Fic: "Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…", Jared/Jensen, PG
Fic title: "Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…"
Author: the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3.793
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: Jared might have a little crush on his roommate's brother. Jared might also be a little stressed because Jensen is visiting. Mike is just an ass, as usual.
Notes: This was written for hd_obsession's and matalinolukaret's birthdays.
Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…
Jared sometimes wonders why he is friends with Mike. It’s not like he needs Mike or anything. It just developed and there never really was a reason to stop that. But sometimes, sometimes Jared doesn’t know why he actually likes Mike at all.
In the time they have been living together it just became convenient to have someone really crazy around to blame for all the mishaps that kind of seem to happen in their townhouse. No, Jared is not the source of most of theses mishaps thank you very much. If someone object would actually count all the incidences and who is to blame for them Jared would walk away rather unscathed. He is pretty sure about that.
Contrary to popular believe, which just consists of Mike’s, Josh’s and Jeff’s opinions anyway, Jared is rather graceful in his movements. His dance teacher said so and Jared will always take the word of someone who actually knows how to move over three grad students who spent six of the seven days in a week partying like there is no tomorrow and have no control over the limbs when they do.
So Jared mostly refers back to Mike when something happens and some needs to be blamed. Jared thinks that’s what roommates are for anyway and Mike is such good little scapegoat because most of the time he is either drunk or stoned and can’t remember what he did or didn’t do anyway.
But sometimes Mike is actually a good friend and uses his brain to help when he is needed.
Jared will always be grateful for Mike’s last minute rescue intervention in junior year when Mike saved Jared from actually missing his finals and subsequently being unable to complete the semester.
There are four roommates in their house and it doesn’t happen often that they need Mike to be the reasonable one, when it happens though Mike is actually kind of awesome. Even Josh and Jeff had grudgingly admitted that much. Jared doesn’t care that Mike usually calls them biased because Jeff is Jared’s brother.
Sometimes Mike is just a stupid asshole.
Like today.
***
Today is a very important day in Jared Padalecki’s life.
It’s spring break and for the first time in almost three years Jared isn’t rushing to go home. He also isn’t rushing to go anywhere else. Right now he tries not to lose his head and it’s all Mike’s fault. And Josh’s for telling him too late, well too late for Jared to make other plans anyway.
Jared had just wanted to spend spring break quietly and with his head in his books. He was aiming to be done by summer even though he still doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to graduate then. Fucking university politics. He is not too young to be done and go to grad school but does anybody listen to him? Of course not.
Anyway, today is a very important day and it’s neither graduation or his birthday or any of his family’s or friends’ birthdays. It also isn’t a big party day or something equally mundane. It’s just a special day for Jared.
It’s a known fact, to the housemates at least, that Jared has a huge crush on Josh’s younger brother even though Jared has never met him. It’s a constant source for mocking and Jared-based humiliations; it’s also the reason why Josh always lets Jared talk to Jensen on the phone when they speak.
That’s actually how it all started. Jared was there and Josh wasn’t when Jensen had called all those months ago. It was an instant crush, something Jared hasn’t had since high school, with which Jared had been done for three years by then.
So Jared and Jensen talked and never really stopped.
Jared knows a lot about Jensen now and he is pretty sure Jensen knows equally as much about him. What he isn’t sure about is if Jensen is as excited about knowing things about Jared as Jared is about knowing things about Jensen. And Jared thinks he will never ask that aloud, because it for one is a tongue breaker and really confusing and secondly it would be really embarrassing if Jensen wasn’t. Excited that is.
So they talk. And Jared gets mocked.
He isn’t sure if Jensen gets mocked but then he would take everything to just be able to talk to Jensen. In all their conversations - and Jared doesn’t know how it became a routine of Josh handing the phone over but likes it nonetheless - there never was any indication that Jensen might actually feel the same way Jared is.
They just talk without any innuendo or double meanings.
Jared sometimes thinks it is pretty lame but he is also amazed that he actually can talk to Jensen who is a complete stranger. Jared really has problems with talking to people he doesn’t know so there must be something special about Jensen. Or it’s the fact that they are talking over the phone and not in person which makes it lame again.
Jensen probably thinks Jared is a cool grad student because he is living with Josh and Jeff and Mike, and has avoided on-campus living since freshmen year. Well, he will be cool grad student next year, if he is allowed to graduate early, so Jensen wouldn’t be too far of with that kind of thinking. The thing is that Jared is pretty sure that Jensen doesn’t know that he graduated high school at 15.
Jared is basically seven years younger than everyone else in the house except for Jeff who is kind of like a genius as well and makes the age gap only five years. Everyone is in grad school while Jared is in his senior college year, even if some of the profs still tell him that he technically is a junior but Jared doesn’t think so, he skipped sophomore courses anyway. So senior year it is, the same year Jensen is in.
Up until now Jared hasn’t really gotten the chance to tell Jensen that and he is pretty sure Josh hasn’t told Jensen either because Josh is mean and actually wants to see Jared trying to wind his way out of that situation.
Josh basically likes to see Jared torturing himself.
Jensen has been in the house a lot of times but never when Jared was there as well. It’s kind of hilarious actually and once or twice they missed each other by mere minutes. Everyone seems to think it is amusing, Jared thinks it is fate speaking and that they aren’t meant to meat until it is time.
Josh says he thinks too much and that he should tell his brain to shut up once in a while. Jared isn’t sure if his brain even knows how to shut up.
So when Josh announces that Jensen will be staying with them for a week to go and look at all the grad school possibilities Jared does the only thing he knows how to do perfectly.
He freaks out.
He freaks out so much that Josh actually feels sorry and tries to book a hotel room for Jensen. It being the season for conventions and conferences he of course doesn’t find one.
This and the fact that Jared is actually freaking out over several things at once are the perfect base for Mike being a complete and utter asshole.
So yeah Jared really wonders why he is friends with Mike.
***
Only a few more minutes and Jensen will be here.
Jared is close to a mental break down. He had planned on staying in his room all week, avoid Jensen, and avoid the catastrophe that was heading straight for him. Planned is the operative word here since it didn’t quite work out that way.
Mike has locked Jared’s room. Locked the room with Jared not being in it.
Mike is nowhere to be found. Vanished. So is the key. Jared thinks the key either fled on his own after being subjected to Mike’s cruelty, because Mike cannot use a key properly without scratching half the lock away. Or the key is being held hostage by Mike. Seeing that the key is inanimate Jared opts for the second idea and tells his brain to be proud of such a thought process in a time of dire despair.
Jared is happy that Jeff isn’t there and that no one calls him drama queen.
Jared is close to tears not to mention the fact that he just came from basketball practice and is soaked trough to his skin. He needs to change; he needs to get showered, preferable in a reverse order and he needs to fucking lock himself in his room before Jensen is here.
He can’t face Jensen. He just can’t.
Jensen will instantly know that Jared is no more than a genius teenager who has about zero experiences with relationships, not that Jensen would want a relationship with Jared when he knows that Jared is just a teenager; not that Jensen actually would want a relationship if Jared wasn’t a teenager. And Jensen is feeling that way anyway so it will be doubly embarrassing for Jared being there as a teenager and having a huge crush on someone he basically doesn’t and who also the brother of his brother’s best friend. He will kill Mike. He will kill Mike get his key back and lock himself in his room.
So he has to find Mike. Like now… and he has to get up from the stairs where he is sitting trying to not hyperventilate. Oh.. too late.
“Jared, breathe! Now! Come on, deep breath. Yeah, that’s good. Deep and slow.”
Josh is kneeling in front of him with a paper bag pushed into Jared’s face.
He kind likes Josh the most even though Josh mocks him mercilessly every day. But Josh also knows his brother so maybe Jared is freaking out without a real reason because Josh actually said once that Jensen is talking about Jared at home. Jensen is talking about him to his parents. So maybe…
Yeah, Jared should probably stop thinking. Like at all.
The paper bag is back in front of his face and Josh looks really concerned, like he is about to call for Jeff which wouldn’t be of much use since Jared begged Jeff to search for Mike and get the room key back.
So it’s only Josh and Jared in the house now.
“Breathe Jared. Everything is okay. No need to freak out now. Finals are over and you managed those awesomely. So you will be fine with that little hurdle as well. Breathe! Deep. Slow. Yeah that is good.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
Jared wants to die. Right now. Right here. No matter what. His timing has never been perfect but dropping dead now would actually be.
Jared knows this voice.
Would know it anywhere.
So this is not really helping with calming his breathing. Josh curses out loud and Jared is about to tell him off for it when he catches sight of Jensen in the door way. There is an amused little smile present and green eyes are sparkling with mischief and maybe a little confusion as well.
Then Jared knows things aren’t as bad as he thought they might be. Things are actually quite good. Because Jensen is there and Jensen is smiling at him and Jared just knows that Jensen likes him.
All his fears suddenly seem small and rather unimportant. Something settles inside Jared and he wants to smile back at Jensen. The problem is that Jensen is also freaking gorgeous. Maybe the most gorgeous man Jared has ever seen.
So naturally, instead of hyperventilating Jared isn’t breathing at all.
Sure Jared has seen pictures, the ones that are in Josh‘s room and on his computer. Shut up, he only helped Josh restore it once because no one in the house knows more about Macs than Jared does. So yes, he has seen pictures but the real thing isn’t anything close to those photos. The real thing is actually stealing his breath away right now.
“Dude! He is turning blue.”
“Shit. Jared, come on. Breathe! Everything is okay man. No need to freak out here.”
But then Josh looks at Jared, really looks at him and just laughs out loud.
“Jay? Jensen isn’t that breathtaking. You should breathe now you know.”
And Jared blinks and breathes. Because yes, Josh is right, he should. But that doesn’t mean Jensen isn’t that breathtaking in person.
When Jared can focus again Josh is slipping past him on the stairs with Jensen’s things.
And it suddenly is Jensen is right in front of him. The amused smile from before has morphed into a real genuine one and Jared can’t help but smile back even though he still has difficulties breathing the right way. He hates those attacks, hates that he doesn’t seem to be able to control them. Hates it even more that Jensen saw it all.
Yes, he will kill Mike.
“All okay now?”
Jared nods due to the lack of enough oxygen in his head to form a coherent answer and in his lungs to be able to utter words. Jensen nods back, walks in to the kitchen and comes back with a glass of water which he hands Jared.
Jared decides that it isn’t a crush anymore.
He is head over heels and gone for Jensen; and it only lets his breath hitch a little instead of provoking a full blown attack again. Jared is actually kind of glad that he has no breath left. Until Jensen speaks again.
“So not being locked in your room huh?”
“What?”
“Dude, you didn’t really think Josh wouldn’t tell me. I know you have been freaking out for days now. And I am actually sorry that I seem to cause so much trouble for you.”
Jensen actually looks apologetic but there is still a small smile present. Jared has no idea what to say now. He feels weak and pathetic and hates Josh for actually telling Jensen how weak and pathetic Jared really is.
“Hey Jared.”
“Yeah?” And Jared is amazed that he doesn’t stutter.
“I am glad you aren’t locked up in your room right now. I’d hate to miss the chance to finally meet you.”
Jensen sounds like he means it, sounds like he really would be sad not meeting Jared and Jared thinks he might start to hope again. Just a little bit, not too much.
He stands up from the step he has been sitting on then and just follows his instinct. Jensen actually gasps when Jared wraps his arms around him and hugs him close, but then he laughs and hugs back with equal force.
“Nice to know I am welcome.”
Yeah, things definitely are okay. Jared likes the fact that Jensen doesn’t even try to get out of the hug.
“You are.”
When they separate again Jared can feel his usual goofy grin in full force and it’s the first time in years that he doesn’t mind being stared at. Because the smile he gets as an answer is worth it.
“Man, Josh wasn’t lying. You are a sasquatch.”
“I hate that, makes me feel all furry.”
“Have you seen your hair?”
And it’s like they are on the phone only that they aren’t and Jared likes that they aren’t because now he can see Jensen when he talks to him and he can see what impact and reactions his words and his laughs cause. Jared really likes what he sees.
They end up in the living room and when Josh comes back they are already deep in conversation. Josh just rolls his eyes, makes food and doesn’t complain much when both Jared and Jensen almost completely ignore him.
***
It is way past the time Jared usually goes to bed. Yes, he is a college student, yes he is young but he also still needs some kind of halfway consistent sleeping pattern so he tries to be asleep before midnight, at least on school days.
But now Jensen is here, and it’s technically not a school day but spring break so Jared can stay awake longer than usual. Even if he feels really tired and all talked out after he and Jensen spent the afternoon getting caught up.
For nothing in the world would he give up his position next to Jensen, not even for sleep.
Jensen is awesome and quite with Jared’s age, says that Jared is more mature than a lot of people he knows while he looks at Josh and ducks a flying popcorn kernel.
Jensen also says that Jared is legal anyway.
The last thing actually chokes Jared up so much that Josh has to get the paper bag again. This time Jensen talks him through it and it works much faster. Josh comments on it but doesn’t really seem to be all that upset about it.
Jensen just smiles and keeps on rubbing Jared’s back. Jensen doesn’t take his hand away and actually winks when Jared raises his eyebrow. It makes Jared bolder in his actions and Jensen even more amused.
Jensen doesn’t move away when Jared gets back from the kitchen after one of his food runs and plops down almost on Jensen’s lap. Josh is the one to comment on it and Jensen actually tells him to shut up but blushes in a way Jared thinks is really fucking cute.
Jensen just ducks his head then, starts talking about the grad school options and Jared listens intently. Jared is pleased to no ends when Jensen actually admits to considering all the things Jared has been telling him. It means that Jensen is thinking about staying close, staying close to Jared.
Josh rolls his eyes and just tells them how damn obvious they are. It makes Jared want to crawl into a hole and hide until Jensen is gone but hen Jensen just grins and says that obvious is easier to figure out Jared can’t help but feel his heart swell a little.
Jensen doesn’t seem to have a problem with being open about his feelings, he seems strong and sure about, that’s at least what Jared thinks. Then Josh goes and destroys the illusion with mention Jensen’s own freak outs while making Jensen splutter and blush in the process. It’s even more adorable than the little thing Jensen does with his lips when he tries to hide that he is biting his cheek.
Jared has no idea how he knows this after only having met Jensen a few hours ago.
***
When Jeff drags Mike back home Jared is almost asleep against Jensen’s shoulder. He stirs though when Jensen actually flinches at Mikes loudly proclaimed ‘Jenny’.
“Don’t call me that assface. And you are dead by the way.”
“Why? Because I called you Jenny? I always call you Jenny… Jenny.”
“Not because of that baldy. You stole Jared’s room key. Poor thing can’t even go to sleep because his room is locked.”
“Oh please tell me you haven’t joined the ‘we protect Jared’ club as well now. God, you are so gone Jenny.”
“So what? Feel jealous Mike?” There are several snorts and Jared can tell that Jeff’s and Josh’s are different from Mikes. He smiles. He smiles even more when Jensen tightens the arm he has around Jared’s shoulder.
Jared feels all warm and fuzzy at Jensen defending him.
“The key, Mike. Please. Jared actually needs his room back one of these days.”
There is a hand in his hair which is gently scratching his head. Jared feels like purring and just moves a little closer to the warm body next to him. He has no idea how they ended up like that but as long as Jensen isn’t protesting Jared isn’t either.
“Oh come on, he wants to sleep in your bed anyway. Where is the problem?”
There is a slap and Jared is pretty sure that Jeff just slapped Mike. He mumbles ‘thanks Jeff’ against Jensen’s neck but isn’t sure if his brother hears it. But when there is a slight pat on his shoulder he knows Jeff had.
“Well, it still would be nice for him to actually be able to get things from his room without risking breaking his neck while climbing over Josh’s balcony. Do not think I would not kill you if you are the cause for Jared trying this and breaking his neck. I so would. It’s not nice to steal keys Mike. So not nice.”
Jensen’s laughter rumbles through his chest and Jared can feel every single wave of it. He likes it. Loves it even, so he doesn’t move not even when he hears Mike snort and complain how fucking disgusting he and Jensen are with their sweet little romance.
Jared grins against Jensen’s skin because yeah Mike might be right but it’s pretty awesome to know that Jensen might actually be on the same page as Jared and to actually know that was worth all the freak outs and hyperventilation attacks.
Jared falls asleep to Jensen telling a story Jared already knows due to one of their phone conversations. He hears Jensen tell it and realises that the others don’t even know half of the things about Jensen that he knows.
Jared thinks there actually might be a real chance. And when Jensen pulls him closer even Jared is sure that Jensen thinks the same. He doesn’t know how he went from really freaking out to falling asleep on his crush’s chest while said crush isn’t discouraging him from doing so. Jared really doesn’t know how that happened, all he knows is that it’s really nice to finally have Jensen close and to be able to feel him, to touch him and to hear is voice instead of just having his voice. Not that Jensen voice alone isn't enough; Jared would happily live with only Jensen’s voice over the phone if he couldn’t have anything more. But it was still really cool to have the touches and the body, too.
“Jay?”
“Hmmpf?”
“Stop your brain and just sleep. Okay?”
“’kay. Jenny.”
The really last thing Jared hears is Jensen cursing Mike for ever saying that out loud and Mike telling him that he loves to hear it from Jared. The silence that follows is telling, so are the groans that echo around the room.
Jared is already asleep otherwise he would love to see the blush on Jensen’s freckled cheeks. Because Jensen blushing is a sight for the gods.
Jared likes the sight so maybe there is a chance for them after all.
The End.
Go to: "Wherein Jensen doesn’t really know what’s going on…"
Author: the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3.793
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: Jared might have a little crush on his roommate's brother. Jared might also be a little stressed because Jensen is visiting. Mike is just an ass, as usual.
Notes: This was written for hd_obsession's and matalinolukaret's birthdays.
Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…
Jared sometimes wonders why he is friends with Mike. It’s not like he needs Mike or anything. It just developed and there never really was a reason to stop that. But sometimes, sometimes Jared doesn’t know why he actually likes Mike at all.
In the time they have been living together it just became convenient to have someone really crazy around to blame for all the mishaps that kind of seem to happen in their townhouse. No, Jared is not the source of most of theses mishaps thank you very much. If someone object would actually count all the incidences and who is to blame for them Jared would walk away rather unscathed. He is pretty sure about that.
Contrary to popular believe, which just consists of Mike’s, Josh’s and Jeff’s opinions anyway, Jared is rather graceful in his movements. His dance teacher said so and Jared will always take the word of someone who actually knows how to move over three grad students who spent six of the seven days in a week partying like there is no tomorrow and have no control over the limbs when they do.
So Jared mostly refers back to Mike when something happens and some needs to be blamed. Jared thinks that’s what roommates are for anyway and Mike is such good little scapegoat because most of the time he is either drunk or stoned and can’t remember what he did or didn’t do anyway.
But sometimes Mike is actually a good friend and uses his brain to help when he is needed.
Jared will always be grateful for Mike’s last minute rescue intervention in junior year when Mike saved Jared from actually missing his finals and subsequently being unable to complete the semester.
There are four roommates in their house and it doesn’t happen often that they need Mike to be the reasonable one, when it happens though Mike is actually kind of awesome. Even Josh and Jeff had grudgingly admitted that much. Jared doesn’t care that Mike usually calls them biased because Jeff is Jared’s brother.
Sometimes Mike is just a stupid asshole.
Like today.
***
Today is a very important day in Jared Padalecki’s life.
It’s spring break and for the first time in almost three years Jared isn’t rushing to go home. He also isn’t rushing to go anywhere else. Right now he tries not to lose his head and it’s all Mike’s fault. And Josh’s for telling him too late, well too late for Jared to make other plans anyway.
Jared had just wanted to spend spring break quietly and with his head in his books. He was aiming to be done by summer even though he still doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to graduate then. Fucking university politics. He is not too young to be done and go to grad school but does anybody listen to him? Of course not.
Anyway, today is a very important day and it’s neither graduation or his birthday or any of his family’s or friends’ birthdays. It also isn’t a big party day or something equally mundane. It’s just a special day for Jared.
It’s a known fact, to the housemates at least, that Jared has a huge crush on Josh’s younger brother even though Jared has never met him. It’s a constant source for mocking and Jared-based humiliations; it’s also the reason why Josh always lets Jared talk to Jensen on the phone when they speak.
That’s actually how it all started. Jared was there and Josh wasn’t when Jensen had called all those months ago. It was an instant crush, something Jared hasn’t had since high school, with which Jared had been done for three years by then.
So Jared and Jensen talked and never really stopped.
Jared knows a lot about Jensen now and he is pretty sure Jensen knows equally as much about him. What he isn’t sure about is if Jensen is as excited about knowing things about Jared as Jared is about knowing things about Jensen. And Jared thinks he will never ask that aloud, because it for one is a tongue breaker and really confusing and secondly it would be really embarrassing if Jensen wasn’t. Excited that is.
So they talk. And Jared gets mocked.
He isn’t sure if Jensen gets mocked but then he would take everything to just be able to talk to Jensen. In all their conversations - and Jared doesn’t know how it became a routine of Josh handing the phone over but likes it nonetheless - there never was any indication that Jensen might actually feel the same way Jared is.
They just talk without any innuendo or double meanings.
Jared sometimes thinks it is pretty lame but he is also amazed that he actually can talk to Jensen who is a complete stranger. Jared really has problems with talking to people he doesn’t know so there must be something special about Jensen. Or it’s the fact that they are talking over the phone and not in person which makes it lame again.
Jensen probably thinks Jared is a cool grad student because he is living with Josh and Jeff and Mike, and has avoided on-campus living since freshmen year. Well, he will be cool grad student next year, if he is allowed to graduate early, so Jensen wouldn’t be too far of with that kind of thinking. The thing is that Jared is pretty sure that Jensen doesn’t know that he graduated high school at 15.
Jared is basically seven years younger than everyone else in the house except for Jeff who is kind of like a genius as well and makes the age gap only five years. Everyone is in grad school while Jared is in his senior college year, even if some of the profs still tell him that he technically is a junior but Jared doesn’t think so, he skipped sophomore courses anyway. So senior year it is, the same year Jensen is in.
Up until now Jared hasn’t really gotten the chance to tell Jensen that and he is pretty sure Josh hasn’t told Jensen either because Josh is mean and actually wants to see Jared trying to wind his way out of that situation.
Josh basically likes to see Jared torturing himself.
Jensen has been in the house a lot of times but never when Jared was there as well. It’s kind of hilarious actually and once or twice they missed each other by mere minutes. Everyone seems to think it is amusing, Jared thinks it is fate speaking and that they aren’t meant to meat until it is time.
Josh says he thinks too much and that he should tell his brain to shut up once in a while. Jared isn’t sure if his brain even knows how to shut up.
So when Josh announces that Jensen will be staying with them for a week to go and look at all the grad school possibilities Jared does the only thing he knows how to do perfectly.
He freaks out.
He freaks out so much that Josh actually feels sorry and tries to book a hotel room for Jensen. It being the season for conventions and conferences he of course doesn’t find one.
This and the fact that Jared is actually freaking out over several things at once are the perfect base for Mike being a complete and utter asshole.
So yeah Jared really wonders why he is friends with Mike.
***
Only a few more minutes and Jensen will be here.
Jared is close to a mental break down. He had planned on staying in his room all week, avoid Jensen, and avoid the catastrophe that was heading straight for him. Planned is the operative word here since it didn’t quite work out that way.
Mike has locked Jared’s room. Locked the room with Jared not being in it.
Mike is nowhere to be found. Vanished. So is the key. Jared thinks the key either fled on his own after being subjected to Mike’s cruelty, because Mike cannot use a key properly without scratching half the lock away. Or the key is being held hostage by Mike. Seeing that the key is inanimate Jared opts for the second idea and tells his brain to be proud of such a thought process in a time of dire despair.
Jared is happy that Jeff isn’t there and that no one calls him drama queen.
Jared is close to tears not to mention the fact that he just came from basketball practice and is soaked trough to his skin. He needs to change; he needs to get showered, preferable in a reverse order and he needs to fucking lock himself in his room before Jensen is here.
He can’t face Jensen. He just can’t.
Jensen will instantly know that Jared is no more than a genius teenager who has about zero experiences with relationships, not that Jensen would want a relationship with Jared when he knows that Jared is just a teenager; not that Jensen actually would want a relationship if Jared wasn’t a teenager. And Jensen is feeling that way anyway so it will be doubly embarrassing for Jared being there as a teenager and having a huge crush on someone he basically doesn’t and who also the brother of his brother’s best friend. He will kill Mike. He will kill Mike get his key back and lock himself in his room.
So he has to find Mike. Like now… and he has to get up from the stairs where he is sitting trying to not hyperventilate. Oh.. too late.
“Jared, breathe! Now! Come on, deep breath. Yeah, that’s good. Deep and slow.”
Josh is kneeling in front of him with a paper bag pushed into Jared’s face.
He kind likes Josh the most even though Josh mocks him mercilessly every day. But Josh also knows his brother so maybe Jared is freaking out without a real reason because Josh actually said once that Jensen is talking about Jared at home. Jensen is talking about him to his parents. So maybe…
Yeah, Jared should probably stop thinking. Like at all.
The paper bag is back in front of his face and Josh looks really concerned, like he is about to call for Jeff which wouldn’t be of much use since Jared begged Jeff to search for Mike and get the room key back.
So it’s only Josh and Jared in the house now.
“Breathe Jared. Everything is okay. No need to freak out now. Finals are over and you managed those awesomely. So you will be fine with that little hurdle as well. Breathe! Deep. Slow. Yeah that is good.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
Jared wants to die. Right now. Right here. No matter what. His timing has never been perfect but dropping dead now would actually be.
Jared knows this voice.
Would know it anywhere.
So this is not really helping with calming his breathing. Josh curses out loud and Jared is about to tell him off for it when he catches sight of Jensen in the door way. There is an amused little smile present and green eyes are sparkling with mischief and maybe a little confusion as well.
Then Jared knows things aren’t as bad as he thought they might be. Things are actually quite good. Because Jensen is there and Jensen is smiling at him and Jared just knows that Jensen likes him.
All his fears suddenly seem small and rather unimportant. Something settles inside Jared and he wants to smile back at Jensen. The problem is that Jensen is also freaking gorgeous. Maybe the most gorgeous man Jared has ever seen.
So naturally, instead of hyperventilating Jared isn’t breathing at all.
Sure Jared has seen pictures, the ones that are in Josh‘s room and on his computer. Shut up, he only helped Josh restore it once because no one in the house knows more about Macs than Jared does. So yes, he has seen pictures but the real thing isn’t anything close to those photos. The real thing is actually stealing his breath away right now.
“Dude! He is turning blue.”
“Shit. Jared, come on. Breathe! Everything is okay man. No need to freak out here.”
But then Josh looks at Jared, really looks at him and just laughs out loud.
“Jay? Jensen isn’t that breathtaking. You should breathe now you know.”
And Jared blinks and breathes. Because yes, Josh is right, he should. But that doesn’t mean Jensen isn’t that breathtaking in person.
When Jared can focus again Josh is slipping past him on the stairs with Jensen’s things.
And it suddenly is Jensen is right in front of him. The amused smile from before has morphed into a real genuine one and Jared can’t help but smile back even though he still has difficulties breathing the right way. He hates those attacks, hates that he doesn’t seem to be able to control them. Hates it even more that Jensen saw it all.
Yes, he will kill Mike.
“All okay now?”
Jared nods due to the lack of enough oxygen in his head to form a coherent answer and in his lungs to be able to utter words. Jensen nods back, walks in to the kitchen and comes back with a glass of water which he hands Jared.
Jared decides that it isn’t a crush anymore.
He is head over heels and gone for Jensen; and it only lets his breath hitch a little instead of provoking a full blown attack again. Jared is actually kind of glad that he has no breath left. Until Jensen speaks again.
“So not being locked in your room huh?”
“What?”
“Dude, you didn’t really think Josh wouldn’t tell me. I know you have been freaking out for days now. And I am actually sorry that I seem to cause so much trouble for you.”
Jensen actually looks apologetic but there is still a small smile present. Jared has no idea what to say now. He feels weak and pathetic and hates Josh for actually telling Jensen how weak and pathetic Jared really is.
“Hey Jared.”
“Yeah?” And Jared is amazed that he doesn’t stutter.
“I am glad you aren’t locked up in your room right now. I’d hate to miss the chance to finally meet you.”
Jensen sounds like he means it, sounds like he really would be sad not meeting Jared and Jared thinks he might start to hope again. Just a little bit, not too much.
He stands up from the step he has been sitting on then and just follows his instinct. Jensen actually gasps when Jared wraps his arms around him and hugs him close, but then he laughs and hugs back with equal force.
“Nice to know I am welcome.”
Yeah, things definitely are okay. Jared likes the fact that Jensen doesn’t even try to get out of the hug.
“You are.”
When they separate again Jared can feel his usual goofy grin in full force and it’s the first time in years that he doesn’t mind being stared at. Because the smile he gets as an answer is worth it.
“Man, Josh wasn’t lying. You are a sasquatch.”
“I hate that, makes me feel all furry.”
“Have you seen your hair?”
And it’s like they are on the phone only that they aren’t and Jared likes that they aren’t because now he can see Jensen when he talks to him and he can see what impact and reactions his words and his laughs cause. Jared really likes what he sees.
They end up in the living room and when Josh comes back they are already deep in conversation. Josh just rolls his eyes, makes food and doesn’t complain much when both Jared and Jensen almost completely ignore him.
***
It is way past the time Jared usually goes to bed. Yes, he is a college student, yes he is young but he also still needs some kind of halfway consistent sleeping pattern so he tries to be asleep before midnight, at least on school days.
But now Jensen is here, and it’s technically not a school day but spring break so Jared can stay awake longer than usual. Even if he feels really tired and all talked out after he and Jensen spent the afternoon getting caught up.
For nothing in the world would he give up his position next to Jensen, not even for sleep.
Jensen is awesome and quite with Jared’s age, says that Jared is more mature than a lot of people he knows while he looks at Josh and ducks a flying popcorn kernel.
Jensen also says that Jared is legal anyway.
The last thing actually chokes Jared up so much that Josh has to get the paper bag again. This time Jensen talks him through it and it works much faster. Josh comments on it but doesn’t really seem to be all that upset about it.
Jensen just smiles and keeps on rubbing Jared’s back. Jensen doesn’t take his hand away and actually winks when Jared raises his eyebrow. It makes Jared bolder in his actions and Jensen even more amused.
Jensen doesn’t move away when Jared gets back from the kitchen after one of his food runs and plops down almost on Jensen’s lap. Josh is the one to comment on it and Jensen actually tells him to shut up but blushes in a way Jared thinks is really fucking cute.
Jensen just ducks his head then, starts talking about the grad school options and Jared listens intently. Jared is pleased to no ends when Jensen actually admits to considering all the things Jared has been telling him. It means that Jensen is thinking about staying close, staying close to Jared.
Josh rolls his eyes and just tells them how damn obvious they are. It makes Jared want to crawl into a hole and hide until Jensen is gone but hen Jensen just grins and says that obvious is easier to figure out Jared can’t help but feel his heart swell a little.
Jensen doesn’t seem to have a problem with being open about his feelings, he seems strong and sure about, that’s at least what Jared thinks. Then Josh goes and destroys the illusion with mention Jensen’s own freak outs while making Jensen splutter and blush in the process. It’s even more adorable than the little thing Jensen does with his lips when he tries to hide that he is biting his cheek.
Jared has no idea how he knows this after only having met Jensen a few hours ago.
***
When Jeff drags Mike back home Jared is almost asleep against Jensen’s shoulder. He stirs though when Jensen actually flinches at Mikes loudly proclaimed ‘Jenny’.
“Don’t call me that assface. And you are dead by the way.”
“Why? Because I called you Jenny? I always call you Jenny… Jenny.”
“Not because of that baldy. You stole Jared’s room key. Poor thing can’t even go to sleep because his room is locked.”
“Oh please tell me you haven’t joined the ‘we protect Jared’ club as well now. God, you are so gone Jenny.”
“So what? Feel jealous Mike?” There are several snorts and Jared can tell that Jeff’s and Josh’s are different from Mikes. He smiles. He smiles even more when Jensen tightens the arm he has around Jared’s shoulder.
Jared feels all warm and fuzzy at Jensen defending him.
“The key, Mike. Please. Jared actually needs his room back one of these days.”
There is a hand in his hair which is gently scratching his head. Jared feels like purring and just moves a little closer to the warm body next to him. He has no idea how they ended up like that but as long as Jensen isn’t protesting Jared isn’t either.
“Oh come on, he wants to sleep in your bed anyway. Where is the problem?”
There is a slap and Jared is pretty sure that Jeff just slapped Mike. He mumbles ‘thanks Jeff’ against Jensen’s neck but isn’t sure if his brother hears it. But when there is a slight pat on his shoulder he knows Jeff had.
“Well, it still would be nice for him to actually be able to get things from his room without risking breaking his neck while climbing over Josh’s balcony. Do not think I would not kill you if you are the cause for Jared trying this and breaking his neck. I so would. It’s not nice to steal keys Mike. So not nice.”
Jensen’s laughter rumbles through his chest and Jared can feel every single wave of it. He likes it. Loves it even, so he doesn’t move not even when he hears Mike snort and complain how fucking disgusting he and Jensen are with their sweet little romance.
Jared grins against Jensen’s skin because yeah Mike might be right but it’s pretty awesome to know that Jensen might actually be on the same page as Jared and to actually know that was worth all the freak outs and hyperventilation attacks.
Jared falls asleep to Jensen telling a story Jared already knows due to one of their phone conversations. He hears Jensen tell it and realises that the others don’t even know half of the things about Jensen that he knows.
Jared thinks there actually might be a real chance. And when Jensen pulls him closer even Jared is sure that Jensen thinks the same. He doesn’t know how he went from really freaking out to falling asleep on his crush’s chest while said crush isn’t discouraging him from doing so. Jared really doesn’t know how that happened, all he knows is that it’s really nice to finally have Jensen close and to be able to feel him, to touch him and to hear is voice instead of just having his voice. Not that Jensen voice alone isn't enough; Jared would happily live with only Jensen’s voice over the phone if he couldn’t have anything more. But it was still really cool to have the touches and the body, too.
“Jay?”
“Hmmpf?”
“Stop your brain and just sleep. Okay?”
“’kay. Jenny.”
The really last thing Jared hears is Jensen cursing Mike for ever saying that out loud and Mike telling him that he loves to hear it from Jared. The silence that follows is telling, so are the groans that echo around the room.
Jared is already asleep otherwise he would love to see the blush on Jensen’s freckled cheeks. Because Jensen blushing is a sight for the gods.
Jared likes the sight so maybe there is a chance for them after all.
The End.
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