he’d left Jared a moment before.

But the big man had disappeared. As Jensen cleaned up in the kitchen, he fully expected Jared to reappear from the bathroom or wherever he’d gone off to, but when he hadn’t shown up by the time Jensen was ready to turn in for the evening, his doubts about Jared returned. Maybe he’d scared the big guy away. Maybe welcoming Jared into his home and offering him a job had been too much, too soon.

Jensen couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

As Jensen went through the steps of locking up the house, turning out the lights, he tried not to let his disappointment get the better of him. Jared had obviously come to his senses, realized his weird little ruse wasn’t working, and slipped out to go back to wherever he came from. Probably to get something to eat, since he must be starving by now.

Jensen shrugged his shirt off, tugged his t-shirt off, and dropped them both in the laundry chute on the way to his bedroom. He’d just turned the hall light off and opened his bedroom door when he stopped and gasped at the sight before him.

Jared lay sprawled on the bed, completely naked, leisurely stroking his enormous, fully-erect cock.

Reading Jensen’s shocked expression, Jared grinned, lazy and sure of himself.

“Oh no,” Jensen growled, tearing his eyes away from the luscious feast laid out on his bed. “The guest room is yours. You can’t - You can’t sleep in here.”

“I don’t sleep,” Jared reminded him.

“You can’t stay in here,” Jensen tried again.

“Why not?” Jared folded his free hand behind his head. “You want me.”

“That’s - That’s not the point.”

Jensen wished he’d left his shirt on. Jared’s eyes were devouring him, staring at his chest and his crotch like a starving man. Like a man who already owned him. He licked his lips, slow and sensual.

“I need you to listen to me, Jay.” Jensen used his sternest voice, ignoring his own use of the nickname that rolled off his tongue as if he’d always used it.

Jared’s eyes lifted to his, surprised and curious. He could feel the familiarity, too. Jensen was sure of it. Jared was experiencing the same feeling of having known Jensen all his life that Jensen felt. The nickname felt right to Jared, too.

Jensen took advantage of the moment to cross into the room, scoop Jared’s discarded clothing off the floor, and throw it at him, effectively covering him up.

“I’m hot for you, not gonna pretend I’m not,” Jensen said, struggling to keep his voice from shaking. “But I really meant it when I said it earlier: we need to get to know each other. Let’s take the sex out of the equation for a few days.”

“Why?” Jared seemed genuinely perplexed.

“Because it’s distracting, that’s why!” Jensen threw up his hands. “You are distracting! This hot sex-god you. And I want to know what’s really going on. I want to get to know you when you’re not being a sex machine.”

“Why?” At least Jared had stopped stroking himself. He’d stopped looking so smug and seductive, too. The vulnerability was back, and Jensen was smitten again.

“Because - Because I think I could grow to like you,” Jensen admitted, finally just laying it out there because suddenly it felt really important to make Jared understand. “I think there could be something real between us, and I’m willing to take that chance, if you are. We just need to give it some space.”

Jensen watched in fascination as Jared’s expression slipped another notch into hopeless cluelessness, which was totally irresistible, of course.

“Oh,” he said hesitantly. “Okay.”

Jensen took a deep breath. “Okay. So, you can have the guest room. As long as you like. And you can drop the whole genie schtick, because I’m already hooked. Got it?”

Jared blinked up at him, obviously still not understanding something.

“I don’t sleep,” he reminded Jensen.

Jensen’s spine prickled, whether with some kind of irritation with Jared for clinging to his weird pretense, or because of something else, Jensen couldn’t be sure.

“Okay, so just hang out in there until I wake up tomorrow morning,” Jensen said. “I need to sleep, and I need to be sure you won’t roam around the house while I’m sleeping.” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “Unless you’re hungry, of course. You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen, no questions asked.”

Jared frowned. He seemed vaguely annoyed with Jensen, but all he said was, “I don’t eat.”

Jensen rolled his eyes. “Just humor me here, okay? I need a little space.”

Jared gazed at him another moment, frowning, as if he was trying to understand something.

Jensen sighed. He put his hands on Jared’s shoulders, turned him toward the door, and gave him a little push.

“Go. I’ll see you in the morning.”

When Jared acquiesced, still holding his clothes in front of him, Jensen nodded.

“That’s it. Thank you. And please, for the love of everything holy, put those clothes on and keep them on. I know they’re too small; we’ll get you something your size tomorrow. But for now, don’t be naked, okay?”

Jared gave him a little nod, and Jensen breathed a sigh of relief as he pointed the way to the guest bedroom, then retreated to his own bedroom and shut the door.

It was going to be a long night.



JARED:

Jared had never met anyone like Jensen.

Jared had met a lot of humans, over his many years, but never one who seemed so confident yet unsure of himself at the same time. Jensen was the most captivating human Jared had ever met. Of course, there was magic involved. There had to be.

The bond between them was magical, of course. Jensen was Jared’s summoner, his master. Jared was bound to keep Jensen safe until he performed the magic of The Wish. Once The Wish was granted, their bond would be broken, presumably. At least, that’s how it always went.

Except Jared couldn’t help thinking there was something different this time. Jensen had surprised him by wishing for Jared’s freedom. Jared didn’t know what to make of that, other than it was obviously not a True Wish because it wasn’t something that benefited Jensen in any way. Jared understood that it was his job to convince Jensen that The Wish was real. Jensen needed to make his choice wisely and with full knowledge of the power of The Wish itself.

Except, Jared had granted frivolous wishes before. He’d never required that the summoner understand what he was asking for. Sometimes, it was easier to grant frivolous wishes. The whole point was to get The Wish done, not to make sure the human who made the wish understood what he was doing. The consequences of bad wishes, stupid wishes, selfish wishes, were the whole point. No bad wish went unpunished. No good wish worked out perfectly.

Jensen’s wish was something else. It was uninformed, naive, consequential in ways Jensen couldn’t possibly understand. Setting Jared free meant he would be beholden to Jensen. It meant he would be bound to Jensen in a way that might even be worse than the curse that had bound Jared in the first place.

Jared wasn’t good at being grateful, and it seemed to him that Jensen’s wish was designed to coerce Jared’s gratitude.

But that wasn’t even the thing that bothered Jared most. What bothered him most was the fact that he cared enough about Jensen’s wish to hope that it was a True Wish. If Jensen really understood what it would mean to have his wish granted, he could be the agent of Jared’s freedom.

And Jared desperately desired freedom.

There was just one problem. Jensen didn’t believe him. Jensen didn’t believe that Jared was really a genie who could grant wishes. If Jensen didn’t believe, then Jared couldn’t grant a True Wish.

Somehow, Jared had to convince Jensen that he was who he said he was, that he could do what he promised he could do. And he had to do that within three days.

After three days with no Wish, the curse would suck Jared right back into the lantern, where he would stay until he was summoned again by someone else.

Jared had three days.



JENSEN

Jensen was almost disappointed when he woke up the next morning to find Jared NOT in bed with him. Almost. Because it was also an immense turn-on to think that Jared respected him enough to do as Jensen asked.

Even if Jensen himself wasn’t sure he’d really meant it.

He got up and jerked off in the shower, fantasizing about Jared’s mouth and hands all over him, his gigantic cock sliding into his ass. It really had been the very best sex of his life. Maybe he was being a complete fool not to keep it coming.

Although coming while imagining Jared all over him was almost as good as the real thing.

Almost.

He found the big man in the kitchen, reading Jensen’s newspaper.

“I can’t believe you still get a paper newspaper,” Jared commented as Jensen poured himself a cup of coffee.

“I’m an old-fashioned guy,” Jensen answered, savoring the thrill he felt just seeing Jared.

Sunlight streaming through the window gave Jared’s hair a halo-effect, and Jensen shivered. His memories didn’t do justice to Jared’s beauty. In the morning light, there was an ethereal, magical quality about Jared that took Jensen’s breath away.

“So. Bacon and eggs?”

Jared looked up from the paper with an annoyed frown. “Jensen.”

“Right, right, right. You don’t eat.”

Jensen shook his head, glancing around the kitchen for any evidence that Jared may have eaten something while Jensen was sleeping.

But of course there wasn’t any evidence. Whatever drugs Jared was on, they allowed him to go a long time between meals.

Or maybe Jared was sneaking snacks on the sly.

“Well, I eat,” Jensen said, opening the fridge to pull out eggs, bacon, and whole grain breast for the toaster. “And I’m starving.”

He could feel Jared’s eyes on him as he prepared the food. When he glanced over, Jared was openly ogling his backside. Jensen grinned.

“We’re going to get you some clothes today,” he announced. “Something that fits you better than that t-shirt and sweatpants. And you need shoes.”

Jared smirked, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his ample chest.

“You like me in this t-shirt,” he challenged.

Jensen blushed and dropped his gaze to the food he was preparing. “Yeah, but I don’t need anybody else seeing you in that t-shirt,” he teased. “You look too good in it.”

“Maybe I should take it off,” Jared suggested, uncrossing his arms.

“No! No! Keep it on! For God’s sake, Jared. Show a little kindness.”

Jared smirked again, but did as Jensen asked. “Did you miss me last night?”

Jensen blushed again, shook his head. “You’re a piece of work, you know that?”

He finished cooking the eggs, dumped them on a plate next to the bacon, lightly buttered the toast, and brought the plate and his cup of coffee to the table.

“I’ll bet you jerked of in the shower thinking about me,” Jared suggested.

Jensen blinked, then blushed again. He set the plate and cup down across from Jared and sat down, shaking his head.

“Impossible,” he muttered, unable to prevent the grin that split his face open. “That’s what you are.”

“You like it,” Jared announced smugly. He crossed his arms over his chest again and leaned back in his chair, making the bulge in his sweatpants impossible to ignore.

“You know I like it,” Jensen muttered around a bite of toast. “That’s not the problem.”

“And what is the problem again?”

Jensen shook his head, took a bite of eggs, and washed it down with his coffee.

“I already explained it to you,” he said. “I need to get to know you first. Before we have sex again, that is.”

Jared nodded. “Uh-huh. Because the sex is so good you can’t think about anything else.”

Jensen shook his head and took a bite of bacon. Jared’s eyes dropped to his mouth, then to his throat as he swallowed. Jensen could feel his dick swelling up in his jeans, and when he lifted his eyes to Jared’s, he was pretty sure they were blown dark with lust.

“Let’s just get through the day,” he said, keeping his voice steadier than he felt. “Okay?”

They went to three shoe stores before they found Jared a pair of sneakers that fit his big feet. The Walmart just outside town had a t-shirt and jeans that fit, luckily, since they were already running out of time. On impulse, Jensen grabbed a black faux-leather jacket off the rack as they were on their way to the checkout station.

The jacket made Jared look hotter than Jensen could have imagined. He blushed awkwardly when Jared put it on after the clerk took off the anti-theft device, and of course, Jared noticed. The bastard posed, hands on the jacket lapels, chin dipped to his chest, legs planted apart in the nicely-fitted jeans, licking his lips seductively.

“Oh my God, Jared,” Jensen muttered under his breath. “You need to stop.”

Jared winked at the store clerk, and now she was blushing, too. She glanced between them, obviously finding them both attractive and amusing. Jensen finished the transaction, shaking his head as he tucked his credit card into his wallet, then shoved the bag of clothes into Jared’s arms.

“Come on, you,” he directed as he half-pushed, half-pulled Jared out the door into the parking lot. “Jesus, Jared. I can’t take you anywhere.”

Jared kept grinning all the way to the car. When he slid into the passenger seat, he leaned back, deliberately letting his legs splay open, and grabbed his crotch. Jensen could see the bulge through Jared’s brand-new jeans, had to force himself to look away as Jared’s big hand squeezed and rubbed.

“Damn it, Jay, that’s enough!”

But Jensen didn’t sound too convincing, even to himself. He kept his eyes averted as Jared rubbed himself, tipping his head back to expose his throat. With his eyes half-mast, his cheeks flushed and his lips bitten red, he looked like sex incarnate.

Jensen rolled his eyes, pretending he wasn’t impressed as he punched in the number for the Lone Star.

“We’re on our way,” he told Chris when his friend picked up. “Jared’s gonna need an apron.”

//**//**

The rest of the day went better than Jensen expected. Jared fit right in at the Lone Star, despite his height and outrageously good looks. Within the first hour, Jared was washing dishes, busing tables, and cleaning and wiping down tables like a pro.

Jensen tended bar through the lunch hour, just to keep an eye on Jared, but the man didn’t really need looking after. He could clearly do the job.

When the lunch crowd thinned out, Chris took over the bartending and let Jared go for a few hours before the evening shift.

“Did he eat anything?” Jensen hiss-whispered to Chris as Jared took off his apron and hung it up in the kitchen closet.

Chris shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. Nor stopped to take a drink. Not even water. Kid’s a machine. Hard-working and steady, at least as far as I can tell.”

Jensen nodded. That had been his impression as well, although the not-eating-or-drinking thing still bothered him.

“No sign of drug use, neither,” Chris added. “Of course, there’s millions of ways of hiding that.”

Jensen sighed. “He’s just an enigma wrapped in a taco.”

“Pretty much,” Chris agreed. “Why don’t you take him with you this afternoon? Let him see what you do when you’re not bartending.”

So Jensen brought Jared with him to the animal shelter where he volunteered once a week. They walked the dogs, played with the cats, chatted with the staff, and left with a list of most-needed items for Jensen’s shopping list for his next visit.

“That was -” Jared seemed to be searching for the right word. “Fun.”

Jensen nodded. “Fair enough,” he agreed. “Fun is definitely part of why I go there.”

Jared frowned, and Jensen could feel Jared’s eyes on him, considering, as Jensen drove.

“You like helping people,” he commented finally. “Helping animals, and people.”

Jensen scoffed lightly, keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s more like trying to give back,” he said sincerely. “I got dealt a really good hand in the game of Life. It’s only fair that I should pass some of that luck along to others who are far more deserving.”

Jared was quiet, which surprised Jensen so much he pulled the car over, turned on the seat to face him.

“What’s really going on, Jared, huh? How come you came to me? What are you doing, man? I mean, I get that you need help, and you’re the hottest thing on two legs so I’m an easy mark, but why? Why are so perfect for me? What’s your game?”

Jared’s face fell. A momentary look of real sadness crossed his beautiful features, then dropped off as Jared tried - and failed - to reclaim his former cocky self-assurance.

“I don’t know, Jensen,” he muttered, keeping his eyes lowered. “You tell me.”

Jensen took a deep breath, struggling to keep his disappointment and frustration in check.

“So you want money,” he suggested finally. Quietly.

Jared’s eyes flew open wide. Jensen couldn’t help meeting his gaze because Jared looked so startled, so desperate.

Jensen’s eyebrows raised. “What?”

Jared shook his head. “Let me show you, Jensen. Just let me show you.”

It was Jensen’s turn to frown, confused. “Okay.”

Jared reached a hand up, letting it hover over Jensen’s cheek until Jensen acquiesced.

“Close your eyes.”

Jensen hesitated another minute, then obeyed. This time it wasn’t the desire to be dominated by Jared that made him submit. It was sheer trust. A trust he shouldn’t have felt, but did anyway.

As soon as Jared touched him, Jensen’s world collapsed. He was standing on a stage, Jared at his side, thousands of screaming fans applauding and stamping their feet for as far as the eye could see in front of them. The knowledge that he and Jared had ignited all this pleasure and gratitude flooded his brain. He suddenly understood that he and Jared were the stars of a television show which had captured the hearts of millions. They were a phenomenal success, but even more importantly, they had done something that mattered. They had made the world a better place.

It was everything Jensen had wanted, once.

Jensen’s eyes flew open, shocked and more than a little spooked.

“How did you do that?” he demanded breathlessly. It had felt so real.

“I grant wishes, Jensen,” Jared said gently. “I can see into your heart, find your deepest desire, and grant it for you. It’s what I do.”

Jensen frowned. “But I don’t want that. Not anymore. Maybe ten years ago, but now?” He huffed out a nervous laugh. “Seriously, man, how did you do that?”

Jared took a deep breath, let it out on a long sigh. “I told you. Why don’t you believe me? I need you to believe me, Jensen.”

“Why?” Jensen searched Jared’s face for some sign that he was joking, that the game he was playing was just that: a game.

Jared took another breath, huffed it out in that skeptical, defeatist way of his, as if he was so sure Jensen couldn’t trust him.

“Because if you don’t, then I go back. Try again. Let somebody else find me so I can keep doing what I’m supposed to do.” When he read the cluelessness in Jensen’s face, he rolled his eyes. “Granting wishes. Endlessly.”

Jensen felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Jared seemed so serious, so helpless. What he was describing was something he hated deeply. Something that filled him with despair.

Yet he was grimly determined to endure it, for however long it took.

“Look, I’m not saying I believe you, but I can see you really mean what you say,” Jensen said. “It’s meaningful to you. And if there’s something I can do to help you, I’m on board, Jared. I’m all in.”

Jared reached out, cupped Jensen’s cheek. Jensen leaned into the touch, his eyes sliding closed, lips parting as his breath quickened.

“You’re not just beautiful on the outside,” Jared murmured. “It might be worth it, just to have known you.”

Jensen couldn’t help hoping Jared would kiss him. He wanted it. His feelings for Jared were more intense than anything he’d ever experienced, and they weren’t just sexual. Jensen was sure of that.

He could see himself spending the rest of his life with Jared.

Maybe it was that crazy vision of the two of them together on that stage. In the vision, he and Jared were together in every way. Partners, best friends, lovers. Jared was the most important person in his life.

That was Jensen’s deepest, darkest wish. To have Jared with him, always.

When Jared let him go and turned away with a sad little smile, Jensen tried not to be disappointed.

And failed miserably.

ON TO PART THREE