Fic: Fortune Favors the Brave (1/1)

[firesign10]

"Jeez, you got any room left for me?" Jared laughed when Chad, his best friend, pulled up to his apartment. Chad already had some of their friends packed into his car. Jared opened the front passenger door, pushing Sandy over on the bench seat and squeezing in next to her.

"Just don't push me into Chad," she said, sticking her tongue out at Chad as he sat behind the steering wheel.

"Hey, don't give me any of your cooties!" he retorted.

They continued bickering as the other passengers laughed and bantered. They were all happy and excited because they were off to spend the day at the Renaissance Faire. Happily, it was the most perfect, sunny, blue-skied day Jared could have hoped for. He loved attending the Ren Faire; the panoply of the costumed players and guests, the lively entertainments and side-shows, the food! He'd been looking forward to attending all week, making plans with Chad and their friends. They were going to spend the whole day throwing axes, watching jousting and swordplay, eating giant turkey legs, and drinking mead.

The Faire was not far, and they were unloading themselves from the car within the hour. Everyone had a different thing they wanted to do first. While the others went off to check out the stage event schedule, Chad, Jared, and Sandy opted to walk down the middle of the crafters' alley and check out the various vendors. First for all of them, though, was a visit to the mead tent.

"Damn, this stuff is so good," proclaimed Chad, drinking deeply from his pewter mug.

"Wow, it's strong this year! But damn tasty," agreed Jared. He drained his mug and got a refill for drinking as they ambled around.

Sandy had chosen a lighter cider rather than the heavier mead, but she said it was also delicious. They happily began their perusal of vendor booths, moving very slowly as each one was more interesting than the last. All manner of crafts were represented; tooled leather works, metal and chainmail crafters, weavers and sewers with bright robes and scarves, and several styles of jewelry were on display. Jared saw a cobbler making boots, as well as sword smiths and armorers. Interspersed between these booths were food and drink vendors, including one offering the giant turkey legs which Jared availed himself of promptly.

Turkey leg in one hand and mead mug in the other, Jared enjoyed the sunshine, but also appreciated the shade offered by the canopied booths. Various fortune telling services were open for business,tucked between all the comestibles and goods booths. He saw a rune caster, two tarot readers, a palmist, an astrologist, and a crystal ball reader. Sandy was oohing and ahhing at all the beautiful crafts, pausing at every booth to examine their wares.  Chad was torn between checking out the crafters and ogling the pretty girls walking by in their gowns and garb. Corsets were the popular costume of the day for the women, and Jared thought Chad was going to walk into a tent-pole the way his gaze was fixed on all of the plump bosoms displayed.

"Dude, you're going to brain yourself if you don't watch where you're going," Jared chided his friend.

"I can't help it. It's a veritable feast for the eyes. Or ol' one-eye anyway," Chad retorted. He slurped some mead and adjusted his jeans.

"God, you are a pig," Sandy said, rolling her eyes.

One of the fortune teller's tents caught Jared's eye. A banner hung over the entrance of the royal blue tent that showed an open hand, palm up, with some kind of smoke or mist rising from it. In the mist, gold script read, "Fortunes with Rowena."

"That's a pretty name," Sandy commented. "Maybe I'll get my fortune told."

Chad blew a raspberry, and Sandy punched him in the arm. "Ow!" he cried in only partially mock pain.

"Girl can hit, dude," Jared said mildly. "You should know better by now."

"Well, I'm going in. You guys coming?" Sandy walked up to the tent opening and paused, looking back at them in challenge.

"Do you want us to hear your fortune?" Jared asked.

"Why not? I have no secrets!" She laughed lightly and went into the tent.

Jared and Chad looked at each other, shrugged, and followed her.

The inside of the tent somehow looked larger than the outside to Jared. While he had to duck to enter, inside he was able to straighten up. The tent sides were draped in the same royal blue as the outside, with gold roping looped around the bottom of the tent top. A small plush settee, upholstered in antique gold brocade and with a couple of purple pillows on it, stood on one side of the tent. A black wicker etagere was on the other side, filled with some books and mysterious-looking, odd-shaped bottles of every hue. A brass, tear-drop incense censer hung from the apex of the tent,with small swirls of smoke emanating from the holes punched through the metal.

In the center of the tent, a round table of some dark wood sat on a round Oriental rug. Two low stools, upholstered in turquoise leather, sat before it, and behind it, sat Rowena. She was tiny; Jared thought she'd maybe reach his shoulder, and her petite form was delicate. She was sheathed in a dark purple velvet gown with a deep V-neck and purple chiffon sleeves that floated down her arms. Her dark red hair tumbled down in long curls, framing a sharp-featured face that could only be described as having porcelain skin. Dark makeup enhanced her eyes and gave her an exotic air.

"Well, isn't this lovely! Have you come to see Rowena and get your fortunes then?" Rowena's voice was musical, and Jared was somehow surprised at her Scottish accent.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Rowena laughed and said, "Oh aye, there be witches and mystical people aplenty in the Highlands! Now come and sit. One will have to stand--you, my tall lad." She gestured for Chad and Sandy to sit, and Jared stood awkwardly behind them.

Rowena clasped her bird-like hands, her long purple nails shining in the sunlight that leaked in through slits in the tent walls. In front of her were a crystal ball on an onyx stand, a velvet bag with rune-stones spilling out, and a tarot deck.

"Which way d'ya choose? I also read palms and tea leaves, but I left the chicken bones at home." Her laughter trilled out as she spread her hands, showing the choices.

Sandy looked at Chad and then at Jared, eyes questioning. Jared shrugged, and Chad said, "I don't know. Whatever you want, it's your fortune."

Sandy resolutely turned back to Rowena.

"I choose...crystal ball." She giggled. "I want to know who I'm going to marry, and that's the fairy tale classic!"

Rowena smiled and nodded. "Crystal ball it is."

She picked up the crystal ball and its stand and put it in the center of the table. Jared thought he saw swirling shadows and misty figures moving inside the crystal.

That incense must really be muddling my brain, he thought.

Rowena made signs in the air over the ball, murmuring words in a language Jared didn't recognize. Not Latin, like he'd expected. Maybe, Gaelic? Did they speak Gaelic in Scotland, he wondered.

The swirls became more distinct in color, but his eyes strained to make them look like anything corporeal before he reminded himself that this was all pretend.

Except Sandy seemed to be taking it seriously. Jared realized Rowena must have  revealed Sandy’s fortune to her while he'd been spacing out.

"Chad! What? That--you must have made a mistake!" Sandy looked at Chad in horror. His face reflected that horror back. "I'd never marry Chad!" She jumped up and ran from the tent.

"Well, I'd never marry you either!" yelled Chad. He stood up and pulled out his wallet. "Sorry, I'll pay for her. How much?"
Rowena told him, a small smile on her crimson lips. Chad put the money on the table and turned to leave, bumping shoulders with Jared.

"Good luck, dude. Hope you have better luck than we did." He snorted and left the tent.

"Ah well, they'll come round soon enough," Rowena said complacently. She waved at the empty stools. "Come, laddie, sit. I don't bite."

Jared sat down, suddenly feeling very nervous. What had just happened?

"Is that--are they really--"

"Going to be married? Aye, and they will be very happy too. It's a true love match." She shook her head, her red curls bouncing. "The wee bairns just don't know yet." She sighed happily. "And now, my boy, what can we do for you?"

"Uh..." Jared wasn't sure what to pick. In fact, after the thing with Chad and Sandy he wasn't sure he wanted to even do this now. But he felt it would be rude to just get up and leave, so he blurted, "Palm reading."

"Ah, a fine choice." She reached for his hand. He'd tossed the bone of his turkey leg into the trash before entering, and he put his mug down by his feet. His hand was still rather greasy though, but she saw it before she touched him. She smiled and said, "Not to worry. I have wipes here." She reached under the tablecloth and pulled out a package of pre-moistened hand-wipes.

"Oh, thank you. I didn't know we'd be coming in here." Jared chuckled gratefully and took a wipe, cleaning all the turkey grease off his hand.

"No, but I did," Rowena said coyly. Jared stared at her, but she took his hand and held it with the palm facing up, and was poring over it.

"Well, you're not going to be a millionaire, dearie, but you will make a comfortable living. You have a long life line, but be sure to take care of your health, you won't be a twenty-something forever. You've a sharp mind and a good heart. Overall, you should have a happy life."

"Oh, um, well...thank you," Jared said, not sure of the etiquette for getting one's fortune told. Should he tip?

"But what's really interesting," Rowena released his hand and sat back, looking at him with a small smile. "You have a soulmate, Jared. And he's here in this very town."

Jared looked uncomprehendingly at her. "A soulmate?"

She nodded. "Aye. Not just a spouse, not even just true love, but a soulmate. Someone you have been and are again destined to be with. And somehow, through the vagaries of time and space, you are both here in this place."

"What? I...I don't think I understand." Jared's head felt muddled again.

"Oh come now! Have ye never read a romance, watched a movie about love instead of great lumbering dinosaurs or superheros? A soulmate, Jared, someone who is half of your heart and mind! And he's here! You just have to go get him!"

Jared had a split second of gratitude that his apparent soulmate was a guy, or else that could have been awkward.

"Okay, so--who is it?"

Rowena took his hand again. She made some gestures over it with her other hand, then reached into a little jade bowl next to the crystal ball. Withdrawing her fingers, she sprinkled something on his palm that smelled like cinnamon but sparkled like glitter.

Jared gasped as a whitish mist rose from his palm, just like the picture on the banner outside. The mist grew a little thicker, and then a face formed inside it. A handsome face with large eyes set over perfect cheekbones, a full mouth and strong jawline. A face that stunned Jared...

"Oh my God," Jared exclaimed. "That's--that's Jensen!"






Jensen Ackles looked up from behind the library circulation desk at the tall man who'd just dashed in the front doors.

"Hello? Uh..can I help you?" He pushed his silver wire-rim glasses up his nose a bit.

"Yes! It's me, Jared. Jared Padalecki. You know, I come in every Tuesday for new books?" Jared was practically vibrating, bouncing a little on his toes, a nervous smile playing about his face.

Jensen certainly remembered Jared by sight. It was not difficult. Jared was very tall, wide shoulders and a slender waist (although Jensen could see muscles under his T-shirts, very nice muscles indeed), with curly brown hair and pretty eyes. He always seemed to be in a good mood while getting his books checked out.

"Oh, yes, of course, Mr. Padalecki. You have quite a wide range of interests. And then, there are the ...romance novels." Bodice rippers, Jensen thought with amusement. Fat paperbacks with covers depicting women with flowing hair and half-clad bosoms along with mostly shirtless men. A bit of an unusual reading choice for a guy, but Jensen didn't really judge.

"Oh God," Jared sighed. "Those--those aren't for me. It's my stupid friend Chad. He loves them, but he makes me get them for him. I'm his supplier, I guess. Or his enabler."
A chuckle broke free from Jensen. This tall handsome guy stammering about his friend's reading habits was really cute.

"Okay, well, what can I help you with today? Fiction or non-fiction? The new Stephen King is out on the New Books table."

"No, thanks. I mean, yes, you can help me with something." Jensen saw a pink flush rise in Jared's cheeks. "I was wondering...would you go on a date with me?"

Jensen stared at Jared. That was not what he'd expected to hear.

"What? Um..why do you..." His words trailed off.

Jared stopped bouncing. "Well, you love books, obviously because you're a librarian." He gave a little laugh. "And you're so nice to everyone."

It had been a while since Jensen had been asked out--he knew he was stand-offish around people--but this was one of the odder invitations so far.

Jared sighed. "I'm not great at this," he said. He reached out and picked up Jensen's hand, holding it gently. "But I like you, and I think--I think we'd get along really well. I have to ask you to trust me on that."

As Jared held Jensen's hand, Jensen felt a tingle run through his body, like static electricity only strong enough to reach to his toes. His heart beat a little faster.

What the heck was that?

Jared was still stumbling over his words, and Jensen tuned back in just in time to hear him say, "And you're--well, have you looked in the mirror? You're very handsome."

Jensen froze.

You're so handsome.

What a beautiful boy!

Smile, Jensen, a big one now. Work the camera!

That mouth! Those eyes! Twink heaven right there.

Turn and stop. Again. Eyes on the camera, Jensen!

Undo another button, Jensen. One more. That's it!

Blinking, Jensen came out of the fugue he'd fallen into to see Jared staring at him with a concerned look on his face.

"Are--are you okay?" he asked.

Jensen shook himself. That was all in the past. He was a librarian now, safe behind his sweater vest and glasses, the circulation desk and the books. Not a piece of boy-shaped meat for everyone to dress and shoot, paw and pose.

< i>It's too bad, he thought distantly. I thought he seemed so nice. I might have even said yes.

"No. I don't date. Excuse me, I'm busy." Jensen turned and walked away from the desk, ignoring an open-mouthed Jared as well as the tingle still sparking inside him.




"Jesus, that's bizarre." Chad shook his head. "What was going on there?"

He'd met Jared at their favorite local coffee shop, Cuppa Joe, when Jared had texted him after the library debacle.

Jared shrugged. "I have no idea. It was like a switch flipped inside him and he just shut down." He ran a hand through his hair. "How am I going to tell him we're soulmates if I can't even get him to come on a date with me?" He toyed with the sugar packets from the black china bowl on the checkerboard laminate table.

"Google him?" Chad asked. "Maybe you'll find something out?"

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Jared pulled his phone out and typed Jensen's name into the browser. He blinked at the amount of information that popped up. "Oh, man...Chad, look at this."

Chad scootched his chair over next to Jared, and together they looked through the results. Jared scrolled through the pictures his search had unearthed.

A young Jensen--ten? eleven?--in a catalog picture wearing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajamas. Another around the same age, wearing sky blue pajamas and a dark blue robe. One featuring Mario pajamas, and one with him in khakis and a short sleeve shirt pretending to sing into a ketchup bottle. A little older, a Boy Scout uniform. A little older again, and some kind of horrid brick pants, shot against a brick wall, of all things.

And finally, a few shots of a teenage Jensen. In a white wife-beater, his lithe musculature displayed. A khaki shirt, hanging open. And a spectacularly ugly black shirt with white and black spots on it, still tucked into his pants but hanging off his bare shoulders. Blond hair parted in the middle and hanging over his forehead, full lips, and big eyes staring at the camera.

"Jesus," Chad murmured. "That's your librarian? Maybe I oughta start checking out my own books."

Jared jabbed him with an elbow. "Dude, he's a kid here."

"Sure, but tell me he didn't grow up just as pretty."

Jared threw a sugar packet at him. "Maybe."

Chad crowed, "So, yes!" Quieting down, he said more soberly, "Sometimes pretty isn't the greatest thing, you know?"

"Yeah," Jared mused, scrolling back through the pictures of cheery-smiling-perfect Jensen. "Sometimes it's not."

His phone buzzed, and he almost dropped it into his coffee. Unknown number.

He answered it anyway, since it was a local exchange.

"Hello?"

"Is this Jared? Jared Padalecki?" A crisp female voice asked.

"Uh, yeah. Who's this?" Jared ignored Chad's questioning look.

"This is Jensen Ackles' best friend, Danneel Harris. I want to talk to you. Meet me at Cuppa Joe, you know, near the library? 5 p.m. I'll know who you are."

"Um, I'm there--I mean here--right now."

"Oh! Sit tight, I'm on my way then." Click.

"What was that?" Chad asked.

Jared shook his head. "Jensen's best friend. And she's coming here now to talk to me." He looked at Chad. "Go. Now. Like, away."

Chad pouted. "I'm gonna miss the good stuff!"

Rolling his eyes, Jared said, "You know I'll fill you in on anything you need to know. Now, good-bye."

Still grumbling faintly, Chad got up and departed. Jared bussed his cup and plate, got himself a fresh cup of coffee, and waited for the mysterious Danneel.

He only had to wait about fifteen minutes. The glass door opened with a chime, and a tall, slender redhead in a bronze leather jacket and chocolate brown dress pants walked in. She came right over to Jared's table and sat down.

"I'm Danneel. I saw you from outside." She gestured at his cup. "I'd like a mocha, no whip, please. Extra cinnamon."

"Um, sure." Jared got up and fetched her the coffee. Placing the cup in front of her, he asked, "So, what is this all about? And how do you know my name and number and everything?"

She sipped her coffee, closing her eyes and relaxing a bit as she savored the hot beverage. Jared was gay, but he could appreciate a pretty woman, and Danneel was very pretty with delicate features and lush auburn hair.

Opening her eyes, Danneel looked at him sternly.

"So, first off, I heard you asked Jensen out. He's...a little complicated. And I snuck onto the library computer behind the desk and got your info." She looked slightly abashed. "I'm sorry, but I really wanted to talk with you."

"Okay. I'm forgoing the invasion of privacy and I'm listening. Does this have anything to do with me asking Jensen out, and his reaction?" Jared leaned forward a little, curious about what Danneel could tell him about his soulmate.

"Yes, it does." She dropped her eyes, picking up her mocha again and drinking before putting it back down to meet Jared's eyes. "I'd prefer you don't tell him about our little chat here, because he can get very huffy sometimes. But I'm not going to make you promise or anything, because that's not fair to you either."

"Okay, Jared said. "I'll play it by ear. If I get to even talk to him again."

"Oh, I think you will. Now, here's the sitch. Jensen was a model when he was a kid, up until he was a teenager old enough to put his foot down. He's ridiculously good-looking, and when he was a kid, he was downright angelic."

Jared blushed. "Yes, I um...I Googled him and saw a bunch of pictures. Pajamas and Scouts and stuff."

She nodded. "Yes. Blond hair, big green eyes, and a mouth Cupid would die for. So it was all catalog work and advertisements, and it's a fairly arduous job. Jensen wasn't wild about it, but he wanted to make his parents happy, and they were really happy when he was bringing in the bucks." She looked away and sighed. Bringing her gaze back to Jared, she said more quietly, "Nothing really bad ever happened. But there was a lot of...treating him like he wasn't a person. Like a piece of meat. A lot of...touching. Casual stuff, let's adjust your shirt, and so on. Just...hands on him all the time, and you know it wasn't all because the clothes needed fixing. Do you know what I mean?"

Jared was horrified. "That's, God! That's awful! No one said anything?"

She gave a half-hearted shrug. "First off, his mom or dad would be right there, and they never said anything. It was all 'button this' and 'adjust that' and pats on the back that lasted too long or went too low. Nothing really overt, but just...gross."

Jared felt slightly queasy, and he wished he hadn't had that second muffin earlier.

"It got worse as he grew older. They wanted him in unbuttoned shirts, or open shirts, or no shirts at all. It was all 'look sultry at the camera, baby' stuff. Jensen was really unhappy about it all. When he hit sixteen, he put his foot down and refused to work again. He threatened his parents that he'd get emancipated and they wouldn't be able to access any of the money that he’d made if they didn't let him retire. That was the end of him modeling."

Jared ran a hand over his face. All those years of being treated like a commodity. A sexy commodity. No wonder Jensen had shut down when Jared commented on his looks.

"And I go and say how handsome he is, and he just--"

"Yep. He withdraws immediately. Anyone who comments on his looks, he thinks they are only interested in one thing, and so he slams the door shut." Danneel sipped her coffee. "This is so delicious, they have the best coffee here."

Jared ignored her comment on the coffee. "I would never--I didn't mean it that way at all! I was just trying to give him a compliment."

Danneel reached out and put her hand over Jared's. "I don't doubt it, now that I've met you. I can see you're not like that. It's just his instinctive reaction."

Jared sat back. "Well, I certainly understand better now. But I really do want to go out with him. So what do I do now?"

"Give him a little space, but don't stop going to the library. You're so cute, and I can see how sweet you are--just go with your heart. Don't try to be anything but who you are. That's what he appreciates. Directness and honesty. If there's even a hint of subterfuge or manipulation, he's out of there."

"Okay. And, um...thank you. I really appreciate this."

She stood up. "My pleasure. We've been best friends forever, and I want him to be happy. He's fairly content, but that's not happy. He deserves to be happy."

Jared stood up and they shook hands.

"I'll do my best."




When Jensen saw Jared in the library two days after the date invitation, his breath caught in his throat. He was still apprehensive about Jared's motives, but at the same time, he couldn't help looking closer at Jared. Jensen noted the obvious--tall, good-looking, thick hair, great cheekbones--and then kicked himself for reducing Jared to a pile of attractive physical characteristics.

He's more than that. Everybody is. Am I no better than they were? 'They' being the collective whispers and hands of his youth--pushing, pulling, pawing.

Reviewing what he knew of Jared from their brief but frequent previous encounters, Jensen cataloged his perceptions.

Jared was intelligent and a big reader. He was in every week to return and check out books. That being said, Jensen had no idea what Jared actually did. It was impossible to tell just from the books he chose. While that was a mystery, on the other hand his wide-ranging selection spoke of a curious, questing mind. That was attractive.

When Jared approached the circulation desk with a couple of books in hand, Jensen could see his hesitation.

"I won't bite." Jensen reached for the books and began to scan the library bars inside their covers. "I apologize for being so rude the other day."

"No, no, I'm sorry. I was kind of, well, abrupt." Jared said softly. "But I would still like to go out with you. If you'd like."

Jensen appreciated Jared's soft tone, and looked up into his face. Jared's eyes looked into his, and Jensen was struck by their unusual coloring; a mix of blue and green that looked...pure. Crystalline. His breath caught again, but not with nerves this time, and he remembered the spark that had coursed through him and the touch of Jared's hand.



"Uh, well, maybe we could...um...do something," he stammered. He finished with the books and handed them back to Jared. "Sometime."

Jared smiled, and Jensen blinked at the radiance of it. And wow, dimples. Deep ones, curving around his mouth, and those crystalline eyes just sparkling. It was hard to deny that Jared was in fact very physically attractive.

And intelligent! And well-read! Jensen firmly reminded himself.

"What about going out for a drink? Or pizza? Or a drink and pizza together?" Jared asked, his eyes wide and soft as they looked at Jensen.

"You aren't very good at this asking for a date thing, are you?" Jensen found himself saying in a teasing tone.

"I'm usually better at it," Jared laughed. "But...this time it's really, really important to me."

Jensen couldn't resist any further. "Sure. That would be nice."

Jared gave one of those radiant smiles again. "How about tonight, if you're free?"

"Wow, um, sure, I guess. No time like the present, huh?" Jensen blinked at the immediacy of the date. "I'll be done here around 6."

"Great! I'll be back here then!" Jared gave a little wave and then zoomed out the door.

Jensen watched Jared practically bounce out of the library, and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. He picked up his phone and punched a button.

"Hi, Dani? You'll never guess what..."




Jared sat in the booth at Pizza Piazza, watching the door for Jensen's arrival. He hadn't quite decided what to tell Jensen yet. Like, how does one say, 'A fortune teller says we're soulmates?'

He groaned. Why was life so weird?

The door swung open and Jensen walked in. Jared stood and waved  him over.

"I love this place," Jensen said as he sat down.

"Me too. Do you want to split something, or get individual pies?"

They decided to split a large meat-lover's pizza, because they both loved meat, but with green peppers only on half.

"So, it's nice to see you at the library. You're always so pleasant, and you check out all kinds of different books," Jensen said. He fiddled with his paper napkin, nervous fingers shredding the corners. "I'm kind of curious what prompted this. And I know you said all that stuff, but...what's really going on? I can't help feeling there's something driving this, you know, behind the scenes as it were." He looked Jared directly in the eyes. "I want to be straight with you. I can't tolerate people hiding behind things, or not being upfront. I've dealt with a lot of that in the past, and I won't stand for it."

Jared hadn't been prepared for quite so much bluntness, but he rolled with it.

"You're right. I mean, I don't have an 'agenda' per se, but I do have a reason for finally asking you out."

Jensen sat back, a resigned look crossing his face.

"Okay, let me hear it. Before we order, I don't want to waste their time here."

Wow, Jared thought. Tough crowd. Okay, buster--lay it on the table.

"I went to the Ren Faire last weekend," Jared began. Jensen opened his mouth, but Jared held up a finger. "You asked me, so give me a chance to speak, okay?" Jensen closed his mouth and nodded. Jared continued. "So I was there, and while I was there, I went to a fortune teller."

Jensen scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Okay, that's enough right there." He started to stand up, but Jared put out a hand.

"Come on, you said you'd hear me out!" he implored.

Jensen sighed, but sat back down. "Fine, go on."

"So I went to this fortune teller, and she told me--well, she said that we--you and me--we're soulmates." Jared exhaled. That was it. Cards were on the table.

Jensen stared at him. "Um...what?"

"We're--"

"Yeah I heard that." Jensen rolled his eyes again. "Wow, I have heard a lot of bad lines to get into my pants, but I think that takes the cake." He stood up. "So long, Jared."

Frantic, Jared stood up too and put his hand out. "Please! I'm not making this up! I don't want to get into your pants!" He frowned. "I think that didn't come out quite like I meant?"

Jensen laughed. "You've got some charm, I gotta give you that. But really, can you blame me? This sounds like--like hogwash!"

Jared blinked. "Does anyone even say that anymore?" Jensen tilted his head and stared at him. "Whatever! The point is, she told me that, and ever since then, I've just been--well, I can't think of anything else but you! You and me!"

They stared at each other and sank back into their seats. The waitress approached them hesitantly.

"Do um...did you want to order something?"

Jared raised an eyebrow at Jensen in askance. "It's your call. I'm not here to pressure you or order you around or fake you out. Just a guy who wants a date...and maybe a pizza."

Jensen studied him a second. The waitress looked back and forth between Jared and Jensen, and just as she started to back away, Jensen nodded.

"Okay. Pizza and a date it is."

With a huge feeling of relief, Jared gave the server their order, plus two beers. Jensen sat quietly until she was gone. He took a deep breath and said, "Okay now...tell me the whole thing."

And Jared did.




"That was a great pizza," Jensen said. He took a final sip of beer, draining his bottle, before he wiped his mouth and put his napkin on the table.

Jared eyed the last piece, but then pushed the pizza away. "Yeah, they do it right here." He bit his lip and looked at Jensen. "So...what do you think?"

Jensen sighed. "Well, it's ridiculous, of course. Some charlatan at the Ren Faire, just telling people what they want to hear."

Jared snorted. "Trust me, Sandy did not want to hear that she's going to marry Chad."

Snickering, Jensen admitted, "True, there is that." While he didn't know Chad, Jared had told him enough over the pizza that he could sympathize with Sandy.

Jared sat back and spread his hands on the table. "I have no reason to tell you such a weird story, Jensen. If I wanted to date you, I'd just ask you out and take my chances. But there was something...if you'd seen it, maybe you'd know why I'm inclined to believe it."

Jensen studied Jared. He couldn't deny that he was attracted to Jared. Then there was that odd sensation when they'd touched hands. Maybe it was just the dry air of the library creating static electricity.

But maybe...it was something more.

Don't I have to trust someone sometime? Dani believes in him. What if it's true?

He arrived at a decision. Standing up, he reached for Jared's hand.

"Let's go, then."

"Where?" Jared asked, looking surprised.

"To the fair. Let's go see this Rowena and find out what the truth is."




Jared kept stealing little sideways glances at Jensen as they drove to the fair. Jensen's face was impassive, but Jared noticed how his fingers were picking nervously at his pants. Since he'd gone straight from the library to the pizza place, Jensen was still in his work clothes of long-sleeve button-down shirt, sweater vest, and khakis. Jared wondered what Jensen would look like in just jeans and a T-shirt. Or...less.

Easy. Right now he could just bolt and that would be the end of it. Jared cautioned himself. He took a deep breath and focused on his driving.

He could still see Jensen out of the corner of his eye though.

They arrived, parked, and bought tickets at the gate. Since dusk was falling, the evening tickets were half-price.

"Please, I've got this," Jared said, gently pushing Jensen's wallet away. "First of all, we're really still on a date, and second, you're only here because of me."

Jensen nodded and shoved his wallet back into his pocket. Now that they were actually there, he looked a little more skittish, his eyes flitting around and his hands balled up in loose fists.

Jared took one of anxious hands in his. "It's going to be okay. I promise." He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Nothing binding will happen. We're just going to talk to the fortune teller so you know I didn't just make this all up." He gently squeezed Jensen's hand.

Jensen gave a small  smile. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, lead the way."

They skipped lingering at any of the booths on the way, although Jared could see Jensen looking around with interest. With darkness falling, the fair had lantern posts up, and the booths all had fairy lights strung around them with more lanterns inside. It gave the already whimsical, colorful place a magical, other-worldly glow.

In a matter of minutes, they stood in front of their destination, the royal blue tent with the gold-lettered sign reading 'Fortunes with Rowena.' Jared looked at Jensen in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Jensen answered, and they entered the tent.

Rowena was standing behind her round table, as if she'd been waiting for them.

"Of course," she said, with a smile. "I've been expecting you." She waved toward the two stools for them to sit.

Jensen's eyes were practically round as he stared at her. Jared could  appreciate Jensen's awe; Rowena was tiny, but had a presence far larger than her form. Today she wore a gown of emerald green lace over antique gold silk, and her red hair was even more striking against it.

She sat down and laced her hands together, resting her elbows on the table and propping up her chin with them.

"What can I do for ye sweet laddies?"

Jared cleared his throat. "I, um, told Jensen about the whole...soulmate thing."

"Oh now! And what d'you think about that, my boy?" She addressed Jensen.

"It sounded kinda...out there. I didn't know if Jared was pulling my leg, so um, well, here we are." Jensen answered in a soft voice.

"I understand. It's difficult when matters delve into the more...intangible side of things, yes? Well then, let's look into this whole thing together, shall we?" Rowena clapped her hands. "Take each other's hand now, and put the other hand open here on the table."

Jared took Jensen's left hand with his right, and rested his left hand on the table, palm up. Jensen mirrored him with his right hand. Rowena placed her open hand on top of theirs for a moment, closing her eyes and murmuring under her breath. Reaching into that same little crystal bowl she had used the first time Jared had been there, she sprinkled the glittery cinnamon powder on Jared and Jensen's clasped hands. She rose and selected a small jade bottle from her black etagere, and returning to the table, unstoppered it. With the stopper, she applied some type of oil to their open hands in a heart pattern.

Speaking in an unknown language--again, Jared again thought Gaelic--Rowena gestured above the table. She opened her own hands palm up, and Jared saw the mist rise again, this time from both his and Jensen's open hand. In one mist he could see Jensen's form, and in the other, his own. She spoke another moment and then fell silent.

The whitish mist around the mystical Jared and Jensen apparitions turned blueish with a hint of green. Jared gasped when he saw a red pulse appear in both forms. As they pulsed, they began to emit a tendril of red mist that swirled out into the air. The tendrils extended toward each other, uniting in a tiny flare of red flame.

As the flame erupted from the mist, Jared felt a jolt inside him, a shock that made his heart pound like he'd just run a race. He clutched his chest, fearing for a second that he was having a heart attack, but the jolt immediately faded, leaving a warm glow inside his body. He looked quickly at Jensen, and found him staring at Jared from wide green eyes.

"Oh my God," Jensen breathed. "It's true."

"Yes, my wee bairns, it's true." Rowena raised her hands and the mists dissipated. "Does that answer yer questions?" She raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"No, I just...wow. I didn't think things like this were real." Jensen let go of Jared's hand and looked at his palms. Jared felt the same way, like there should be some mark or something left on his skin.

"They aren't always. In fact, even some of the fortunes I tell are not real. I entertain those looking for entertainment. Sometimes I can slip in a word of advice, or point in a certain direction. But something like this? It's true as blood." She bowed her head to them "I thank you for letting me help bring you together. It's a rare privilege to experience."

"Thank you," Jensen said to her. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

Rowena batted her eyelashes. "You're so welcome," she purred.

Jared couldn't speak; he was overwhelmed with the whole experience, and his throat felt clogged with emotion. He nodded jerkily at her, and she gave a light laugh. "You too."

They exited the tent, walking out into the cool, clear air. Under the fairy lights, Jensen's eyes positively sparkled, and his skin had a golden hue. Jared thought he was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"So," Jensen said in a husky voice. "You feel that--that--"

"Jolt?" Jared supplied.

"Yeah. That."

"Yep. Right through my whole body." Jared shivered, suddenly chilly after the warmth of Rowena's tent.

Jensen embraced him, wrapping his arms around Jared and resting his head on Jared's shoulder.

"What do you say, we go somewhere and..."

"See what happens?" Jared grinned against Jensen's hair.
I say...yes."

"Good. I think we have a lot to talk about." Jensen pulled away and gave Jared a kiss, pressing their lips together for a long moment.

"Just talk?" Jared teased. Then he grew serious. "That was a joke. Nothing you don't want to do before you want to do it. Promise."

"I trust you," Jensen whispered, bringing Jared's hand to his lips. "After all, you are my soulmate."