The Word of Us (Part Five)
Title: The Word of Us - Part Five
Author: Surevesta
Artist: Spn_2008
Genre: CW RPS
Pairing: J2 + many other common RPS pairings
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 9012
Warnings: “Homophobia”, AU Religious elements
Summary: When Jared Padalecki headed off to college he thought he was going to get an education and eventually mate with a nice girl his Mama would be proud to call daughter. He never expected to lock eyes with Jensen Ackles and have his whole world turned upside down.
After spending a week with his family, mourning the passing of his grandparents, the last thing Jensen expected was to come home to his roommate in the throes of a mating fever. Taking the high road, he moved out. Unable to find an apartment at such short notice he found himself moving back into the dorms and rooming with a freshman named Jared.
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Part Five
“For all that the date and time at which one
finds their mate is impossible for mere mortals
to predict, do not become lazy but actively surround
thyself with those that are worthy in God’s eyes.
The Word - Sansori sec 8 line 19
The party was just as pretentious and gaudy as Jared had expected it would be. He arrived a little late, dragging his feet, even as his mother was yelling for him to hurry up. Jared really didn’t understand the purpose of these parties-well, he understood the theory behind them, but in practice they rarely worked. Only once had he ever witnessed a mating at one, and he’d attended dozens since turning fifteen.
He’d been in Texas for only a week, and this was the third event so far that he’d been to. His mother was there, as usual, with a bunch of other adult chaperones. Most were mothers and members of the church who’d helped set it up. In order to humor her, he’d made his rounds, quickly greeting every girl he saw, including those he already knew, just to get it over with. After that, under his mother’s disappointed gaze, he had snagged some food and slipped to the edge of the party, as far away from her as he could get.
“You never call, you don’t write, and you avoid Facebook like the plague. If a guy didn’t know better, he’d think you died or dumped him for greener pastures.”
Jared glanced up from examining the pastries he’d snagged from the snack table and grinned. “I figured a clean break would be better than stringing you along.” He laughed, embracing the man in front of him in a half hug before pushing away. “Hey Chad, how’ve you been?”
“Apparently no luckier than you.” Chad snagged pastry from his plate, raising an eyebrow before shrugging and popping it into his mouth. “Are the girls there really as hot as they say?”
“I think it averages out the same?” If Jared was at all honest with himself he hadn’t really taken the time to look since he arrived. He leaned back against the wall and glanced around the room. “But yeah, they are.”
“Damn,” Chad muttered under his breath. “I knew I should have applied out there. I shouldn’t have let my parents talk me into Texas State.”
“State’s a good school though,” he pointed out, “especially for your major.”
“Nah.” Chad shook his head and shot him a weird look. “Like I said you never check Facebook. I switched from business to law and UCA is better than TS for law.”
“You could transfer?”
“I can try.” Chad sighed, moving to lean next to him against the wall. “With my luck I’ll mate the week before and be stuck here.”
“You could always hole up till then, avoid everyone.” Jared grinned lopsidedly at him, one side of his lips tilting up into a smirk. “From what I hear that’s a great way to avoid mating.”
“Nah, I’d just have to do my best to convince my girl of California’s greatness.” He frowned suddenly as he glanced up at Jared. “Dude! Did you grow again?”
Jared straightened and nodded. “Maybe half an inch? I had to go pick up some clothes the day before I flew here. Jensen didn’t think I should come home wearing ill-fitting jeans, even if my Mama would’ve bought me a whole new wardrobe when I got here.”
“Shit, you’re going to be a sasquatch!” Chad paused and raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side. “Jensen?”
Jared ducked his head, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. “My roommate. Jensen Ackles.”
“Awe, man!” Chad groaned, punching him lightly in the arm. “Do not tell me I’ve been replaced! Ten years as your best friend and-”
“Nah.” He settled a hand on Chad’s shoulder then and drew back and bumped it with his fist. “you’re still my best friend. My friendship with Jensen is . . . different than ours.” Pausing, he considered what to say, not wanting to say too much as Chad knew him pretty well. “’Sides he’s a junior.”
“A junior?” Chad frowned. “Doesn’t UCA have freshmen dorms?”
“Yep,” Jared nodded and decided to use that as an easy out. “Exactly.”
“Poor guy,” Chad paused, tilting his head in thought, “or he could totally score himself a younger hot chick. Be the envy of all his friends!”
Cringing, Jared chose that moment to stuff a too-dry, slightly lemony tasting pastry into his mouth. He winced at the feel of it, but it was an excellent excuse to let Chad ramble and his friend did just that, switching subjects to some of the ‘babes’ he’d met at college and how he was utterly disappointed he hadn’t mated with any of them.
He liked Chad, he really did, but he also knew him really well and Chad knew him, too. It would be too easy for Chad to realize that Jared didn’t have all that many awesome stories from college and that those he did have all involved Jensen. While it was unlikely the guy would think anything of it-outside of perhaps starting to believe Jensen was Jared’s new best friend after all-he didn’t want to risk it.
“There you are, Jared!”
He turned his head, wincing slightly as he spotted his mother heading towards him, a young brunette in tow. The girl was pretty, there was no doubt about that, and she was smiling, a dimple appearing in her cheek. Sighing, he smiled back before nudging Chad, turning to look at his friend.
Chad was frozen, eyes wide and glittering with something Jared knew well. Turning back towards his mother and the girl, he realized the girl had the exact same expression on her face, and was slowly stepping forward.
His mother’s gaze was on the girl, eyes widening, and a look of excitement growing. Then she turned her attention back to Jared and Chad and her expression visibly fell, evaporating into that look of disappointment that he was starting to know so well.
Stepping around the girl as she reached Chad, Jared snagged his mother’s arm and tugged her towards the other side of the room, gently turning her away from the new pair. “We should get going, Mama.”
“But-” She floundered, obviously not wanting to head home so early. Jared hoped she’d overlook the fact that there were rooms available for Chad and the girl to be shepherded into.
“If a mated pair find one another while in a public place, then that place shall be closed as if it is a day of worship,” he quoted, knowing that she wouldn’t attempt to argue with him if it was the Word’s law.
She huffed, pulling her arm from his and smoothing down her shirt and skirt, trying to get rid of nonexistent wrinkles. “Well, Mrs. Hoffman is having a get together tomorrow night. I’m sure most of the people you haven’t met tonight will attend it.”
Oh goodie, Jared thought, but just nodded and followed his mother towards the entry where several members of the host family were handing coats to their owners.
“While mates do not need to live with
one another, they shall under no circumstances
be separated without consent, unless one of the pair
commits one of the forbidden sins. Never should
one member of a pair be put to death if the
other had no part in the crime.”
The Word - Sansori sec 6 line 1
Jensen was sitting on the couch at his old apartment-Jason and Adrianne’s now-guitar in hand, strumming idly as he watched the screen of his laptop. Jared had been in Texas for a week and wouldn’t be flying back for another three. While he’d had a choice to visit his own family for the entire break, Jensen had opted to stay in California for a week and a half, before flying home just for the holidays. He’d stay for a week and a half and then fly back for the remaining week, in order to help Steve out with a show while Chris went back East for his own holiday celebrations, belated as they’d be.
It had been a busy semester for him, between mating and trying to get all of his class work done everything had gone by so fast. After meeting Elisabeth and Danneel they’d gotten involved with a few of the programs provided by Nimoy & Shatner. They had gained a mentor-pair, who he and Jared met up with once a week at the coffee shop to work with.
Dominic and Billy weren’t like anyone Jensen had ever met. They were college students, grad students actually, who had met for the first time right outside of class their freshman year of high school. They’d somehow made it to the restroom where an upper classman had found them in the middle of the initial fever. Everything could have blown up for them then, but it didn’t. While both of them had gotten into trouble-trouble that included calling a Church official and law enforcement-in the end it had been written off as a dare. It had actually been the Church official, a junior pastor, who’d called a representative of Nimoy and Shatner in.
The advice they gave had helped Jensen some, but for the most part their efforts focused on Jared, whose lack of ability to concentrate at times during class as the bond occasionally flared up, heightening their awareness of each other over greater distances, was having more of a negative impact on his school work than it was for Jensen.
Most of the help they gave Jensen was focused on helping him plan out the future, a future that would revolve around Jared but would need to look as if it didn’t from the average outsider’s perspective. They pointed him towards graduate programs and apprenticeship in his chosen occupation that could take the place of a graduate degree. More and more it was looking as if the latter would be his best option for being able to stay with Jared full time after he graduated.
There were a couple of ‘in the know’ physical therapists nearby, who would be more than willing to provide him with an apprenticeship, apparently, assuming he met their individual requirements to fill the position. One of them was rather famous for his work, and if it hadn’t been for Jensen mating with Jared being apprenticed to him wouldn’t have been an option in a million years.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or are we just going to ignore the elephant in the room for the next three days?” Jason dropped down next to him on the couch, holding out a beer.
Jensen sighed and set his guitar on the cushion next to him before taking it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” Leaning back, Jason propped his feet up on the coffee table. “You’re moping, and have been since you moved in last week. Adi’s at her friend Connie’s place, so you have plenty of time to tell me all about it.”
“Nothing to tell,” Jensen mumbled, glaring at his beer as he uncapped it.
“Right,” Jason scoffed. “Seriously man, what’s up? If I didn’t know any better you were going through withdrawal.”
Fingers tightening around the bottle, Jensen took a long pull from his beer. He barely tasted the liquid as it tumbled straight from his mouth and down the back of his throat.
“You aren’t-” Jason swore, cutting himself off. “Jensen, what is it? Are you taking something? Did . . .” he paused as if considering what it could possibly be that Jensen was addicted to.
For Jensen the answer was obvious. Jared He was going through mate-withdrawal without Jared there. Unlike his mate, Jensen wasn’t as good at putting up a façade to hide the emotional upheaval that came with being so far away that you were virtually unable to feel your mate across the bond. Since their bond was still young, the shadow at the back of his mind was only barely there.
It wasn’t like he’d reverted to how he felt pre-Jared or anything, but the constant feel of Jared’s emotions that had been there for the past few months, growing steadily stronger, was more like a dim flicker of indeterminable emotions at the back of his mind. He knew Jared was alive but that was about it.
“Did Jared get you hooked on something?” Jason’s voice was steel and there was anger and worry bubbling just under the surface of his words.
Jensen jumped slightly, eyes meeting Jason’s dead on. “No. I’m not hooked on something, and Jared would never touch drugs let alone get me-or anyone else for that matter-hooked on them. Are you insane?”
“Are you?” Jason shot back, sitting up. “We’ve been friends for years, Jensen. We were roommates for a year. I know you. Something is wrong, and it didn’t just start this past week. It started months ago when you moved back into the dorms and-” he stopped, eyes scrutinizing Jensen’s face. “I haven’t seen you more than once without Jared, since then till this week. What are you doing Jensen? Whatever is wrong involves Jared, doesn’t it?”
Feeling the blood draining from his face, Jensen tried to muster up an excuse, something, anything, but Jason was right. He did know Jensen too well, and there wasn’t anything that Jensen could muster up, that would adequately quell his friend’s questions.
He swallowed hard and turned towards Jason. His expression was serious, and he met Jason’s eyes as confidently as he could. “You’re right. It does involve Jared. I mated, and he’s . . . Jared’s my mate.”
Everything seemed to freeze then, except for the faint sound of traffic filtering in from the open window and the nearly imperceptible widening of Jason’s eyes. It only lasted for a moment, and then Jason was scrambling up, standing and gesturing, rambling his way through some dead end excuses about how Jensen was lying, and that it wasn’t funny.
Leaning forward, Jensen steeled himself, raising his eyes to meet Jason’s again, calmly repeating what his friend was trying desperately not to believe. “I’m not lying, Jason. Jared’s my mate, and being so far away from him feels like my heart is tearing out of my chest. I feel broken, and empty, and it’s the reason I’m going home next week to Texas and flying into San Antonio rather than Dallas. It’s the reason why I haven’t been around much, and why, when I am, Jared is always with me.”
“It’s impossible!”
“You know me, Jason.” Jensen just kept looking at him. “You said it yourself: you know me. So think about it. Am I lying? Would I lie about this? Think about every time you saw me with Jared and tell me that it isn’t true.”
Jason turned away then, running a hand over his face and through his short, curly hair as he stared out the window. Several long moments passed, and with each one Jensen felt his insides quiver with a myriad of emotions he didn’t even want to think about. He’d been friends with Jason for a long time, best friends, and he didn’t want to lose that. If the other man couldn’t accept the fact Jared and he were mated then how could anyone else, friends or family?
He’d been warned about telling people, telling anyone, but to live completely isolated, without anyone but those they worked with-if that-and a few friends knowing who they really were? Danneel, Elisabeth, Dominic, Billy, and the few others they’d met were great, sure, but they were new friends, new acquaintances, and Jensen didn’t want to lose the people he’d spent years building relationships with, just because fate threw him a curve ball.
“God.” Jason turned back towards him and collapsed into an arm chair. “I can’t . . . I didn’t know this was possible. The Word says-”
“The Word says a lot of things but that doesn’t mean everything is completely true.” Jensen cringed at his own admission. If anyone had asked him prior to mating with Jared if he thought the word was anything less than divine, he’d have thought they were crazy. He might not have gone to church a lot, but he still had a lot of faith. Even now he still believed in most of it. “I didn’t know it was possible, not until I walked in the room and saw Jared for the first time, anyway. Then everything just clicked together. Our eyes met and it was as if I was alive for the first time-as if I’d been missing a limb my entire life, and it just grew back.” He laughed a little, “We holed up in our dorm room after a quick supply run, and, God, apparently we had our neighbors convinced we were porn addicts.”
Jason laughed, but it wasn’t his usual laugh. There was a nervous edge to it. “I don’t . . . I believe you Jensen, but I’m not sure if this is,” he sighed and continued, “This goes against everything, Jensen. It’s just going to take some time to get used to it.”
Jensen nodded, slanting a small, half smile towards his friend. “I know, man, believe me. I know.”
. . .and apparently Mama wants me to go to yet another meeting on Wednesday
night. She was really upset, when I told you were flying in and she already knew that!
I’m getting really frustrated here, Jensen. She won’t leave me alone. I’ve barely had an evening
this whole trip to myself, or even just to spend time with family! She always has yet another girl
coming by with her family for dinner, or some social event that I need to go to ‘just in case’.
Megan thinks it’s hilarious . . . but she’ll get hers in a couple of years!
I’m going crazy here! Save me! PLEASE!!!
I miss you and will meet you at baggage claim around 2:05, hopefully. Text if the plane is going to be late?
Something tells me we aren’t going to have much alone time while you’re here. . . :(
Jared
Yawning, Jensen adjusted his bag where it was slung across his shoulder and made his way down the long hall towards baggage claim. It had only been a week and a half since he last saw Jared, but just that little bit of time had been way too long for him. After Jason’s confrontation things had gotten slightly easier-at least he didn’t feel the need to entirely hide the little details from his friend. Adrianne had also been brought into the loop, because Jason couldn’t hide a thing from his mate, let alone something that led to so many conflicting emotions on his part.
Adrianne had been surprisingly okay with everything. She had squealed out of pure excitement before launching into a million questions about his relationship with Jared. In hindsight he figured she might have been grilling him, trying to find some flaw in his story, but in the end there had only been acceptance from her, and she even punched Jason in the arm for still having an ounce of disbelief.
He had been staying with them while the dorms were closed for break. His old room had been turned into an office/guestroom/practice room and they had replaced his queen-he'd sold it to some random student via Craigslist-with a fold out couch. It had still been a bit awkward staying with them, but they were way past the fever stage of their relationship, and their bond was pretty solidified, so it wasn’t like he was privy to their sex life. If they were having sex with him around, they were decent enough to be quiet about it.
The flight to San Antonio had gone off without a hitch; in fact, it was one of the smoothest flights he’d ever been on, which was good, because he normally didn’t like flying. There was no way he was going to stay in California for four entire weeks, however. Flying into San Antonio gave him a night on either side of his family visit to hang out with his mate. It had been Danneel’s grand idea, and he had almost wanted to kiss her for it. Almost.
When he got to baggage claim, he easily spotted Jared. His mate was waiting near the turnaround Jensen’s bag would come down, hands stuffed in his pockets and eyes trailing across the room. He felt him long before he saw him; their bond had been gradually reopening to its full extent as their physical proximity got closer. Their eyes met, and he watched as Jared smiled, dimples appearing, and felt an equally wide smile blossoming across his own face.
It didn’t take long for them to be standing right in front of each other, inches apart. Jensen itched to touch, and he could feel the mirror image of want spilling towards him from Jared.
“Hey.” Jensen stepped back a tad, realizing how close they were. He glanced away, tearing his eyes from Jared’s. Clearing his throat, he continued, “Thanks for picking me up.”
A flash of hurt came from Jared for a split second before realization, and acceptance, and then love replaced it. “No problem. You’re getting me out of my Mama’s clutches for a few hours, what more could I want?”
He could want and did want a lot more than he was verbally implying. Jensen knew it, could feel it to his very core. And Jensen wanted it too, just as much or maybe more. It was hard to tell since their emotions were feeding back into each other.
They made small talk for a few minutes as they waited for Jensen’s bag to appear. It didn’t take too terribly long; apparently Jensen’s flight was a stopover on the way to another airport so there weren’t that many passengers getting off in San Antonio.
Jared snagged it before Jensen could, grinning like a loon before screwing his face up in mock exertion. “What did you do, pack the kitchen sink, Jensen?”
“Nah, man, just my entire wardrobe.” He grinned, moving to take it from his mate, but Jared just danced a few steps ahead and grinned back at him over his shoulder.
Turned out Jared had borrowed his mother’s car to drive to the airport. It wasn’t the biggest car in the world, but the windows were slightly tinted, and Jared had parked it in the most out of the way part of the long term parking garage he could find. He’d also told his mother that he was going to show Jensen around San Antonio a bit before driving home for dinner.
Considering just how happy Jared was to see him again and vice versa, Jensen completely didn’t mind the walk. Even if he did have to change clothes in the car later and then spend an hour driving around with the windows open just to make sure it was entirely aired out. He didn’t mind one bit.
“Mating is not something to be ashamed of.
It should not be kept secret, especially not from
family for mating should be cause for celebration
no matter what the circumstances that surround it.”
The Word - Marianna sec 5 line 14
Jared’s family home was a nice, two story house in a good neighborhood only three blocks away from their church. It was a pale blue with white trim and a beautiful, expertly kept yard. His parents had been tending their own gardens-flower beds in the front and around the back patio and a vegetable garden in the back-since he was little. He’d grown up planting seeds, weeding, watering, and picking vegetables and flowers, although his mother never appreciated the last.
Some of his best childhood memories involved running barefoot across the soil or grass, jumping through sprinklers and chasing after his siblings. For all that his mother could be overbearing at times she did love him, and so did the rest of his family. And he loved them back. There was no place he’d rather be than at home with his family or with Jensen who was just as much his family now as his parents, brother, and sister, even if they couldn’t admit it.
After driving around for a while, touring his favorite parts of San Antonio by car, they finally pulled up into the drive, not long before dinner was supposed to be ready. He shared a smile with Jensen, squeezing their entangled fingers together before pulling away and climbing out of the car.
The sun was low in the sky, already beginning to color the horizon with half a dozen pastel shades. He met Jensen at the trunk, unlocking it so they could retrieve Jensen’s bag and head up to the porch. They were in luck; Jensen was going to stay in his room as Jeff and his mate, Leah, were in town for the holidays, planning on visiting Jeff’s family for Celebration before heading to her parent’s place for New Years.
Megan was waiting for them on the porch when they got there, feet dangling just above the floor as she swung slowly on the porch swing, eyes watching them intently. She was tall for a twelve year old, and for all that she was a sweet girl she was starting to remind Jared a bit of their mother. “You’re la-ate.” Was sing-songed to them as they paused in front of the door. Her eyes caught on Jensen and widened, a blush staining her cheeks.
Great, just what Jared needed, his little sister crushing on his secret mate. “Mama said she’d have dinner ready around six. It’s only five thirty at the latest.”
Megan huffed slightly, biting her lip before standing and moving to stand in front of them. “She got done with everything but the pasta early, and you made us wait to eat.”
“I thought I heard you out here!” The front door opened and his mother appeared, smiling brightly at them. “You must be Jensen! Jared’s told us so much about you.”
“Jensen, this is my Mama, Sharon, and my little sister Megan.” He motioned towards his little sister who was attempting to sneak looks at his mate.
“Well come in,” His mother said as she held the door open for them. Megan skittered through first, dashing up the stairs taking two steps at a time. “Let your father and brother know Jared’s back! Dinner in ten minutes!” She called up after the pre-teen, frowning. “And slow down! No running on the stairs!”
Jared laughed, and Jensen followed suit, exchanging nervous smiles. “Mama, I’m gonna show Jensen upstairs so he can put his bag away.”
“All right, but be down in ten. That should be just enough time for the pasta to cook.” She sent him a pointed look and headed towards the kitchen.
The house was nearly immaculate in its cleanliness, but still managed to maintain a homey feeling that Jared had missed while in California. It actually reminded him somewhat of their dorm room. While his initial bout of organization and cleanliness had fallen by the wayside following their fever, Jensen was nearly OCD when it came to keeping things clean. Jared could get away with tossing his clothes on the ground during sex or overnight, but in the morning-or the next afternoon depending on their schedule-they were inevitably sequestered away in a hamper.
Bumping his shoulder against his mate, he jerked his head towards the stairs. “C’mon, let’s put your stuff away.”
While not huge, the house was a pretty good size. There were three bedrooms upstairs-the master, Jared’s, and Megan’s-and one downstairs that used to be Jeff’s before it was converted into a guestroom/office. Jared’s bedroom was at the top of the stairs and just to the right. It wasn’t an extremely large room, his bed was just a full size, but it was big enough. His mother had apparently taken the time to set up an air mattress on the floor while he was gone, which took up most the remaining space.
Jensen set his luggage down at the end of the bed as Jared shut the door. “No lock,” he said, sighing. “My parents don’t think it’s appropriate, and that it’d be a fire hazard.”
Collapsing on the end of the bed, leaning back, Jensen shrugged. “No big deal . . . we can hold out.” He reached a hand out, and Jared stepped forward, taking it and intertwining their fingers. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too, Jensen.” Jared stepped forward and pulled Jensen up. “God, I missed you so much.” Leaning down he captured Jensen in a kiss. It wasn’t as heated as their earlier make out/orgasm session, but it was still very passionate.
He slid his tongue into Jensen’s mouth, caressing his mate’s tongue and palate. Jensen tangled one hand in his hair, while the other grappled at his shirt, bunching the fabric at the middle of his back. After only a moment they broke apart, and Jared stepped away so they could both calm down a little.
“No time right now,” Jared sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Dinner . . . my Mama’ll send someone looking if we aren’t down there soon.”
“Yeah,” Jensen nodded, and Jared could read his disappointment. His mate was practically pouting.
Dinner went much easier than Jared expected it to. He sat next to Jensen, and they hooked their feet together, ankles brushing, and Jensen’s foot resting over his. It was better than nothing and in some ways better than meals in the cafeteria back at college. Here they were actually able to touch some, thanks to a long tablecloth, and a long table. His family asked questions and they regaled them with a few stories, mostly about dorm pranks-some made up-how classes were, and the few times they’d seen mates meeting over the past few months.
The last bit had led to a slightly awkward conversation about the fact that Jensen ‘didn’t have a mate’ yet, but Jared had sent him a great deal encouragement. They’d both managed to make it through the conversation without too many issues.
“Well,” his mother had started towards the end of dinner, “there is a social party tonight. I was thinking you could both go, and you could introduce Jensen to some of the lovely girls you ran into the other night?”
“Mama,” Jared groaned, but Jensen interrupted him before he could initiate an argument.
“Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Padalecki-”
“Call me Sharon.”
“-Sharon,” Jensen nodded slightly before continuing, “I’m actually pretty tired. I’m not sure I’m up to a night out after flying earlier. I’m not really keen on airplanes.”
“Oh!” She turned a pointed look towards Jared. “Why didn’t you say so? You’re more than welcome to head upstairs to rest. The kitchen is open, whenever you get hungry or thirsty. Just make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.” Jensen smiled, nodding his thanks. “I appreciate it. I’m not that tired, though; I just don’t feel like going out tonight is all.”
“Plus we were going to watch the movie Dad said he picked up the other day.” Jared glanced toward his brother and then to Jensen. “The one about the human that mates with an alien . . . what was it called again?”
“Aurora,” Megan piped in excitedly, perking up in her seat.
“Is that alright with you and Leah, Jeff?”
“Yeah.” His brother shrugged, glancing at Leah who nodded. “We’ll join you guys.”
His mother huffed audibly, setting her fork down on a nearly clean plate. “I just don’t understand how you can watch such inane drivel. Mating with another species is just preposterous!”
“It’s just fantasy, Sharon,” his father spoke up. “It’s not like it is real life.” Turning to Jared, he continued, “We should watch it in the family room. I replaced the sound system a couple of months ago, but none of the other films we have can show off its full potential.”
“The mate of your child shall always be welcome
within the walls of your home unless he or she
has committed one of the unforgivable sins.
The Word - Sansori sec 2 line 13
“Your family is different than I expected.” Jensen sat down on the edge of Jared’s bed and started untying his shoes.
Raising an eyebrow, Jared started getting undressed. “How so?” He asked while toeing off his own shoes and beginning to shuck off his jeans.
“I don’t know,” Jensen replied, removing his own jeans. “I guess I just expected them to be a little more . . . uptight?”
“Nah,” Jared chuckled. He kicked his pants to the side along with his shoes and stepped over the air mattress so he could sit next to his mate on the bed. “I mean my Mama is, at least when it comes to the Church and mating, but my Dad’s pretty laid back. He does tend to follow her lead though.”
“Ever wonder what it’d be like?”
“Telling them?” He asked, turning to face Jensen.
“How do you think they’d take it?” Jensen tossed his shoes to the other side of the room and leaned back on his elbows.
“Well my Mama would freak out.” Jared ducked his head, gaze sliding over Jensen’s body. “Hard to tell how Dad and Jeff would react.” He paused, considering it. “I think Megan would just be disappointed that she wouldn’t have a shot at you in three years.”
“Ugh.” Jensen’s face screwed up, nose wrinkling. “Bad, wrong, bad. Thanks for that image.”
“Sorry,” He replied, a grin belying his true feelings. Adjusting himself, he lay down on the bed and pulled one leg up till the knee brushed against Jensen’s hip. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Reaching out, Jensen snagged Jared’s hand and squeezed it gently. “For coming to visit you? For being here? You’re my mate Jared, there’s no place I’d rather be.” Stopping, he continued, a sheepish look growing on his face. “Besides I was driving Jason and Adi crazy . . . I think they would have put me on a plane out here, even if I hadn’t already planned to come.”
“What?” Jared propped himself up on his elbow, leaning over Jensen.
Sighing, he lifted their clasped hands up so he could examine them. “Jason confronted me and I couldn’t think of anything else to say. So I told him about us . . . not everything, but the basics.”
“The basics?”
“That we’re mated, and that I missed you and how we mated.” Jensen lifted his eyes back up to meet Jared’s. “Enough so that he and Adi believed me, but not that they knew about Nimoy & Shatner and everything."
Jared was quiet for a moment, contemplating. They’d been warned about including too many people in the truth, and about being careful who they did choose to tell, but Jason was Jensen’s best friend and he could understand why Jensen decided to tell him. If Chad had lived near them instead of going to school in Texas, he’d have found it difficult to hide the truth from him as well. And the same in regards to his family. Even just being at home with Jensen for one night was difficult enough, especially with Jeff and Leah around.
During the movie he’d noticed the small movements and touches his brother was able to share with her, things that he wished he could do with Jensen without causing trouble. Even squished together on the couch as they’d been, shoulders and thighs pressed tight, it hadn’t been enough.
He’d itched to snag Jensen’s hand, lean into him, or even to just settle an arm around his shoulder and reel him in.
Tilting his head, he leaned down and pressed his lips against Jensen’s, enjoying the feel for a moment before pulling back. “It’ll be nice to be able to hang out with them without worrying about every little thing.”
Jensen had relaxed at that, relief teasing along their bond beneath the other, stronger emotions. Reaching out, he cupped a hand around the back of Jared’s neck, fingers tangling in his hair, and pulled him forward. “Yeah it will.”
They kissed again, nipping and sucking lightly on each other’s lips; tongues pressed together, remapping each other’s mouths. Jared’s body burned for more, and, mid kiss, he trailed his hands down Jensen’s body, until he could slide them under the hem of his shirt. Breaking the kiss for a second, he tugged the shirt up and over Jensen’s head, before reclaiming his lips and sliding his hands back down to brush over nipples, and caress over skin and muscles.
Nipping at the side of his mouth, Jensen broke the kiss to trail kisses over Jared’s jaw to his ear. He sucked gently on the lobe, pulling it into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue and teeth before letting go and pressing a kiss just below it, paying attention to the skin, but not enough to leave a mark.
Jared slid his hands over Jensen’s chest, taking a moment to tease his nipples before moving on, smoothing over muscles till he reached the waistband of his boxers. Slipping one hand to his mate’s back, he pulled them ever-so-slightly closer, while his other hand disappeared beneath the elastic to wrap around Jensen’s cock.
Jensen bit him then, nipping at his skin before tilting his head back to peer at Jared through half-lidded eyes as he rocked his hips forward. His jaw clenched, holding back a moan as Jared teased over Jensen’s flesh.
He captured his mate’s lips in a kiss, somehow managing to tantalize Jensen’s mouth open under his, swallowing the sounds he made. Being quiet wasn’t something they were very good at, even months after the fever, they hadn’t gotten the hang of it. They usually found some ways to muffle the sounds, often with loud music or the television, and occasionally with a sock. Out of the two of them, Jared thought Jensen was the loudest, but his mate would probably challenge that if he were to ever speak the thought aloud.
When Jensen came he bit down, gently, on Jared’s bottom lip, pressing it against his own. The pressure only lasted a second, before he released Jared’s mouth entirely, panting and sighing as he came down from his orgasm and leaned back on the bed.
Grinning, Jared gently eased him through the orgasm, stroking him gently through it till Jensen hissed uncomfortably, his cock oversensitive immediately following his climax. He pulled his hands from the boxers and wiped it on a dry portion of the fabric before helping Jensen out of them, doing his best not to let the sticky fabric slide against his mate’s skin.
After tossing the garment towards Jensen’s bag on the other side of the room-and to a place that hopefully wouldn’t be visible from the door-he leaned down and kissed Jensen lightly. His mate was already falling asleep, obviously tired from the flight and meeting Jared’s family. “You falling asleep on me?”
“Mmm,” Jensen murmured, blinking his eyes open. “Sorry.”
“Hey,” Jared grinned and rested his forehead against Jensen’s, “don’t worry about it. Get some sleep . . . you don’t have to leave too early, do you?”
“I’ll wake you.” Jensen’s eyes drifted shut, and he sighed, his breath fanning out against Jared’s lips and cheeks. “Need a ride to the car rental place, anyway.”
Not wanting Jensen to wake up uncomfortable due to dried come, Jared slipped out of bed and across the hall to the bathroom. He took the time to use it and brush his teeth, thoroughly washing his own hands before wetting a wash cloth with warm water. Crossing the hall, he slipped through the door, closed it, and paused at the sight of Jensen sprawled across his bed. It was strange seeing his mate lying naked and completely relaxed on his childhood bed, the one he’d spent half a decade in-his parents had bought it for him when he started to shoot up in height during middle school, figuring he’d probably end up as tall as Jeff-dreaming of the day he’d find his mate and bringing himself to climax with the thoughts.
A smile crept across his lips and he shuffled to the bed, removing the pants he’d hastily pulled on to go across the hall. He tugged gently at Jensen’s shoulder as he slid onto the bed, getting him to roll over just enough so that he could run the cloth over him, cleaning him gently. When he was done, he tossed it away and settled down, pulling Jensen closer.
Green eyes slit open to look at him, a small grin appearing on Jensen’s lips. His hair was ruffled, and, though Jared wouldn’t say it aloud, he thought the older man was adorable, especially with the freckles on his cheeks and nose.
“Go back to sleep,” he murmured, leaning in to press a kiss to Jensen’s forehead and then the tip of his nose, before catching Jensen’s lips in a closed mouthed kiss.
Jensen responded slowly, his lips barely moving against Jared’s. He hummed a little and pulled away, settling down against Jared’s chest, nuzzling tiredly at his collar bone.
Tightening an arm around Jensen’s back, Jared pulled the comforter up to cover them and relaxed back into the bed and pillows. He’d missed this place, especially his pillows. He’d have to remember to snag them before his flight home.
“To sleep in the arms of your mate is
the closest thing to Paradise that man can
experience while still on earth
The Word - Lucas sec 6 line 2
Waking up to the feel of warmth and wet and his mate’s mouth surrounding him was on Jared’s top ten list of best things ever. He wasn’t entirely sure which number it was, but it was definitely in the top five.
As he came out of a very good dream, he realized that it wasn’t just a dream after all. Jensen’s arm was slung across his hips, keeping him from bucking up into his mouth and choking him as his tongue teased the head of Jared’s cock, and his mouth bobbed down onto him. Jared gasped, panting out a breathy moan as one of his hands found Jensen’s head, cupping the back and tangling into his mate’s short hair; the other clenched in the fabric.
Jensen hummed around him, face tilting up just enough that Jared could see his eyes, and the grin they held. His free hand was wrapped around the base of Jared’s cock, sliding up and down as Jensen moved. A sense of mischievousness filtered across the bond and he knew Jensen was proud he’d managed to wake him up in this manner. He wasn’t sure how long Jensen had been at it, but he was aroused enough, and Jensen knew him well enough that it didn’t take long before he was coming, spilling into Jensen’s mouth and biting his fist in order to make the least bit of noise possible.
Relaxing back against the pillows, he reached out to grasp at Jensen and pull him up. He came easily, sliding up to lay against Jared, chest to chest. Their legs tangled together and noses nearly brushed.
“Morning.” Jensen smiled at him. “Told you I’d wake you up.”
“You’re in a good mood.” Jared quirked an eyebrow up.
"Just trying to make the most of what time we have left before I have to head to Dallas.” Jensen sighed and rocked forward a little, his hard on pressing against Jared’s hip.
“What time is it?” Jared turned his head, lifting up slightly to peer at his old alarm clock.
“Almost nine.” Jensen slipped a hand up to cup Jared’s cheek and turned his face back to him. “I was thinking I’d take off around noon.”
Jared pouted a little at that, loath as he was to admit it, but perked up a bit as Jensen leaned forward to press their lips together. It was a close mouthed kiss, and Jensen pulled away after a moment, nose wrinkling.
“We should brush our teeth.”
“What about . . .” Jared trailed off as his hand slipped between them and grasped Jensen’s cock, causing the other man to suck in a breath, eyes fluttering. Grinning, he rolled them over, pressing against Jensen’s side as his hand started a familiar rhythm, his fingers knowing all the right places to press, caress, and tease to elicit a response.
Leaning down, he kissed Jensen lightly, before making his way down to his mate’s neck, once again finding just the right places to leave Jensen gasping and moaning in pleasure. After a few minutes of slow and methodical, he sped up his hand, fingers darting over the head, lightly teasing every few strokes.
The tell-tale signs of Jensen’s impending orgasm were there and Jared pulled back from his neck to watch his lover's face, their eyes meeting. Jensen was close; Jared had no doubt about that. Just before he came, Jared leaned down and captured his mouth, forcing his tongue past lips and fucking gently into his mouth, swallowing the near shout.
The kiss lasted longer than any of the others had that morning, even though both of them sorely needed to brush their teeth. Jared could taste himself on Jensen’s tongue, a bitter and slightly unpleasant taste, but one he’d been growing used to over the past few months.
Breaking it, he leaned his forehead against Jensen’s and slipped his come covered hand up his mates chest to settle against his stomach, pressing lightly against the relaxed lines of his abs.
The door clicked shut then, startling them both. Jared sat up, pulling his eyes away from Jensen’s, his eyes locked on the basketball poster that had been on the back of the door since his freshman year of high school. “Shit. Who?”
Jensen was scrambling up next to him, embarrassment flooding through their bond, and Jared knew without looking at him he was flushed beet red. “Fuck. Fuck . . . What are we going to do? What-” He stumbled over his jeans as he headed for his bag.
“Wait.” Jared followed him, snagging him around the waist and pulling him back against his chest. He dropped his chin onto Jensen’s shoulder, eyes closed as he nuzzled against the skin behind his ear. “Stop it. We’ll deal.” Even though his heart was hammering in his chest, he did his best to remain calm, extending that over their bond.
“Who do you think it was?” Jensen relaxed slightly against him, and they both paused, quieting as they listened for any sound or indication that someone was freaking out or going to make a big deal about them.
“Could be Megan or Jeff or . . . anyone but my dad or Leah, probably.” Jared pulled away, knowing that Jensen was calm enough that he wasn’t going to completely freak out anymore. “I doubt Leah would come in without knocking, and my Dad goes to work at seven.” He bit his lip and ran a hand over his face, watching as Jensen riffled through his suitcase, trying to find something to wear.
“So Megan, Jeff, or,” Jensen paused, a fresh pair of jeans and boxers clenched in his hand, “your mother?”
Jared blanched and hurried over to his dresser to find something to pull on. Out of the three main possibilities . . . he prayed to God it hadn’t been his mother.
“Upon finding your mate you will gain
a second family. You will be welcomed into
their home as a new child or sibling would be.”
The Word - Rhia sec 19 line 8
Jensen pulled the shirt over his head, fumbling with the buttons. Sure, Jared had managed to calm him down some, but he couldn’t help the undercurrent of worry and, obviously, neither could Jared. He double checked his pants before turning to face his mate, watching as Jared finished tugging on his jeans.
“We-I-should probably take a shower.” He glanced towards the door, his hesitance more than evident.
“Yeah.” Jared turned to face him. His cheeks were somewhat flushed and even his earlier confidence had started to waver. “You want to take one while I go . . .” Waving his hand in the air, he bit his lip, worrying it between his teeth.
Nodding, Jensen sighed and stepped towards the door. “Where are the-”
“In the cupboard to the left of the toilet,” Jared answered before he could finish.
“Thanks.”
Slipping out the door, he glanced down the hall, thankful no one was standing around. Apparently whoever had walked in on them--God, he missed their dorm room and its lock-hadn’t stuck around to face them.
His shower didn’t take long, not that he wanted to take his time, and he quickly dressed back into his clothes, toweling his hair dry. The hall was quiet, but Jared wasn’t in his room. Dropping his towel on the floor, he slipped back into the hall, intent on finding his mate.
Jared’s emotions were mixed, but they were clear and they worried Jensen a bit with their intensity. His mate was upset, not in a rage, but still quite angry with whoever he was speaking to. It wasn’t like Jensen expected the person to be all that happy about them-it was a big deal for someone to find out what they were to each other and, considering everything, it wasn’t hard to believe that it would be difficult for them to accept it. After all, same-sex pairs were supposedly nothing more than fiction and lies.
He found Jared down the hall inside Megan’s room, both the bond, and the hushed but rough edged voices leading him there. Jensen pushed the door open hesitantly, causing everyone to quiet down inside.
They all turned to look, and Jensen couldn’t help the heat that rose to his cheeks. Jared wasn’t alone, and it wasn’t just Megan with him. His sister was on the bed, sitting against the headboard, a pillow pulled tight to her chest. There were tears tracking down her cheeks, and she was clearly upset. It didn’t take much for Jensen to put it all together and realize that she had been the one that walked in on them. Jeff was also there though, angry lines darkening the features of his face as he stood in front of Jared, angled just enough that he was nearly blocking Megan from their sibling.
Jensen met his mate’s eyes, and could feel the hurt and despair building inside him. Turning, he shut the door before moving to stand next to his mate. He sent as much comfort and support as he could to Jared and, glancing towards Jeff, purposefully snagged Jared’s hand with his own, tangling their fingers together. It wasn’t as if Jeff and Megan didn’t know already. There wasn’t a reason to keep up all the pretenses anymore.
Jeff’s eyes narrowed, and he redirected his gaze from Jared to Jensen. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“He’s my mate.” Jared spoke before Jensen could say anything, his fingers tightening around Jensen’s.
Megan squeaked a little, or at least that was what it sounded like. Darting glance towards the pre-teen, Jensen realized she had buried her face into her pillow, arms tightening around her knees.
“Are you kidding me? This is some kind of joke . . . Jared, think about what you’re saying.” Jeff gestured wildly between them. “It’s impossible! You’re both men.”
“Not impossible.” Jared shook his head, a harsh laugh escaping his lips. “Just improbable.” It was something that their mentors had told them weeks ago. A joke that Dominic loved to say, when they talked about the statistics of same-sex mating, and how hard it was for families and friends to accept the truth, even with it standing right in front of them. “He’s my mate and has been since the first time I laid eyes on him.” He turned to Jensen and their eyes met. “Since my second day in the dorms.”
“No-”
“It’s the truth.” Jensen turned, speaking up for the first time. “Do you think that either of us would joke about this? Do you think we would have wanted this before . . .?”
“You’re insane.” Jeff said after a moment, stepping forward slightly, his hands clenching into fists. “What you’re saying is nothing more than lies. You’ve been tricked somehow. If not just you, Jared, then both of you. Think about it. The Word even says that ‘it is impossible for those of the same sex to be joined together for all of eternity’ and that ‘those who claim otherwise are blasphemers, and will be punished accordingly in the next life’.”
“It also says a lot of other stuff, especially about the food we’re supposed to eat and not eat, and yet the beef industry is going strong,” Jensen pointed out, his hand clenching tight around Jared’s.
“We have thought about it. We’ve done nothing more than think about it for months. We are mates, and nothing anyone says is going to change that,” Jared said, his voice wavering with the frustration of not being believed.
Jeff shook his head, eyes shut, trying to process everything.
“Well,” Leah spoke up from behind them, causing Jensen and Jared to turn towards her, startled. Yet again they hadn’t heard the door open. “If you could start from the beginning, maybe we could all sit down and hear you out. I always enjoy a good mating story.”
Next Part
Author: Surevesta
Artist: Spn_2008
Genre: CW RPS
Pairing: J2 + many other common RPS pairings
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 9012
Warnings: “Homophobia”, AU Religious elements
Summary: When Jared Padalecki headed off to college he thought he was going to get an education and eventually mate with a nice girl his Mama would be proud to call daughter. He never expected to lock eyes with Jensen Ackles and have his whole world turned upside down.
After spending a week with his family, mourning the passing of his grandparents, the last thing Jensen expected was to come home to his roommate in the throes of a mating fever. Taking the high road, he moved out. Unable to find an apartment at such short notice he found himself moving back into the dorms and rooming with a freshman named Jared.
Previous Part | Master Post | Art Post
Part Five
“For all that the date and time at which one
finds their mate is impossible for mere mortals
to predict, do not become lazy but actively surround
thyself with those that are worthy in God’s eyes.
The Word - Sansori sec 8 line 19
The party was just as pretentious and gaudy as Jared had expected it would be. He arrived a little late, dragging his feet, even as his mother was yelling for him to hurry up. Jared really didn’t understand the purpose of these parties-well, he understood the theory behind them, but in practice they rarely worked. Only once had he ever witnessed a mating at one, and he’d attended dozens since turning fifteen.
He’d been in Texas for only a week, and this was the third event so far that he’d been to. His mother was there, as usual, with a bunch of other adult chaperones. Most were mothers and members of the church who’d helped set it up. In order to humor her, he’d made his rounds, quickly greeting every girl he saw, including those he already knew, just to get it over with. After that, under his mother’s disappointed gaze, he had snagged some food and slipped to the edge of the party, as far away from her as he could get.
“You never call, you don’t write, and you avoid Facebook like the plague. If a guy didn’t know better, he’d think you died or dumped him for greener pastures.”
Jared glanced up from examining the pastries he’d snagged from the snack table and grinned. “I figured a clean break would be better than stringing you along.” He laughed, embracing the man in front of him in a half hug before pushing away. “Hey Chad, how’ve you been?”
“Apparently no luckier than you.” Chad snagged pastry from his plate, raising an eyebrow before shrugging and popping it into his mouth. “Are the girls there really as hot as they say?”
“I think it averages out the same?” If Jared was at all honest with himself he hadn’t really taken the time to look since he arrived. He leaned back against the wall and glanced around the room. “But yeah, they are.”
“Damn,” Chad muttered under his breath. “I knew I should have applied out there. I shouldn’t have let my parents talk me into Texas State.”
“State’s a good school though,” he pointed out, “especially for your major.”
“Nah.” Chad shook his head and shot him a weird look. “Like I said you never check Facebook. I switched from business to law and UCA is better than TS for law.”
“You could transfer?”
“I can try.” Chad sighed, moving to lean next to him against the wall. “With my luck I’ll mate the week before and be stuck here.”
“You could always hole up till then, avoid everyone.” Jared grinned lopsidedly at him, one side of his lips tilting up into a smirk. “From what I hear that’s a great way to avoid mating.”
“Nah, I’d just have to do my best to convince my girl of California’s greatness.” He frowned suddenly as he glanced up at Jared. “Dude! Did you grow again?”
Jared straightened and nodded. “Maybe half an inch? I had to go pick up some clothes the day before I flew here. Jensen didn’t think I should come home wearing ill-fitting jeans, even if my Mama would’ve bought me a whole new wardrobe when I got here.”
“Shit, you’re going to be a sasquatch!” Chad paused and raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side. “Jensen?”
Jared ducked his head, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. “My roommate. Jensen Ackles.”
“Awe, man!” Chad groaned, punching him lightly in the arm. “Do not tell me I’ve been replaced! Ten years as your best friend and-”
“Nah.” He settled a hand on Chad’s shoulder then and drew back and bumped it with his fist. “you’re still my best friend. My friendship with Jensen is . . . different than ours.” Pausing, he considered what to say, not wanting to say too much as Chad knew him pretty well. “’Sides he’s a junior.”
“A junior?” Chad frowned. “Doesn’t UCA have freshmen dorms?”
“Yep,” Jared nodded and decided to use that as an easy out. “Exactly.”
“Poor guy,” Chad paused, tilting his head in thought, “or he could totally score himself a younger hot chick. Be the envy of all his friends!”
Cringing, Jared chose that moment to stuff a too-dry, slightly lemony tasting pastry into his mouth. He winced at the feel of it, but it was an excellent excuse to let Chad ramble and his friend did just that, switching subjects to some of the ‘babes’ he’d met at college and how he was utterly disappointed he hadn’t mated with any of them.
He liked Chad, he really did, but he also knew him really well and Chad knew him, too. It would be too easy for Chad to realize that Jared didn’t have all that many awesome stories from college and that those he did have all involved Jensen. While it was unlikely the guy would think anything of it-outside of perhaps starting to believe Jensen was Jared’s new best friend after all-he didn’t want to risk it.
“There you are, Jared!”
He turned his head, wincing slightly as he spotted his mother heading towards him, a young brunette in tow. The girl was pretty, there was no doubt about that, and she was smiling, a dimple appearing in her cheek. Sighing, he smiled back before nudging Chad, turning to look at his friend.
Chad was frozen, eyes wide and glittering with something Jared knew well. Turning back towards his mother and the girl, he realized the girl had the exact same expression on her face, and was slowly stepping forward.
His mother’s gaze was on the girl, eyes widening, and a look of excitement growing. Then she turned her attention back to Jared and Chad and her expression visibly fell, evaporating into that look of disappointment that he was starting to know so well.
Stepping around the girl as she reached Chad, Jared snagged his mother’s arm and tugged her towards the other side of the room, gently turning her away from the new pair. “We should get going, Mama.”
“But-” She floundered, obviously not wanting to head home so early. Jared hoped she’d overlook the fact that there were rooms available for Chad and the girl to be shepherded into.
“If a mated pair find one another while in a public place, then that place shall be closed as if it is a day of worship,” he quoted, knowing that she wouldn’t attempt to argue with him if it was the Word’s law.
She huffed, pulling her arm from his and smoothing down her shirt and skirt, trying to get rid of nonexistent wrinkles. “Well, Mrs. Hoffman is having a get together tomorrow night. I’m sure most of the people you haven’t met tonight will attend it.”
Oh goodie, Jared thought, but just nodded and followed his mother towards the entry where several members of the host family were handing coats to their owners.
“While mates do not need to live with
one another, they shall under no circumstances
be separated without consent, unless one of the pair
commits one of the forbidden sins. Never should
one member of a pair be put to death if the
other had no part in the crime.”
The Word - Sansori sec 6 line 1
Jensen was sitting on the couch at his old apartment-Jason and Adrianne’s now-guitar in hand, strumming idly as he watched the screen of his laptop. Jared had been in Texas for a week and wouldn’t be flying back for another three. While he’d had a choice to visit his own family for the entire break, Jensen had opted to stay in California for a week and a half, before flying home just for the holidays. He’d stay for a week and a half and then fly back for the remaining week, in order to help Steve out with a show while Chris went back East for his own holiday celebrations, belated as they’d be.
It had been a busy semester for him, between mating and trying to get all of his class work done everything had gone by so fast. After meeting Elisabeth and Danneel they’d gotten involved with a few of the programs provided by Nimoy & Shatner. They had gained a mentor-pair, who he and Jared met up with once a week at the coffee shop to work with.
Dominic and Billy weren’t like anyone Jensen had ever met. They were college students, grad students actually, who had met for the first time right outside of class their freshman year of high school. They’d somehow made it to the restroom where an upper classman had found them in the middle of the initial fever. Everything could have blown up for them then, but it didn’t. While both of them had gotten into trouble-trouble that included calling a Church official and law enforcement-in the end it had been written off as a dare. It had actually been the Church official, a junior pastor, who’d called a representative of Nimoy and Shatner in.
The advice they gave had helped Jensen some, but for the most part their efforts focused on Jared, whose lack of ability to concentrate at times during class as the bond occasionally flared up, heightening their awareness of each other over greater distances, was having more of a negative impact on his school work than it was for Jensen.
Most of the help they gave Jensen was focused on helping him plan out the future, a future that would revolve around Jared but would need to look as if it didn’t from the average outsider’s perspective. They pointed him towards graduate programs and apprenticeship in his chosen occupation that could take the place of a graduate degree. More and more it was looking as if the latter would be his best option for being able to stay with Jared full time after he graduated.
There were a couple of ‘in the know’ physical therapists nearby, who would be more than willing to provide him with an apprenticeship, apparently, assuming he met their individual requirements to fill the position. One of them was rather famous for his work, and if it hadn’t been for Jensen mating with Jared being apprenticed to him wouldn’t have been an option in a million years.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or are we just going to ignore the elephant in the room for the next three days?” Jason dropped down next to him on the couch, holding out a beer.
Jensen sighed and set his guitar on the cushion next to him before taking it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” Leaning back, Jason propped his feet up on the coffee table. “You’re moping, and have been since you moved in last week. Adi’s at her friend Connie’s place, so you have plenty of time to tell me all about it.”
“Nothing to tell,” Jensen mumbled, glaring at his beer as he uncapped it.
“Right,” Jason scoffed. “Seriously man, what’s up? If I didn’t know any better you were going through withdrawal.”
Fingers tightening around the bottle, Jensen took a long pull from his beer. He barely tasted the liquid as it tumbled straight from his mouth and down the back of his throat.
“You aren’t-” Jason swore, cutting himself off. “Jensen, what is it? Are you taking something? Did . . .” he paused as if considering what it could possibly be that Jensen was addicted to.
For Jensen the answer was obvious. Jared He was going through mate-withdrawal without Jared there. Unlike his mate, Jensen wasn’t as good at putting up a façade to hide the emotional upheaval that came with being so far away that you were virtually unable to feel your mate across the bond. Since their bond was still young, the shadow at the back of his mind was only barely there.
It wasn’t like he’d reverted to how he felt pre-Jared or anything, but the constant feel of Jared’s emotions that had been there for the past few months, growing steadily stronger, was more like a dim flicker of indeterminable emotions at the back of his mind. He knew Jared was alive but that was about it.
“Did Jared get you hooked on something?” Jason’s voice was steel and there was anger and worry bubbling just under the surface of his words.
Jensen jumped slightly, eyes meeting Jason’s dead on. “No. I’m not hooked on something, and Jared would never touch drugs let alone get me-or anyone else for that matter-hooked on them. Are you insane?”
“Are you?” Jason shot back, sitting up. “We’ve been friends for years, Jensen. We were roommates for a year. I know you. Something is wrong, and it didn’t just start this past week. It started months ago when you moved back into the dorms and-” he stopped, eyes scrutinizing Jensen’s face. “I haven’t seen you more than once without Jared, since then till this week. What are you doing Jensen? Whatever is wrong involves Jared, doesn’t it?”
Feeling the blood draining from his face, Jensen tried to muster up an excuse, something, anything, but Jason was right. He did know Jensen too well, and there wasn’t anything that Jensen could muster up, that would adequately quell his friend’s questions.
He swallowed hard and turned towards Jason. His expression was serious, and he met Jason’s eyes as confidently as he could. “You’re right. It does involve Jared. I mated, and he’s . . . Jared’s my mate.”
Everything seemed to freeze then, except for the faint sound of traffic filtering in from the open window and the nearly imperceptible widening of Jason’s eyes. It only lasted for a moment, and then Jason was scrambling up, standing and gesturing, rambling his way through some dead end excuses about how Jensen was lying, and that it wasn’t funny.
Leaning forward, Jensen steeled himself, raising his eyes to meet Jason’s again, calmly repeating what his friend was trying desperately not to believe. “I’m not lying, Jason. Jared’s my mate, and being so far away from him feels like my heart is tearing out of my chest. I feel broken, and empty, and it’s the reason I’m going home next week to Texas and flying into San Antonio rather than Dallas. It’s the reason why I haven’t been around much, and why, when I am, Jared is always with me.”
“It’s impossible!”
“You know me, Jason.” Jensen just kept looking at him. “You said it yourself: you know me. So think about it. Am I lying? Would I lie about this? Think about every time you saw me with Jared and tell me that it isn’t true.”
Jason turned away then, running a hand over his face and through his short, curly hair as he stared out the window. Several long moments passed, and with each one Jensen felt his insides quiver with a myriad of emotions he didn’t even want to think about. He’d been friends with Jason for a long time, best friends, and he didn’t want to lose that. If the other man couldn’t accept the fact Jared and he were mated then how could anyone else, friends or family?
He’d been warned about telling people, telling anyone, but to live completely isolated, without anyone but those they worked with-if that-and a few friends knowing who they really were? Danneel, Elisabeth, Dominic, Billy, and the few others they’d met were great, sure, but they were new friends, new acquaintances, and Jensen didn’t want to lose the people he’d spent years building relationships with, just because fate threw him a curve ball.
“God.” Jason turned back towards him and collapsed into an arm chair. “I can’t . . . I didn’t know this was possible. The Word says-”
“The Word says a lot of things but that doesn’t mean everything is completely true.” Jensen cringed at his own admission. If anyone had asked him prior to mating with Jared if he thought the word was anything less than divine, he’d have thought they were crazy. He might not have gone to church a lot, but he still had a lot of faith. Even now he still believed in most of it. “I didn’t know it was possible, not until I walked in the room and saw Jared for the first time, anyway. Then everything just clicked together. Our eyes met and it was as if I was alive for the first time-as if I’d been missing a limb my entire life, and it just grew back.” He laughed a little, “We holed up in our dorm room after a quick supply run, and, God, apparently we had our neighbors convinced we were porn addicts.”
Jason laughed, but it wasn’t his usual laugh. There was a nervous edge to it. “I don’t . . . I believe you Jensen, but I’m not sure if this is,” he sighed and continued, “This goes against everything, Jensen. It’s just going to take some time to get used to it.”
Jensen nodded, slanting a small, half smile towards his friend. “I know, man, believe me. I know.”
. . .and apparently Mama wants me to go to yet another meeting on Wednesday
night. She was really upset, when I told you were flying in and she already knew that!
I’m getting really frustrated here, Jensen. She won’t leave me alone. I’ve barely had an evening
this whole trip to myself, or even just to spend time with family! She always has yet another girl
coming by with her family for dinner, or some social event that I need to go to ‘just in case’.
Megan thinks it’s hilarious . . . but she’ll get hers in a couple of years!
I’m going crazy here! Save me! PLEASE!!!
I miss you and will meet you at baggage claim around 2:05, hopefully. Text if the plane is going to be late?
Something tells me we aren’t going to have much alone time while you’re here. . . :(
Jared
Yawning, Jensen adjusted his bag where it was slung across his shoulder and made his way down the long hall towards baggage claim. It had only been a week and a half since he last saw Jared, but just that little bit of time had been way too long for him. After Jason’s confrontation things had gotten slightly easier-at least he didn’t feel the need to entirely hide the little details from his friend. Adrianne had also been brought into the loop, because Jason couldn’t hide a thing from his mate, let alone something that led to so many conflicting emotions on his part.
Adrianne had been surprisingly okay with everything. She had squealed out of pure excitement before launching into a million questions about his relationship with Jared. In hindsight he figured she might have been grilling him, trying to find some flaw in his story, but in the end there had only been acceptance from her, and she even punched Jason in the arm for still having an ounce of disbelief.
He had been staying with them while the dorms were closed for break. His old room had been turned into an office/guestroom/practice room and they had replaced his queen-he'd sold it to some random student via Craigslist-with a fold out couch. It had still been a bit awkward staying with them, but they were way past the fever stage of their relationship, and their bond was pretty solidified, so it wasn’t like he was privy to their sex life. If they were having sex with him around, they were decent enough to be quiet about it.
The flight to San Antonio had gone off without a hitch; in fact, it was one of the smoothest flights he’d ever been on, which was good, because he normally didn’t like flying. There was no way he was going to stay in California for four entire weeks, however. Flying into San Antonio gave him a night on either side of his family visit to hang out with his mate. It had been Danneel’s grand idea, and he had almost wanted to kiss her for it. Almost.
When he got to baggage claim, he easily spotted Jared. His mate was waiting near the turnaround Jensen’s bag would come down, hands stuffed in his pockets and eyes trailing across the room. He felt him long before he saw him; their bond had been gradually reopening to its full extent as their physical proximity got closer. Their eyes met, and he watched as Jared smiled, dimples appearing, and felt an equally wide smile blossoming across his own face.
It didn’t take long for them to be standing right in front of each other, inches apart. Jensen itched to touch, and he could feel the mirror image of want spilling towards him from Jared.
“Hey.” Jensen stepped back a tad, realizing how close they were. He glanced away, tearing his eyes from Jared’s. Clearing his throat, he continued, “Thanks for picking me up.”
A flash of hurt came from Jared for a split second before realization, and acceptance, and then love replaced it. “No problem. You’re getting me out of my Mama’s clutches for a few hours, what more could I want?”
He could want and did want a lot more than he was verbally implying. Jensen knew it, could feel it to his very core. And Jensen wanted it too, just as much or maybe more. It was hard to tell since their emotions were feeding back into each other.
They made small talk for a few minutes as they waited for Jensen’s bag to appear. It didn’t take too terribly long; apparently Jensen’s flight was a stopover on the way to another airport so there weren’t that many passengers getting off in San Antonio.
Jared snagged it before Jensen could, grinning like a loon before screwing his face up in mock exertion. “What did you do, pack the kitchen sink, Jensen?”
“Nah, man, just my entire wardrobe.” He grinned, moving to take it from his mate, but Jared just danced a few steps ahead and grinned back at him over his shoulder.
Turned out Jared had borrowed his mother’s car to drive to the airport. It wasn’t the biggest car in the world, but the windows were slightly tinted, and Jared had parked it in the most out of the way part of the long term parking garage he could find. He’d also told his mother that he was going to show Jensen around San Antonio a bit before driving home for dinner.
Considering just how happy Jared was to see him again and vice versa, Jensen completely didn’t mind the walk. Even if he did have to change clothes in the car later and then spend an hour driving around with the windows open just to make sure it was entirely aired out. He didn’t mind one bit.
“Mating is not something to be ashamed of.
It should not be kept secret, especially not from
family for mating should be cause for celebration
no matter what the circumstances that surround it.”
The Word - Marianna sec 5 line 14
Jared’s family home was a nice, two story house in a good neighborhood only three blocks away from their church. It was a pale blue with white trim and a beautiful, expertly kept yard. His parents had been tending their own gardens-flower beds in the front and around the back patio and a vegetable garden in the back-since he was little. He’d grown up planting seeds, weeding, watering, and picking vegetables and flowers, although his mother never appreciated the last.
Some of his best childhood memories involved running barefoot across the soil or grass, jumping through sprinklers and chasing after his siblings. For all that his mother could be overbearing at times she did love him, and so did the rest of his family. And he loved them back. There was no place he’d rather be than at home with his family or with Jensen who was just as much his family now as his parents, brother, and sister, even if they couldn’t admit it.
After driving around for a while, touring his favorite parts of San Antonio by car, they finally pulled up into the drive, not long before dinner was supposed to be ready. He shared a smile with Jensen, squeezing their entangled fingers together before pulling away and climbing out of the car.
The sun was low in the sky, already beginning to color the horizon with half a dozen pastel shades. He met Jensen at the trunk, unlocking it so they could retrieve Jensen’s bag and head up to the porch. They were in luck; Jensen was going to stay in his room as Jeff and his mate, Leah, were in town for the holidays, planning on visiting Jeff’s family for Celebration before heading to her parent’s place for New Years.
Megan was waiting for them on the porch when they got there, feet dangling just above the floor as she swung slowly on the porch swing, eyes watching them intently. She was tall for a twelve year old, and for all that she was a sweet girl she was starting to remind Jared a bit of their mother. “You’re la-ate.” Was sing-songed to them as they paused in front of the door. Her eyes caught on Jensen and widened, a blush staining her cheeks.
Great, just what Jared needed, his little sister crushing on his secret mate. “Mama said she’d have dinner ready around six. It’s only five thirty at the latest.”
Megan huffed slightly, biting her lip before standing and moving to stand in front of them. “She got done with everything but the pasta early, and you made us wait to eat.”
“I thought I heard you out here!” The front door opened and his mother appeared, smiling brightly at them. “You must be Jensen! Jared’s told us so much about you.”
“Jensen, this is my Mama, Sharon, and my little sister Megan.” He motioned towards his little sister who was attempting to sneak looks at his mate.
“Well come in,” His mother said as she held the door open for them. Megan skittered through first, dashing up the stairs taking two steps at a time. “Let your father and brother know Jared’s back! Dinner in ten minutes!” She called up after the pre-teen, frowning. “And slow down! No running on the stairs!”
Jared laughed, and Jensen followed suit, exchanging nervous smiles. “Mama, I’m gonna show Jensen upstairs so he can put his bag away.”
“All right, but be down in ten. That should be just enough time for the pasta to cook.” She sent him a pointed look and headed towards the kitchen.
The house was nearly immaculate in its cleanliness, but still managed to maintain a homey feeling that Jared had missed while in California. It actually reminded him somewhat of their dorm room. While his initial bout of organization and cleanliness had fallen by the wayside following their fever, Jensen was nearly OCD when it came to keeping things clean. Jared could get away with tossing his clothes on the ground during sex or overnight, but in the morning-or the next afternoon depending on their schedule-they were inevitably sequestered away in a hamper.
Bumping his shoulder against his mate, he jerked his head towards the stairs. “C’mon, let’s put your stuff away.”
While not huge, the house was a pretty good size. There were three bedrooms upstairs-the master, Jared’s, and Megan’s-and one downstairs that used to be Jeff’s before it was converted into a guestroom/office. Jared’s bedroom was at the top of the stairs and just to the right. It wasn’t an extremely large room, his bed was just a full size, but it was big enough. His mother had apparently taken the time to set up an air mattress on the floor while he was gone, which took up most the remaining space.
Jensen set his luggage down at the end of the bed as Jared shut the door. “No lock,” he said, sighing. “My parents don’t think it’s appropriate, and that it’d be a fire hazard.”
Collapsing on the end of the bed, leaning back, Jensen shrugged. “No big deal . . . we can hold out.” He reached a hand out, and Jared stepped forward, taking it and intertwining their fingers. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too, Jensen.” Jared stepped forward and pulled Jensen up. “God, I missed you so much.” Leaning down he captured Jensen in a kiss. It wasn’t as heated as their earlier make out/orgasm session, but it was still very passionate.
He slid his tongue into Jensen’s mouth, caressing his mate’s tongue and palate. Jensen tangled one hand in his hair, while the other grappled at his shirt, bunching the fabric at the middle of his back. After only a moment they broke apart, and Jared stepped away so they could both calm down a little.
“No time right now,” Jared sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Dinner . . . my Mama’ll send someone looking if we aren’t down there soon.”
“Yeah,” Jensen nodded, and Jared could read his disappointment. His mate was practically pouting.
Dinner went much easier than Jared expected it to. He sat next to Jensen, and they hooked their feet together, ankles brushing, and Jensen’s foot resting over his. It was better than nothing and in some ways better than meals in the cafeteria back at college. Here they were actually able to touch some, thanks to a long tablecloth, and a long table. His family asked questions and they regaled them with a few stories, mostly about dorm pranks-some made up-how classes were, and the few times they’d seen mates meeting over the past few months.
The last bit had led to a slightly awkward conversation about the fact that Jensen ‘didn’t have a mate’ yet, but Jared had sent him a great deal encouragement. They’d both managed to make it through the conversation without too many issues.
“Well,” his mother had started towards the end of dinner, “there is a social party tonight. I was thinking you could both go, and you could introduce Jensen to some of the lovely girls you ran into the other night?”
“Mama,” Jared groaned, but Jensen interrupted him before he could initiate an argument.
“Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Padalecki-”
“Call me Sharon.”
“-Sharon,” Jensen nodded slightly before continuing, “I’m actually pretty tired. I’m not sure I’m up to a night out after flying earlier. I’m not really keen on airplanes.”
“Oh!” She turned a pointed look towards Jared. “Why didn’t you say so? You’re more than welcome to head upstairs to rest. The kitchen is open, whenever you get hungry or thirsty. Just make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.” Jensen smiled, nodding his thanks. “I appreciate it. I’m not that tired, though; I just don’t feel like going out tonight is all.”
“Plus we were going to watch the movie Dad said he picked up the other day.” Jared glanced toward his brother and then to Jensen. “The one about the human that mates with an alien . . . what was it called again?”
“Aurora,” Megan piped in excitedly, perking up in her seat.
“Is that alright with you and Leah, Jeff?”
“Yeah.” His brother shrugged, glancing at Leah who nodded. “We’ll join you guys.”
His mother huffed audibly, setting her fork down on a nearly clean plate. “I just don’t understand how you can watch such inane drivel. Mating with another species is just preposterous!”
“It’s just fantasy, Sharon,” his father spoke up. “It’s not like it is real life.” Turning to Jared, he continued, “We should watch it in the family room. I replaced the sound system a couple of months ago, but none of the other films we have can show off its full potential.”
“The mate of your child shall always be welcome
within the walls of your home unless he or she
has committed one of the unforgivable sins.
The Word - Sansori sec 2 line 13
“Your family is different than I expected.” Jensen sat down on the edge of Jared’s bed and started untying his shoes.
Raising an eyebrow, Jared started getting undressed. “How so?” He asked while toeing off his own shoes and beginning to shuck off his jeans.
“I don’t know,” Jensen replied, removing his own jeans. “I guess I just expected them to be a little more . . . uptight?”
“Nah,” Jared chuckled. He kicked his pants to the side along with his shoes and stepped over the air mattress so he could sit next to his mate on the bed. “I mean my Mama is, at least when it comes to the Church and mating, but my Dad’s pretty laid back. He does tend to follow her lead though.”
“Ever wonder what it’d be like?”
“Telling them?” He asked, turning to face Jensen.
“How do you think they’d take it?” Jensen tossed his shoes to the other side of the room and leaned back on his elbows.
“Well my Mama would freak out.” Jared ducked his head, gaze sliding over Jensen’s body. “Hard to tell how Dad and Jeff would react.” He paused, considering it. “I think Megan would just be disappointed that she wouldn’t have a shot at you in three years.”
“Ugh.” Jensen’s face screwed up, nose wrinkling. “Bad, wrong, bad. Thanks for that image.”
“Sorry,” He replied, a grin belying his true feelings. Adjusting himself, he lay down on the bed and pulled one leg up till the knee brushed against Jensen’s hip. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Reaching out, Jensen snagged Jared’s hand and squeezed it gently. “For coming to visit you? For being here? You’re my mate Jared, there’s no place I’d rather be.” Stopping, he continued, a sheepish look growing on his face. “Besides I was driving Jason and Adi crazy . . . I think they would have put me on a plane out here, even if I hadn’t already planned to come.”
“What?” Jared propped himself up on his elbow, leaning over Jensen.
Sighing, he lifted their clasped hands up so he could examine them. “Jason confronted me and I couldn’t think of anything else to say. So I told him about us . . . not everything, but the basics.”
“The basics?”
“That we’re mated, and that I missed you and how we mated.” Jensen lifted his eyes back up to meet Jared’s. “Enough so that he and Adi believed me, but not that they knew about Nimoy & Shatner and everything."
Jared was quiet for a moment, contemplating. They’d been warned about including too many people in the truth, and about being careful who they did choose to tell, but Jason was Jensen’s best friend and he could understand why Jensen decided to tell him. If Chad had lived near them instead of going to school in Texas, he’d have found it difficult to hide the truth from him as well. And the same in regards to his family. Even just being at home with Jensen for one night was difficult enough, especially with Jeff and Leah around.
During the movie he’d noticed the small movements and touches his brother was able to share with her, things that he wished he could do with Jensen without causing trouble. Even squished together on the couch as they’d been, shoulders and thighs pressed tight, it hadn’t been enough.
He’d itched to snag Jensen’s hand, lean into him, or even to just settle an arm around his shoulder and reel him in.
Tilting his head, he leaned down and pressed his lips against Jensen’s, enjoying the feel for a moment before pulling back. “It’ll be nice to be able to hang out with them without worrying about every little thing.”
Jensen had relaxed at that, relief teasing along their bond beneath the other, stronger emotions. Reaching out, he cupped a hand around the back of Jared’s neck, fingers tangling in his hair, and pulled him forward. “Yeah it will.”
They kissed again, nipping and sucking lightly on each other’s lips; tongues pressed together, remapping each other’s mouths. Jared’s body burned for more, and, mid kiss, he trailed his hands down Jensen’s body, until he could slide them under the hem of his shirt. Breaking the kiss for a second, he tugged the shirt up and over Jensen’s head, before reclaiming his lips and sliding his hands back down to brush over nipples, and caress over skin and muscles.
Nipping at the side of his mouth, Jensen broke the kiss to trail kisses over Jared’s jaw to his ear. He sucked gently on the lobe, pulling it into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue and teeth before letting go and pressing a kiss just below it, paying attention to the skin, but not enough to leave a mark.
Jared slid his hands over Jensen’s chest, taking a moment to tease his nipples before moving on, smoothing over muscles till he reached the waistband of his boxers. Slipping one hand to his mate’s back, he pulled them ever-so-slightly closer, while his other hand disappeared beneath the elastic to wrap around Jensen’s cock.
Jensen bit him then, nipping at his skin before tilting his head back to peer at Jared through half-lidded eyes as he rocked his hips forward. His jaw clenched, holding back a moan as Jared teased over Jensen’s flesh.
He captured his mate’s lips in a kiss, somehow managing to tantalize Jensen’s mouth open under his, swallowing the sounds he made. Being quiet wasn’t something they were very good at, even months after the fever, they hadn’t gotten the hang of it. They usually found some ways to muffle the sounds, often with loud music or the television, and occasionally with a sock. Out of the two of them, Jared thought Jensen was the loudest, but his mate would probably challenge that if he were to ever speak the thought aloud.
When Jensen came he bit down, gently, on Jared’s bottom lip, pressing it against his own. The pressure only lasted a second, before he released Jared’s mouth entirely, panting and sighing as he came down from his orgasm and leaned back on the bed.
Grinning, Jared gently eased him through the orgasm, stroking him gently through it till Jensen hissed uncomfortably, his cock oversensitive immediately following his climax. He pulled his hands from the boxers and wiped it on a dry portion of the fabric before helping Jensen out of them, doing his best not to let the sticky fabric slide against his mate’s skin.
After tossing the garment towards Jensen’s bag on the other side of the room-and to a place that hopefully wouldn’t be visible from the door-he leaned down and kissed Jensen lightly. His mate was already falling asleep, obviously tired from the flight and meeting Jared’s family. “You falling asleep on me?”
“Mmm,” Jensen murmured, blinking his eyes open. “Sorry.”
“Hey,” Jared grinned and rested his forehead against Jensen’s, “don’t worry about it. Get some sleep . . . you don’t have to leave too early, do you?”
“I’ll wake you.” Jensen’s eyes drifted shut, and he sighed, his breath fanning out against Jared’s lips and cheeks. “Need a ride to the car rental place, anyway.”
Not wanting Jensen to wake up uncomfortable due to dried come, Jared slipped out of bed and across the hall to the bathroom. He took the time to use it and brush his teeth, thoroughly washing his own hands before wetting a wash cloth with warm water. Crossing the hall, he slipped through the door, closed it, and paused at the sight of Jensen sprawled across his bed. It was strange seeing his mate lying naked and completely relaxed on his childhood bed, the one he’d spent half a decade in-his parents had bought it for him when he started to shoot up in height during middle school, figuring he’d probably end up as tall as Jeff-dreaming of the day he’d find his mate and bringing himself to climax with the thoughts.
A smile crept across his lips and he shuffled to the bed, removing the pants he’d hastily pulled on to go across the hall. He tugged gently at Jensen’s shoulder as he slid onto the bed, getting him to roll over just enough so that he could run the cloth over him, cleaning him gently. When he was done, he tossed it away and settled down, pulling Jensen closer.
Green eyes slit open to look at him, a small grin appearing on Jensen’s lips. His hair was ruffled, and, though Jared wouldn’t say it aloud, he thought the older man was adorable, especially with the freckles on his cheeks and nose.
“Go back to sleep,” he murmured, leaning in to press a kiss to Jensen’s forehead and then the tip of his nose, before catching Jensen’s lips in a closed mouthed kiss.
Jensen responded slowly, his lips barely moving against Jared’s. He hummed a little and pulled away, settling down against Jared’s chest, nuzzling tiredly at his collar bone.
Tightening an arm around Jensen’s back, Jared pulled the comforter up to cover them and relaxed back into the bed and pillows. He’d missed this place, especially his pillows. He’d have to remember to snag them before his flight home.
“To sleep in the arms of your mate is
the closest thing to Paradise that man can
experience while still on earth
The Word - Lucas sec 6 line 2
Waking up to the feel of warmth and wet and his mate’s mouth surrounding him was on Jared’s top ten list of best things ever. He wasn’t entirely sure which number it was, but it was definitely in the top five.
As he came out of a very good dream, he realized that it wasn’t just a dream after all. Jensen’s arm was slung across his hips, keeping him from bucking up into his mouth and choking him as his tongue teased the head of Jared’s cock, and his mouth bobbed down onto him. Jared gasped, panting out a breathy moan as one of his hands found Jensen’s head, cupping the back and tangling into his mate’s short hair; the other clenched in the fabric.
Jensen hummed around him, face tilting up just enough that Jared could see his eyes, and the grin they held. His free hand was wrapped around the base of Jared’s cock, sliding up and down as Jensen moved. A sense of mischievousness filtered across the bond and he knew Jensen was proud he’d managed to wake him up in this manner. He wasn’t sure how long Jensen had been at it, but he was aroused enough, and Jensen knew him well enough that it didn’t take long before he was coming, spilling into Jensen’s mouth and biting his fist in order to make the least bit of noise possible.
Relaxing back against the pillows, he reached out to grasp at Jensen and pull him up. He came easily, sliding up to lay against Jared, chest to chest. Their legs tangled together and noses nearly brushed.
“Morning.” Jensen smiled at him. “Told you I’d wake you up.”
“You’re in a good mood.” Jared quirked an eyebrow up.
"Just trying to make the most of what time we have left before I have to head to Dallas.” Jensen sighed and rocked forward a little, his hard on pressing against Jared’s hip.
“What time is it?” Jared turned his head, lifting up slightly to peer at his old alarm clock.
“Almost nine.” Jensen slipped a hand up to cup Jared’s cheek and turned his face back to him. “I was thinking I’d take off around noon.”
Jared pouted a little at that, loath as he was to admit it, but perked up a bit as Jensen leaned forward to press their lips together. It was a close mouthed kiss, and Jensen pulled away after a moment, nose wrinkling.
“We should brush our teeth.”
“What about . . .” Jared trailed off as his hand slipped between them and grasped Jensen’s cock, causing the other man to suck in a breath, eyes fluttering. Grinning, he rolled them over, pressing against Jensen’s side as his hand started a familiar rhythm, his fingers knowing all the right places to press, caress, and tease to elicit a response.
Leaning down, he kissed Jensen lightly, before making his way down to his mate’s neck, once again finding just the right places to leave Jensen gasping and moaning in pleasure. After a few minutes of slow and methodical, he sped up his hand, fingers darting over the head, lightly teasing every few strokes.
The tell-tale signs of Jensen’s impending orgasm were there and Jared pulled back from his neck to watch his lover's face, their eyes meeting. Jensen was close; Jared had no doubt about that. Just before he came, Jared leaned down and captured his mouth, forcing his tongue past lips and fucking gently into his mouth, swallowing the near shout.
The kiss lasted longer than any of the others had that morning, even though both of them sorely needed to brush their teeth. Jared could taste himself on Jensen’s tongue, a bitter and slightly unpleasant taste, but one he’d been growing used to over the past few months.
Breaking it, he leaned his forehead against Jensen’s and slipped his come covered hand up his mates chest to settle against his stomach, pressing lightly against the relaxed lines of his abs.
The door clicked shut then, startling them both. Jared sat up, pulling his eyes away from Jensen’s, his eyes locked on the basketball poster that had been on the back of the door since his freshman year of high school. “Shit. Who?”
Jensen was scrambling up next to him, embarrassment flooding through their bond, and Jared knew without looking at him he was flushed beet red. “Fuck. Fuck . . . What are we going to do? What-” He stumbled over his jeans as he headed for his bag.
“Wait.” Jared followed him, snagging him around the waist and pulling him back against his chest. He dropped his chin onto Jensen’s shoulder, eyes closed as he nuzzled against the skin behind his ear. “Stop it. We’ll deal.” Even though his heart was hammering in his chest, he did his best to remain calm, extending that over their bond.
“Who do you think it was?” Jensen relaxed slightly against him, and they both paused, quieting as they listened for any sound or indication that someone was freaking out or going to make a big deal about them.
“Could be Megan or Jeff or . . . anyone but my dad or Leah, probably.” Jared pulled away, knowing that Jensen was calm enough that he wasn’t going to completely freak out anymore. “I doubt Leah would come in without knocking, and my Dad goes to work at seven.” He bit his lip and ran a hand over his face, watching as Jensen riffled through his suitcase, trying to find something to wear.
“So Megan, Jeff, or,” Jensen paused, a fresh pair of jeans and boxers clenched in his hand, “your mother?”
Jared blanched and hurried over to his dresser to find something to pull on. Out of the three main possibilities . . . he prayed to God it hadn’t been his mother.
“Upon finding your mate you will gain
a second family. You will be welcomed into
their home as a new child or sibling would be.”
The Word - Rhia sec 19 line 8
Jensen pulled the shirt over his head, fumbling with the buttons. Sure, Jared had managed to calm him down some, but he couldn’t help the undercurrent of worry and, obviously, neither could Jared. He double checked his pants before turning to face his mate, watching as Jared finished tugging on his jeans.
“We-I-should probably take a shower.” He glanced towards the door, his hesitance more than evident.
“Yeah.” Jared turned to face him. His cheeks were somewhat flushed and even his earlier confidence had started to waver. “You want to take one while I go . . .” Waving his hand in the air, he bit his lip, worrying it between his teeth.
Nodding, Jensen sighed and stepped towards the door. “Where are the-”
“In the cupboard to the left of the toilet,” Jared answered before he could finish.
“Thanks.”
Slipping out the door, he glanced down the hall, thankful no one was standing around. Apparently whoever had walked in on them--God, he missed their dorm room and its lock-hadn’t stuck around to face them.
His shower didn’t take long, not that he wanted to take his time, and he quickly dressed back into his clothes, toweling his hair dry. The hall was quiet, but Jared wasn’t in his room. Dropping his towel on the floor, he slipped back into the hall, intent on finding his mate.
Jared’s emotions were mixed, but they were clear and they worried Jensen a bit with their intensity. His mate was upset, not in a rage, but still quite angry with whoever he was speaking to. It wasn’t like Jensen expected the person to be all that happy about them-it was a big deal for someone to find out what they were to each other and, considering everything, it wasn’t hard to believe that it would be difficult for them to accept it. After all, same-sex pairs were supposedly nothing more than fiction and lies.
He found Jared down the hall inside Megan’s room, both the bond, and the hushed but rough edged voices leading him there. Jensen pushed the door open hesitantly, causing everyone to quiet down inside.
They all turned to look, and Jensen couldn’t help the heat that rose to his cheeks. Jared wasn’t alone, and it wasn’t just Megan with him. His sister was on the bed, sitting against the headboard, a pillow pulled tight to her chest. There were tears tracking down her cheeks, and she was clearly upset. It didn’t take much for Jensen to put it all together and realize that she had been the one that walked in on them. Jeff was also there though, angry lines darkening the features of his face as he stood in front of Jared, angled just enough that he was nearly blocking Megan from their sibling.
Jensen met his mate’s eyes, and could feel the hurt and despair building inside him. Turning, he shut the door before moving to stand next to his mate. He sent as much comfort and support as he could to Jared and, glancing towards Jeff, purposefully snagged Jared’s hand with his own, tangling their fingers together. It wasn’t as if Jeff and Megan didn’t know already. There wasn’t a reason to keep up all the pretenses anymore.
Jeff’s eyes narrowed, and he redirected his gaze from Jared to Jensen. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“He’s my mate.” Jared spoke before Jensen could say anything, his fingers tightening around Jensen’s.
Megan squeaked a little, or at least that was what it sounded like. Darting glance towards the pre-teen, Jensen realized she had buried her face into her pillow, arms tightening around her knees.
“Are you kidding me? This is some kind of joke . . . Jared, think about what you’re saying.” Jeff gestured wildly between them. “It’s impossible! You’re both men.”
“Not impossible.” Jared shook his head, a harsh laugh escaping his lips. “Just improbable.” It was something that their mentors had told them weeks ago. A joke that Dominic loved to say, when they talked about the statistics of same-sex mating, and how hard it was for families and friends to accept the truth, even with it standing right in front of them. “He’s my mate and has been since the first time I laid eyes on him.” He turned to Jensen and their eyes met. “Since my second day in the dorms.”
“No-”
“It’s the truth.” Jensen turned, speaking up for the first time. “Do you think that either of us would joke about this? Do you think we would have wanted this before . . .?”
“You’re insane.” Jeff said after a moment, stepping forward slightly, his hands clenching into fists. “What you’re saying is nothing more than lies. You’ve been tricked somehow. If not just you, Jared, then both of you. Think about it. The Word even says that ‘it is impossible for those of the same sex to be joined together for all of eternity’ and that ‘those who claim otherwise are blasphemers, and will be punished accordingly in the next life’.”
“It also says a lot of other stuff, especially about the food we’re supposed to eat and not eat, and yet the beef industry is going strong,” Jensen pointed out, his hand clenching tight around Jared’s.
“We have thought about it. We’ve done nothing more than think about it for months. We are mates, and nothing anyone says is going to change that,” Jared said, his voice wavering with the frustration of not being believed.
Jeff shook his head, eyes shut, trying to process everything.
“Well,” Leah spoke up from behind them, causing Jensen and Jared to turn towards her, startled. Yet again they hadn’t heard the door open. “If you could start from the beginning, maybe we could all sit down and hear you out. I always enjoy a good mating story.”
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