Heart's Magic
Title: Heart’s Magic
Author: hopenight
Beta: twivamp92
Word Count: 2,509
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mild cursing
Summary: Sometimes the story between once upon a time and happily ever after isn’t the one you should pay attention to. There were things that happened before once upon a time even started. And that’s the more interesting story. Here is Jared Padalecki’s story before once upon a time even entered his life.
“Even once upon a time has a pre-cursor.” -Unknown
When Jared was a little boy, his momma would take him flying. She would hold him tight as he climbed onto her broomstick. Then she would kiss his messy curls and together they would take off into the sky. He remembers the feeling of the wind in his hair. Of how he would try to touch the clouds even though they were cold and wet through his tiny fingers instead of the cotton candy texture he was hoping for. He remembers the feeling of absolute freedom, of how nothing wrong could happen up in the clouds. The sky was endless, eternal. Bright blue, like his momma’s eyes, and filled with possibilities.
He remembers his momma up in sky. He remembers her long brown hair streaming behind her. He could feel her arms wrap around him and the smell of her perfume would fill his nose. The brightness of her eyes when they landed. Of how she would laugh and twirl around with her arms wide open. She was bright. She was beautiful. The flowers would bloom under her feet and magic would sing in the air.
He loved those times with his momma. They were some of his most favorite and treasured memories. Especially once she had gotten sick. It was shortly before he was supposed to begin his own training to be a witch. Every viable magic user once they turned thirteen had to go off for a year to train. Right before Jared was supposed to go they got the worst news in the world.
His mother had cancer. And not even the most powerful magic could cure that.
The choice between staying and going wasn’t a choice at all. Jared loved his magic. He loved practicing it. But it was not as important as his mother’s life or the fact that he valued family above all else. He stayed with his momma helping her through her sickness with his family. He went to chemo sessions with her and made sure that she was well taken care of. It killed him to see her like this. He wanted to be grown so that he could help her more. But she would smile and told him that he was helping her just by being there. She knew what he sacrificed for her, and she couldn’t be more proud and heartbroken for it.
He gave up a chance to establish himself as witch.
It sucked because he was really good at magic. He could effortlessly perform spells, brew potions out of the simplest things, and fly with the grace of the birds. He was good at school, fair in sports, but magic was the only area in his life where he felt truly special. He didn’t let his momma see how much it hurt him. She had to focus on saving her strength and fighting. She was going to beat this. She HAD to. Because Jared wasn’t sure that he could survive without her.
Still his sacrifice was noted. One night, months after his thirteenth birthday had passed, he had a vision. It was of three beautiful women with kind, sad eyes and gentle smiles.
“Jared,” they said as one, “We are the protectors of your family. We are the guardians of the clan’s magic.”
“Wh-what do you want with me?” asked Jared with wide eyes. He was short for his age, a little on the chubby side. He was awkward and shy around others because of his momma’s illness and the fact that his mind wandered to strange places and exotic worlds on a whim. Teenagers didn’t like it when someone was outside the norm. Jared was not even in the same solar system as it.
“We have noticed your sacrifice little one,” said the three kneeling down to his level. They smelled like his mother’s perfume and of the air on a summer day, “We would like to give you a gift.”
“What have I done to earn this?” asked the young boy staring at his feet. He felt stupid and ugly in the shining presence of his family’s guardians. He felt unworthy, a disappointment, and other horrible feelings that rushed through his blood like a wild fire. Pale fingers worked their way under his chin and forced him to look up. He stared into their ethereal faces looking at him with so much love that it made him feel…safe, secure, happy. Like everything in the world was going to be okay.
He hasn’t felt that since he heard his momma’s diagnosis.
“We notice your talent for the craft. We know how you were looking forward to establishing yourself. We know how it broke you inside. Sacrificing your happiness in order to be there in your mother’s hour of need…she was a favored child of ours. Your kindness and unselfish act of pure love is rare in today’s world. So little boy witch, we are here to give you gifts. One from each of us individually and then one from all… Do you accept little Jared?”
He bowed his head not wanting to upset them. They could take away his magic.
“I accept your generous offer.”
“Wise choice little one,” whispered the three before breaking into their individuals gifts.
“You shall grow tall and strong like the mighty oak. This is my gift to you,” said the one with long, blonde hair and gentle hazel eyes. She was dressed in a gown made of dawn rays and autumn suns. She kissed the top of his head.
“You shall keep your child-like wonder and giant heart. This is my gift to you,” said the one with short brown spikes and dark brown almost black eyes. She was dressed in a gown made of the sky at high noon and winter chill. She kissed her fingers before placing them over his heart.
“You shall have a wonderful talent of flight and a reward for your unwavering character. This is my gift to you,” said the last one with shoulder length raven hair and eyes the color of the sky. Her gown was that of twilight and summer nights. She kissed his nose.
“Our last gift is that of a soul mate. He will be the Earth to your Air. You will know by the color of his eyes for they are kissed by our Mother,” said the three women as one. Their hands were twined together and the air smelled of springtime flowers.
“Please watch over my mother,” whispered Jared brokenly. He was awed by this. Yet at the same time so very tired; he wanted his momma to be healthy again, happy. He wanted peace in his life.
“Little One, of course we will. Do not doubt this. All must be tried in order to reach their fullest potential. She is a favored child. And now so are you,” said the trio with matching smiles on their faces.
“Thank you,” whispered Jared as a tear ran down his face.
“There is nothing to thank. The strong of heart and those true of character are always rewarded in the end. Now wake up Jared.”
He awoke and the dream remained. He swore to himself to keep it a secret. He knew how rare visits from the family guardians were. He did not want to seem like he was a braggart, should he anger them again. He never breathed a word about that night to anyone even when the gifts have begun to take effect.
His mother got better thankfully. She even went into full remission. Though the Padalecki family kept sharp watch over her for the next five years but it looked good.
The gifts bestowed upon Jared took effect beautifully.
Over the next couple years, he grew tall towering over most people in his grade by the end of high school. Strength bloomed from playing basketball and running on the track team. He kept a childlike wonder with the world wanting to know why and how and who. It maddened and terrified his teachers, delighted his friends, and made his family smile indulgently. He showed kindness and love to everyone he met. He had always had a warm smile on his face to anyone who met him.
The reward turned out to be him breaking out into acting. He enjoyed performing so much. He loved waking up in the morning and putting in an honest day’s work. He relished the ability to slip into his character’s skin. He even enjoyed memorizing lines and goofing off with his co-stars.
Still they didn’t know where he would sneak off to during his lunch breaks. That was when he would grab his broom made of oak and teak and fly. Streamlining across the sky with the wind running through his hair was such a fantastic way to relieve the stress. He would twist and turn throughout the air, diving into the clouds, racing the birds with bursts of joy and laughter. The sky was his playground and he was a child running through it.
No one knew about his abilities to practice magic or brewing potions or the flying. It was a part of him that was too personal to share with others willingly. It was something private that only his closest and most trusted of friends know. So if Jared helped a crew member with a little spell or gave a cast member a memory helping potion on a bad day to help with their lines, he would not say anything. Just give a smile because acts of kindness do not need recognition. They are simply things needed to be done.
Years past and Jared enjoyed a healthy career. Between jobs right now, sharing an apartment with his friend Chad, the witch felt restless like there was something in the air that said change was coming. He just wasn’t sure what change that would be.
“Dude, I don’t know why you won’t just open up a fucking magic shop,” complained Chad from his spot on the couch. A script was in his hand as he read over the lines.
“Because I never did my training, Chad,” he answered. They had this conversation so much that it felt like he was running lines, “It wouldn’t be fair to those who already did. Besides I love acting. So it all peters out doesn’t it?”
“You’re life dude. Oh you’re agent sent you over a script today. Personally I can see you doing it.”
“What’s the show called?”
Chad grinned wickedly, “Supernatural.”
Jared glared and shot a bolt of static electricity at his so called best friend. Chad jumped out of the way laughingly before disappearing into his room. The taller of the two men grabbed the script and began reading. Normally, as a rule, he did not work on a project that dealt with the paranormal. Usually it felt too close to home. However, he needed the work so what could it hurt to read it?
He was quickly memorized by the plot. It gave him the thrills and chills that he would get when he and his brother would watch horror movies together. It was full of characters that he related to and a story that needed to be told. He worried his lower lip under his teeth as he was wrapped up in the world of the Winchesters’. He stared at the phone once he was done with the pilot script for several minutes wondering if he should break his own rules or not. Deciding that he could never follow the rules that well anyway; he called his agent.
He didn’t realize that it was the best decision he’s ever made until much later.
Eric Kripke was a very excitable man with huge hand gestures and a passion for the story he wants to tell. Jared grinned as they walked along the corridor for him to meet his co-star. His long strides kept up with Eric’s enthusiastic pace.
“I think that you two would be great together. It’s going to be so fucking awesome!”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” said Jared with a laugh. He dutifully followed Eric into a conference room where a man had his back turned. Dirty blonde hair, broad shoulders, a couple inches shorter than Jared with a really nice ass was all the actor could see. He felt like he was when he was doing a complicated aerial maneuver: excited, terrified and invigorated all at once.
“Jensen! This is Jared. Jared! This is Jensen.”
“Nice to meet you, Jensen,” said Jared kindly. He held out his hand.
Jensen turned around revealing a pretty face, smooth tanned skin with a smattering of freckles. Jared eyes flicked up to meet the other man’s. And he paused for a moment swallowing.
Jensen’s eyes were green, the color of fresh cut grass.
“Nice to meet you too, Jared,” said Jensen with a small grin.
“He will be the Earth to your Air. You will know who he is by his eyes for they will be kissed by our mother.”
They shook hands. Jared could feel the magic spark in the air. Jensen pushed up his glasses before following Eric out of the room. Jared followed dumbly before grinning widely.
Sometimes the beginnings were the only part of the fairytale that mattered. Jared could only hope their happily ever after ended in them flying through the sky. That the story would be filled with love and hope and dreams of tomorrow wrapped in the feeling of friendship and security. This story where the world would be a better place for them; that it would be a story to whisper to the night air so the breezes could whisper in the airs of those who still believed.
However, he hoped that it would end with Jensen’s head buried into his shoulder with the smell of fresh cut grass mingling with the smell of the springtime air.
(And it did happen in case you were wondering.)
So it was said and so it shall be.
“Endings are merely beginnings that have lost hope.”-Unknown