If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It - Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
At first things didn't seem so different. Their friendship was tighter - Jared was sure of that - but he found himself responding to Jensen in ways he hadn't expected. Shooting him private grins. Still spending an inordinate amount of time trying to read his emotions. Accepting invitations to hang out with Jensen's friends, despite feeling like a little kid around them. It was weird, but nice, and Jared thought he could get through the year if they continued with the routine. He could be friends with a Null, maybe throw a little curveball in Professor Morgan's statistics.
The weird thing about Jensen was that for a Null, Jared saw him hanging around a lot of people he knew either from Craft class or the once a week get-togethers Professor Morgan held as study sessions, but were really meant to keep the Craft users connected and getting to know one another. They didn't have a button or anything - "Hi, I'm a Craft user, ask me how!" - and it wasn't like Jared had suddenly developed Craft-dar, which was pretty much Professor Morgan's talent.
Running into Jensen's friend Chris at one of the evening meetups was a shock in itself. Jared hadn't made it for a few weeks due to other study commitments, so walking in and seeing someone he'd had a Mario Kart race with the night previous was somehow ironic. Chris' jaw had visibly dropped, and he had stalked up to Jared and said, "Ok, this is freaky shit. What do you do?"
Jared knew that asking someone what they did as Craft could be considered a bit rude, but he figured he'd let it slide in Chris' case. "Full Empathy. You?"
Chris' mouth quirked down. "Impressive. I've got some Bard in me. Good with music."
They'd spent the rest of the evening discussing the world of Craft, and Jared hadn't mentioned Jensen at all. He didn't know if Chris knew Jensen was Null, and "outing" him as such seemed awkward, even if Jensen himself didn't know.
Aside from Chris, several times Jensen came by the room with friends from class who were picking up books, and Jared knew them too. They all played the "nice to meet you" game very well. Jared had to catalogue these things away in his "weird stuff about Jensen" folder.
Things with Sandy had never quite returned to normal. They finished up their project for their Native American Lit class, but she grew distant. Jared could feel sadness in her emotions; he just couldn't fix them. It was frustrating that the strangest night of his life gave him a strengthened friendship and a weakened one. He just wished he knew what to say.
Of all the things in his life that had changed, his Craft had gotten even stronger. Sam Ferris had spent some time on the phone with him, working on techniques on how to shield himself from the emotions around him. Ever since discovering that what he'd thought had been "hunches" all his life were actually him reading someone, it was almost like he couldn't turn it off. Being able to dampen it had given Jared a renewed sense of freedom to be with people.
Midterms had come and gone, and they were rolling into the end of October. Football season was in full swing, and while Jared hadn’t made it to a game yet, everyone around him was beyond elated that CU’s football team had crushed the University of Oklahoma in last weekend’s game.
The dorm was hosting a Halloween party, challenging each student to find a masquerade costume. Students had been buzzing about it all week. Despite being a dorm-held event, it had the reputation as being incredibly fun.
Jared hadn't seen Jensen all day. He'd been busy prepping his costume - a stylized Clark Kent / Superman mix. He'd gone to the thrift store and found a semi-decent pair of black dress pants and a blue button-up shirt that fit him, and had ordered a Superman jersey online. It left him able to unbutton the front of his outfit to reveal the blue underneath, and he felt pretty damn proud of his achievement. He'd popped the lenses out of a pair of glasses and gelled his hair into the trademark Superman hair twist on his forehead.
He figured that he'd grown at least another inch since arriving, putting him solidly as the tallest guy in the dorm. Superman was definitely the way to go.
The party was in full swing when Jared arrived in the dorm's basement. There was a large room for social functions just down the hall from Chad. Two girls dressed as slutty Marie Antoinettes ran past him, giggling, as he thundered down the stairs to Chad's room.
"Yeah?" Chad called as Jared knocked, and he took the invitation to let himself into the room.
Chad was applying the final touches of fake blood. He wore a black suit that fit him surprisingly well, a long red cape he'd apparently bribed his mom to make, and had fake teeth lying on the dresser next to his hand.
"You're going as Dracula?" Jared tried to suppress a giggle.
"Dude, Drac got all the ladies. Besides, I wore this two years ago and since it still fits, I thought I'd get another use out of it." Chad's blonde hair stood spiked up all over his head instead of in the usual Dracula widow's peak look, but Jared figured that when you had hair as short as Chad's, it was just best to run with what you had.
"Who are you? Clark Kent? That's cool."
"Not just that!" Jared popped open the first few snaps on the dress shirt and let Chad give him the "Motherfucking awesome" he'd been waiting for, and they headed to the party.
Because it was a dorm-hosted party, there wouldn't be any booze. It wasn't quite like a high school dance, either, Jared noted, since most of the dorm staff were the Resident Advisors, and also enjoying the party and wearing costumes. He noticed a few people sipping out of conspicuous cups, and when one was passed his way, he didn't turn it down. Jared wasn't going to drink enough to dull his Craft; after learning his lesson at the frat party he never wanted to be caught unawares again, but a sip or two wouldn't hurt. He passed the cup on to Chad, and set off for the snack bar.
It was a typical Halloween array, decoration and food wise. Spider webs crept up the walls and hung down from the ceiling, and all the lights had been replaced with orange and purple globes. Fake trees edged the walls, branches bent out like hands begging for charity. The food was even better. Marshmallows with legs meant to look like spiders, jello shaped in the form of bats and ghosts - Jared loved it. He got some of the tangy orange punch and a few finger-weenies and barbeque sauce, and chatted up a couple of people he thought he recognized. Chad dropped by and produced a flask of his own, spiking Jared's punch just a tiny bit, then moved off to mingle.
"Hey."
Jared turned as someone tapped him on the back. He found Sandy dressed as Xena the Warrior Princess, and he couldn't help but break into a wide grin. "Hey yourself. Nice costume."
"Thanks. Sophia totally put me up to it, but you should see what she's wearing. You two would be a match made in Heaven."
"Yeah? Is it Wonder Woman or Supergirl?"
"Oh, totally slutty Wonder Woman. It's kind of awesome."
Jared had opted to leave his dress shirt partway open; it was easier than unsnapping it every time someone asked who he was.
"You having a good time?" This was the part he hated. Their conversation had grown so formal over the last few weeks.
"Yeah." She sighed and looked around the room. "I thought there'd be more people."
"It's only ten. Give it time. The dorm's running an anti-drinking campaign, so they've got all sorts of door prizes going on. I bet twice this number will be here by eleven."
They watched the room get fuller, but also happier. Jared reached out to feel Sandy's emotions, and was surprised to find contentment there. Maybe things would be ok.
"Hey," she suddenly said, "Jensen." She pointed at a group of men who had just entered, but Jared couldn't figure out which one was Jensen. They were all dressed as the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride, and were just far enough away that specific facial features weren't obvious yet.
"How can you tell? They're all identical."
"Dumb butt. Jensen's bowlegged." She smirked a bit as Jared gaped at her, but when he looked back over, there was quite an obvious difference between Bowlegged Dread Pirate Roberts and All The Other Dread Pirates. Jared's heart did a little dance of happiness, and he waved Jensen over.
"Dude. That costume is fucking sweet!" Jensen punched Jared's arm, and Jared smelled the faint tinge of alcohol on Jensen's breath. He found it amusing to know that his completely legal roommate had pre-partied before coming to a dorm function.
"I am here to save the day." Jared waggled his eyebrows, and behind the mask, Jensen's overly green eyes shone brightly. "However, you look dreadful. Why are you and all your buddies dressed up identically?"
"Masquerade! Makes us harder to tell apart."
"I see." Jared guessed if you didn't know who Jensen was, he'd be one with the crowd, but now that Jensen was up close and Jared could see the plush lips, he wouldn't miss Jensen in this crowd, ever. It was only just a shame his freckles were covered by the top of the mask.
Sandy had drifted off in search of Sophia, leaving the two of them to hover near a wall and split Jensen's flask back and forth. Jared realized he was apparently failing a college life, since he didn't have a flask of his own. He felt pleasantly buzzed, and when one of his favorite songs came on, he couldn't help but break into dance.
Jensen's grin flashed brightly at him. Jared knew his roommate found him amusing, but he was completely in the moment. The DJ had started mixing songs that had a bit more beat, but also changing them up with slower, sappier things. There seemed to be enough couples in the crowd that every song had a fair number of people to dance. Jared had to admit, he was having a good time. The room was dark, emotions elated, and it was infectious. Jared bounced up and down to the song, and by the time it ended he was out of breath, and he staggered back over to where Jensen was standing, always a bit more reserved.
A slower song started up, and Jared leaned against the wall, arm-to-arm with Jensen, whose green eyes scoured the room.
"Looking for anything specific?" Jared tilted his head down, conscious of the few inches he rose above Jensen in height.
"Nah, just watching." Jensen's eyes met his and they shared a smile. The music wrapped all around them, the happiness.
Jared hardly noticed it at first, but Jensen seemed closer, and suddenly he realized they were going to kiss. He began to lean down to meet Jensen's lips, and suddenly two figures were in front of them, bouncing up and down, grabbing at Jensen and Jared's arms. They sprang apart, eyes anywhere but each other.
Jared tried to affix a smile to his face and listen to Sandy, who had been flirted with by the "cutest guy at the party." Sophia had grabbed Jensen for a piece of advice, and despite the happiness coming at him from all directions, Jared couldn't help but feel more than a little disappointed.
It struck him right then how much he enjoyed spending time with Jensen, how natural and fun their conversations were, and how much he wouldn't mind their relationship becoming more than friends. Oh.
Oh.
"Just figured it out then?" Chad appeared by his side, bouncing on his heels while eating a baby carrot.
"You knew?"
Chad rolled his eyes. "Telepath, hello."
_____
Jared lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Jensen had climbed into bed a while back and was now breathing softly, but Jared could still hear him if he chose to listen. So he did. It wasn't surprising for him to discover that he was in love with Jensen. He'd always been someone who freely gave his support and love, though this was the first time it had happened in a romantic sense. He and Jensen had so much in common - wanting to help people, a similar goofy nature, a wide variety of friends - but Jared felt they connected on a deeper level.
He knew he had to acknowledge that Jensen probably didn't feel the same. After all, Jensen was casually dating the guy Jared had seen him with - Tom, he thought Jensen had said. It wasn't serious, but it was still there. Jared wasn't the type who could bring himself to intrude on that.
But the kiss. The almost kiss. If they hadn't been interrupted by the girls, would it have happened? Jared was starting to doubt that it had been Jensen's intention. It was easier to think that he'd been mistaken, that it was just Jared's wishful thinking.
He turned over on his side and sighed. The post-alcohol haze lulled him near to sleep, so Jared let himself fall the rest of the way, away from his concerns about Jensen, and into the field with the clock.
He stood next to the clock again, listening to the loud reverberation of its gears as they solemnly, stubbornly continued to turn. It was too exposed out here, and Jared found himself ducking down even as he searched for the King who came to get him. The only place to take refuge would be inside the clock itself, where time was on his side and he could calculate his next move.
A crow cawed from somewhere in the field, spurring Jared on. He rounded the edge of the clock and spotted a seam in the otherwise flawless exterior. A small pull-ring served as the door mechanism, so Jared grabbed and tugged, surprised by how easily the small door moved. He crawled through and shut the door behind him, and he almost bumped his head on a low, dust-covered beam.
The clock’s interior reminded him of a barn. Bushels of hay lay strewn about the place as if it hadn't been attended to for a very long time. Despite being night outside, a beam of sunlight came through an open window on the far side of the clock, so Jared went over to explore, and found the window was above his head.
A staircase wound around the inside of the clock, so he jogged over to it, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the place where the window opened up into the sunlight. He thought he could also keep an eye out for the King, who was surely on his way, seeking Jared.
At last he reached the window that had appeared so close the ground. Jared had to shield his eyes from the sun coming through, but as he looked out onto the grassy plain, all he could see was the moonlight gently bathing the land in a soft glow. Maybe he was safe.
He turned to head back down the stairs, but standing just a few steps lower was a figure in a dark cloak, cowl raised over his head. The king. Jared stumbled upwards, trying to put some room between himself and his death. His steps echoed loudly throughout the clock as he thumped across the wooden staircase.
The king was standing just a few stairs below him when he turned around, as if Jared were somehow tugging the king with him. He hadn't heard footsteps at all, so this time he backed up, keeping an eye on the hooded figure. As he went backwards, the figure flickered like it was made of television reception, then cut out completely, reappearing just below where Jared stood.
Stunned, he could only react after the king's hands intertwined in the collar of Jared's shirt, holding him close. His leg lashed out, and he tried to land a blow to the king's knee. The king punched him, sending Jared reeling into the wooden banister, and he slumped to the ground. A second punch hit him in his shoulder blade, completely knocking out the movement in his right arm. He managed to twist to the side and avoid a stomp where his head had been, and when he looked up to see the King, he saw a pair of shining eyes inside the cowl, piercing him like lighthouse beacons.
The king came down to punch him once more, and the fist landed solidly on his jaw. Dazed, he could hardly defend himself as he was lifted into the air, slammed against the side of the clock, and hit again. And again.
It was the final blow to his dream-head that finally forced Jared awake. He was overly hot in the room's cool overnight temperature, his heart still hammered in his chest. The dream was strong in his mind; the way the King had pressed him against the wall, holding him so high his feet couldn't even touch the floor. Despite being so warm, he shivered at the dream memory, the way he could almost smell the King's breath, feel it puffing hotly against his cheek.
As was usual, he glanced over at Jensen's bed, expecting a still, sleeping form, but like Jared, Jensen was thrashing underneath his covers, clearly trapped by the heavier comforter over his body. It took Jared just a moment to make a decision, but he threw his own covers aside and stumbled off his bed and across the narrow room to Jensen.
"Wake up, Jensen," he urged, shaking the other man firmly. Jensen continued moving under the covers, still caught in the throes of whatever dream or nightmare held him fast. Jared leaned over him, hoping that a change in atmosphere around Jensen's face would tell his brain to shift gears, and he shook the man again, raising his voice when he barked, "Jensen!"
Jensen's mouth moved, he noticed, something he hadn't seen from further away inside the dark room. Jared leaned down to see if he could hear what Jensen was saying, and it was just one word repeated over and over again: "No no no no no no."
With renewed vigor, he shook Jensen one more time, also putting his palm to Jensen's cheek and tapping it repeatedly in a gentle slap. It was almost hard to do with the images of his own dream still rattling around in his head, but he continued to try and be enough of a bother so he could get through to Jensen.
Switching tactics, he reached over and flicked on the light near Jensen's bed, flooding the room with soft safety, and turned on the tv. It was set at a low volume, but the noise of the infomercial was just enough to be bothersome. That done, he returned to trying to annoy Jensen out of sleep.
Finally, his frustration got the best of him, and despite knowing it wouldn't do any good, Jared projected his own concern for Jensen's well-being at the sleeping man. Jensen's eyes popped open, vividly green in the dim light. Jared leaned back over him, saying, "Hey, man, you all right?" It wasn't until he felt the wave of fear mixed with relief and one other emotion he couldn't quite but his finger on wash over him that he realized what happened.
He could feel Jensen. Every emotion. Everything. And it was addicting. Jared could have happily committed in that moment to eat, breathe, and sleep Jensen for the rest of his life, because the man he thought he knew was even richer inside. Jared locked eyes with him, and as they remained there staring at each other. Jared analyzed how Jensen's pupils were blown wide, and he realized what the last emotion was. Love.
Jared felt himself take a step back, conflicting emotions of his own desire and fear warring to gain control over his next action. He felt himself say, "Jensen, I didn't know." The statement was completely from left field.
Jensen, who still struggled to free himself from his own covers, didn't even break eye contact or ask Jared what he meant. He simply said, "I hide."
The covers slipped down his frame, revealing a bare chest, darkened nipples, and the fact that Jensen was still breathing heavily from his nightmare. Jared felt his own smothered love for Jensen return in full force, sweeping through him almost like a physical presence. He cleared his throat and tried to look somewhere - anywhere - from where his own personal wet dream was gazing at him under long lashes, but he couldn't help but glance back one more time.
Jensen's arm was out, hand raised toward Jared. "Come here." His face was unreadable, but Jared could feel Jensen's want for him - him! - and he couldn't help but respond. He stepped into Jensen's grasp and leaned in, blowing caution to the wind. He wanted those lips on his, to feel Jensen's skin beneath his fingertips, and when their lips met for a blazing first kiss, Jared knew he'd get all that and more.
It was a passionate kiss, open mouthed with Jensen's tongue sweeping across Jared's lower lip. Jared felt himself press into Jensen's mouth, licking and biting as well, and their teeth clacked together with the force of their passion. Jensen groaned quietly, and his hand swept up the side of Jared's body as he tried to shift position without breaking the kiss.
Only too happy to oblige, Jared moved enough to let Jensen slide into a sitting position, then stepped between Jensen's spread legs, noting quickly that he was wearing only a pair of blue plaid boxers. Jensen's hand maintained its place on Jared's ribcage, which gave Jared just enough courage to wrap his hands around Jensen's slender waist. Jensen let out another breathy moan, apparently approving of Jared's contact.
Because the bed sat up on cinderblocks, when Jared scooted in further into Jensen's space, his hips were separated from Jensen's crotch by only a few inches of space, and he badly wanted to touch more. He slid his hands around to Jensen's back, running his fingertips across the smooth skin before tugging Jensen's entire body toward his own, feeling the way their erections bumped between layers of cotton.
"Fuck," Jensen whispered, and using his free hand, he tangled his fingers in Jared's hair and tried to pull him closer.
Jared sought to reclaim Jensen's kiss-swollen mouth with his own, but Jensen was busy planting small nips and kisses down the side of Jared's neck. Jared's head lolled to the side, and he simply stood there, clutching Jensen tightly, but also reveling in the strong emotions racing through his body. They were not only his own, but Jensen's too. Lust, need, happiness, relief - things he never thought he'd feel from someone he'd been so positive was a Null. The effect on him, knowing that he could feel all of Jensen, was heady, filling him with the need to take this further.
Jared moved both of his hands higher, and with them wrapped around Jensen's chest, stroked across each of Jensen's nipples with his thumbs. Jensen's breath hitched, but his mouth didn't break the pattern it was making across Jared's collarbone. Jared tweaked Jensen's nipples, finally getting Jensen to pull away and meet his gaze.
"Let me on the bed," Jared said, and Jensen immediately scooted back against the wall, making room for Jared to hoist himself up. The blankets were still in a heap on the bed, so Jared shoved them to the very end as he climbed up, trying not to break contact with Jensen, who, when Jared looked back, was hooking his thumbs under the elastic of his boxers. Jared's mouth went dry, and his eyes flickered up to meet Jensen's very green, very intense stare.
"You ok with this?" Jensen asked, voice husky with want. Jared took only a moment to examine the view - Jensen's defined chest red with exertion, his sleep-tousled hair stuck up at odd angles, the way his legs bowed out in a silly and completely hot way.
"Yes, yes, Jensen." Jared was always bad at keeping his hands to himself. He reached out and put his hands to either side of Jensen's, and together they pulled off the plaid shorts, stopping only for a moment for Jensen to lift his hips off the bed. His erection bobbed against his stomach, and Jared couldn't help but admire it.
Jensen's cock curved slightly to the left, circumcised, and all-around a pleasing size. Jared hated to admit it, but he was a bit of a size slut, and had seen enough cock in the last couple of years of high school to say that this rated on his top five. He really hoped Jensen knew how to use it.
Jared realized that he'd been staring at Jensen's body a shade too long, and Jensen was likely getting freaked out. Jared flicked his eyes to meet Jensen's once more, and with a mischievous glance, he leaned over and licked a stripe up the bottom of Jensen's cock, and as he reached the head, flicked his tongue across it and then swallowed it down. Jensen's hips bucked beneath him, followed instantly by a mental flare of desire, and although he didn't mind, Jared lay one arm across the other man, just to keep him from choking Jared. He continued to lick and suck, scraping his teeth lightly over the sensitive skin.
He hadn't had sex since discovering the use of his Craft, and it seemed his abilities only got better. With each flick of his tongue, or when he fisted the bottom of Jensen's cock while paying special attention to the cockhead, Jensen's own desire seemed to amplify his own, and his own cock was straining against the soft fabric of his drawstring pajama pants. He was barely coherent enough to amplify the emotions back to Jensen, whose hands dug into Jared's longer hair and tugged him up to Jensen's face for a rough kiss.
"Take off your fucking pants," Jensen ordered, voice lowered to a hiss.
Jared complied, although awkwardly, since he was kneeling on the bed and didn't quite have the right balance. Jensen's hand wrapped around his cock as soon as it was freed from the pants' confines, and Jared found himself falling forward, one hand on Jensen's shoulder for support.
Jensen jacked him like that, hand rough enough that Jared only vaguely realized that he needed to be rough in return. Jensen wasn't one for tenderness, and Jared realized he kept forgetting to use his Craft to read Jensen - he was almost so attuned to him without it. When he focused, he could feel Jensen's vague, but direct need for a bit of pain with his pleasure, and instead of turning Jared off like he thought it might, it was kind of like a drug. Jensen felt these things. He was real, in front of Jared, craving things Jared could give.
"Oh, God," Jared whispered, the emotion coursing through him. Jensen had started doing some kind of twisting motion with his hand that was sending little bursts of pleasure straight up Jared's cock, and he knew that he would come before the fun really got started if he didn't pull himself away. He closed his hand around Jensen's, communicating his need for a little less contact, and Jensen released him.
"You turn me on a little too much," Jared said, capturing Jensen's full lips in an open-mouthed kiss.
"Good." Jensen yanked on Jared's arms, causing him to collapse down on Jensen's body. Jensen humped up against him, cock sliding over the sweat-slick skin at Jared's hip. They kissed more and slowly rutted against each other a while longer. Jared reached out to see how Jensen felt, and was alarmed when he realized that Jensen's emotions weren't as strong as before, like his defenses were coming up the longer he was awake.
It was probably his panic that caused what happened next, but Jared wouldn't think of that for several years. In his need to keep Jensen's mind and emotions open to him, he pushed more of his desire and need back at the older man, and when Jensen whispered, "Fuck me," all Jared could do was comply. All he knew was that he'd wanted Jensen from the first moment he'd seen him, long eyelashes and vivid green eyes drawing Jared in like a spell. He couldn't even count the number of times he'd caught himself thinking about the crow's feet that showed how often Jensen smiled, the confident way he held himself, and how cute Jensen was when he wore his basketball shorts and a wifebeater while hanging out in the room.
"Where's your stuff?" Jared asked, and Jensen twisted around to lean off the bed, somewhere in the vague direction of his dresser. Jared took the opportunity to give Jensen's ass a little slap, and he couldn't help but grin when he heard Jensen say, "Bitch!"
Then Jensen was twisting back around, condom and lube tumbling onto the bed beside him. He pushed Jared down onto the bed and straddled his hips, thrusting against him as he popped open the lube. Jared was all ready for Jensen to hand him the tube and let him do all the work, but Jensen squeezed an ample amount onto several fingers, reached around, and began to work himself open.
Jared's mouth went dry as he watched Jensen's eyes flutter shut, long lashes dusting his cheek, but also noticing how even though he couldn't see Jensen's eyes, his Craft allowed him to feel every burst of pleasure that went through Jensen's body. "Oh, God," he said, and fisted his own cock. Jensen above him, preparing himself - Jared suddenly felt sure this was a wet dream, and it was the best one he'd ever had.
It only got hotter from there. Jensen surprised him by beginning to roll the condom onto his dick - he must have been more engrossed in feeling what Jensen felt than he'd thought - and he couldn't help but toss his head against the mattress as Jensen's hands stroked him thoroughly before the condom went on.
"Fuck me," Jensen repeated, and Jared cracked his eyes, meeting Jensen's blazing stare. Then Jensen was pushing himself onto Jared's straining cock, and both of them groaned with the sensation. Jensen was so tight, but knew exactly what he wanted. Jared figured it was part of the pain/pleasure thing, and felt his body shudder happily in response.
"Go," Jensen moaned, with Jared still only partially settled in.
"You sure? I don't want to hurt you."
Jensen quirked an eyebrow and thrust himself down, shooting bursts of pleasure through Jared's body. Jared couldn't help but respond, fucking up into Jensen, admiring his beauty, and just wanting Jensen to ride him. Jensen apparently really liked sex. Jared approved.
They set a hard tone, Jared thrusting his hips at a regular, but intense speed, and Jensen coming down back on top of him. It was hot and fun, and Jared knew he could come from it, but he wanted more. When he said, "Let's turn around," Jensen was quick to comply.
Without breaking apart, they flipped over on the tiny dorm bed, which was holding up bravely against the onslaught to its legs. It took only a moment to get settled before Jared set a different rhythm, one that shook the bed frame and had Jensen grasping at the mattress and wall for support. Jensen made tiny noises that would have been cute on a girl, but were seriously sexy coming from him. Jared was aware that he was whispering, "C'mon, god, you're so hot," and other meaningless phrases, but it seemed to work for Jensen, who closed his eyes, apparently just enjoying the sensations. His legs wrapped tightly around Jared's body, encouraging him to keep going harder, faster.
The bed had taken up squeaking in protest to the abuse, but Jared hardly cared. He just wanted this moment. He reached out with his Craft and realized that despite their intimacy, his connection to Jensen was slipping away even faster, and he could barely feel the other man's emotions at all.
He reached between them and grabbed Jensen's cock, jacking it to the rhythm of their sex. It was not the best job he'd ever done, and if it had been him in Jensen's place he would have wanted some lube, but Jensen was getting off on it, hard. "J-Jared," he moaned, and Jared knew that Jensen was close to orgasm. It pushed him too, and as he realized he was going to come, he decided that he didn't want Jensen to only feel one side.
The orgasm burst through him, and as it did, Jared pushed at Jensen's mind with his Craft, sending the waves of pleasure through the thin veil that was left between sensing Jensen's emotions and having Jensen appear a Null once again. When Jensen shouted as he orgasmed, come streaming between them, Jared knew he’d succeded at making Jensen feel.
The sensation was like a magnifying glass between them, amplifying the pleasure that Jared was sending to Jensen with his Craft. Jensen's own orgasm somehow pushed it back at Jared, and that's when he felt it: whatever protected Jensen's mind from Craft just...blew away. It was like watching a window shatter, pieces of glass crumbling from the middle, jagged, painful, but also letting a rush of outside air in. He saw Jensen's eyes burst open, and even in the midst of the orgasm that seemed to last forever, Jared could feel it tinged with fear, shock, and uncertainty.
They pulled apart, and Jensen stared at Jared, emotions raw, mind open, and Jared felt himself retreat, knowing that he'd done this, and now something unexpected had happened and he hadn't the faintest clue what it was. Jensen breathed quickly - too quickly for just an orgasm - and he stumbled out of bed and pulled on his clothing. Jeans, work boots, a tee shirt and hoodie. Jared, stunned, could only watch as Jensen's hyperventilating got worse. He felt frozen, scared.
And then the door slammed and Jared sat there alone, naked, reeking of sex. In Jensen's bed.
Chapter Five | Master Post
Chapter Four
At first things didn't seem so different. Their friendship was tighter - Jared was sure of that - but he found himself responding to Jensen in ways he hadn't expected. Shooting him private grins. Still spending an inordinate amount of time trying to read his emotions. Accepting invitations to hang out with Jensen's friends, despite feeling like a little kid around them. It was weird, but nice, and Jared thought he could get through the year if they continued with the routine. He could be friends with a Null, maybe throw a little curveball in Professor Morgan's statistics.
The weird thing about Jensen was that for a Null, Jared saw him hanging around a lot of people he knew either from Craft class or the once a week get-togethers Professor Morgan held as study sessions, but were really meant to keep the Craft users connected and getting to know one another. They didn't have a button or anything - "Hi, I'm a Craft user, ask me how!" - and it wasn't like Jared had suddenly developed Craft-dar, which was pretty much Professor Morgan's talent.
Running into Jensen's friend Chris at one of the evening meetups was a shock in itself. Jared hadn't made it for a few weeks due to other study commitments, so walking in and seeing someone he'd had a Mario Kart race with the night previous was somehow ironic. Chris' jaw had visibly dropped, and he had stalked up to Jared and said, "Ok, this is freaky shit. What do you do?"
Jared knew that asking someone what they did as Craft could be considered a bit rude, but he figured he'd let it slide in Chris' case. "Full Empathy. You?"
Chris' mouth quirked down. "Impressive. I've got some Bard in me. Good with music."
They'd spent the rest of the evening discussing the world of Craft, and Jared hadn't mentioned Jensen at all. He didn't know if Chris knew Jensen was Null, and "outing" him as such seemed awkward, even if Jensen himself didn't know.
Aside from Chris, several times Jensen came by the room with friends from class who were picking up books, and Jared knew them too. They all played the "nice to meet you" game very well. Jared had to catalogue these things away in his "weird stuff about Jensen" folder.
Things with Sandy had never quite returned to normal. They finished up their project for their Native American Lit class, but she grew distant. Jared could feel sadness in her emotions; he just couldn't fix them. It was frustrating that the strangest night of his life gave him a strengthened friendship and a weakened one. He just wished he knew what to say.
Of all the things in his life that had changed, his Craft had gotten even stronger. Sam Ferris had spent some time on the phone with him, working on techniques on how to shield himself from the emotions around him. Ever since discovering that what he'd thought had been "hunches" all his life were actually him reading someone, it was almost like he couldn't turn it off. Being able to dampen it had given Jared a renewed sense of freedom to be with people.
Midterms had come and gone, and they were rolling into the end of October. Football season was in full swing, and while Jared hadn’t made it to a game yet, everyone around him was beyond elated that CU’s football team had crushed the University of Oklahoma in last weekend’s game.
The dorm was hosting a Halloween party, challenging each student to find a masquerade costume. Students had been buzzing about it all week. Despite being a dorm-held event, it had the reputation as being incredibly fun.
Jared hadn't seen Jensen all day. He'd been busy prepping his costume - a stylized Clark Kent / Superman mix. He'd gone to the thrift store and found a semi-decent pair of black dress pants and a blue button-up shirt that fit him, and had ordered a Superman jersey online. It left him able to unbutton the front of his outfit to reveal the blue underneath, and he felt pretty damn proud of his achievement. He'd popped the lenses out of a pair of glasses and gelled his hair into the trademark Superman hair twist on his forehead.
He figured that he'd grown at least another inch since arriving, putting him solidly as the tallest guy in the dorm. Superman was definitely the way to go.
The party was in full swing when Jared arrived in the dorm's basement. There was a large room for social functions just down the hall from Chad. Two girls dressed as slutty Marie Antoinettes ran past him, giggling, as he thundered down the stairs to Chad's room.
"Yeah?" Chad called as Jared knocked, and he took the invitation to let himself into the room.
Chad was applying the final touches of fake blood. He wore a black suit that fit him surprisingly well, a long red cape he'd apparently bribed his mom to make, and had fake teeth lying on the dresser next to his hand.
"You're going as Dracula?" Jared tried to suppress a giggle.
"Dude, Drac got all the ladies. Besides, I wore this two years ago and since it still fits, I thought I'd get another use out of it." Chad's blonde hair stood spiked up all over his head instead of in the usual Dracula widow's peak look, but Jared figured that when you had hair as short as Chad's, it was just best to run with what you had.
"Who are you? Clark Kent? That's cool."
"Not just that!" Jared popped open the first few snaps on the dress shirt and let Chad give him the "Motherfucking awesome" he'd been waiting for, and they headed to the party.
Because it was a dorm-hosted party, there wouldn't be any booze. It wasn't quite like a high school dance, either, Jared noted, since most of the dorm staff were the Resident Advisors, and also enjoying the party and wearing costumes. He noticed a few people sipping out of conspicuous cups, and when one was passed his way, he didn't turn it down. Jared wasn't going to drink enough to dull his Craft; after learning his lesson at the frat party he never wanted to be caught unawares again, but a sip or two wouldn't hurt. He passed the cup on to Chad, and set off for the snack bar.
It was a typical Halloween array, decoration and food wise. Spider webs crept up the walls and hung down from the ceiling, and all the lights had been replaced with orange and purple globes. Fake trees edged the walls, branches bent out like hands begging for charity. The food was even better. Marshmallows with legs meant to look like spiders, jello shaped in the form of bats and ghosts - Jared loved it. He got some of the tangy orange punch and a few finger-weenies and barbeque sauce, and chatted up a couple of people he thought he recognized. Chad dropped by and produced a flask of his own, spiking Jared's punch just a tiny bit, then moved off to mingle.
"Hey."
Jared turned as someone tapped him on the back. He found Sandy dressed as Xena the Warrior Princess, and he couldn't help but break into a wide grin. "Hey yourself. Nice costume."
"Thanks. Sophia totally put me up to it, but you should see what she's wearing. You two would be a match made in Heaven."
"Yeah? Is it Wonder Woman or Supergirl?"
"Oh, totally slutty Wonder Woman. It's kind of awesome."
Jared had opted to leave his dress shirt partway open; it was easier than unsnapping it every time someone asked who he was.
"You having a good time?" This was the part he hated. Their conversation had grown so formal over the last few weeks.
"Yeah." She sighed and looked around the room. "I thought there'd be more people."
"It's only ten. Give it time. The dorm's running an anti-drinking campaign, so they've got all sorts of door prizes going on. I bet twice this number will be here by eleven."
They watched the room get fuller, but also happier. Jared reached out to feel Sandy's emotions, and was surprised to find contentment there. Maybe things would be ok.
"Hey," she suddenly said, "Jensen." She pointed at a group of men who had just entered, but Jared couldn't figure out which one was Jensen. They were all dressed as the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride, and were just far enough away that specific facial features weren't obvious yet.
"How can you tell? They're all identical."
"Dumb butt. Jensen's bowlegged." She smirked a bit as Jared gaped at her, but when he looked back over, there was quite an obvious difference between Bowlegged Dread Pirate Roberts and All The Other Dread Pirates. Jared's heart did a little dance of happiness, and he waved Jensen over.
"Dude. That costume is fucking sweet!" Jensen punched Jared's arm, and Jared smelled the faint tinge of alcohol on Jensen's breath. He found it amusing to know that his completely legal roommate had pre-partied before coming to a dorm function.
"I am here to save the day." Jared waggled his eyebrows, and behind the mask, Jensen's overly green eyes shone brightly. "However, you look dreadful. Why are you and all your buddies dressed up identically?"
"Masquerade! Makes us harder to tell apart."
"I see." Jared guessed if you didn't know who Jensen was, he'd be one with the crowd, but now that Jensen was up close and Jared could see the plush lips, he wouldn't miss Jensen in this crowd, ever. It was only just a shame his freckles were covered by the top of the mask.
Sandy had drifted off in search of Sophia, leaving the two of them to hover near a wall and split Jensen's flask back and forth. Jared realized he was apparently failing a college life, since he didn't have a flask of his own. He felt pleasantly buzzed, and when one of his favorite songs came on, he couldn't help but break into dance.
Jensen's grin flashed brightly at him. Jared knew his roommate found him amusing, but he was completely in the moment. The DJ had started mixing songs that had a bit more beat, but also changing them up with slower, sappier things. There seemed to be enough couples in the crowd that every song had a fair number of people to dance. Jared had to admit, he was having a good time. The room was dark, emotions elated, and it was infectious. Jared bounced up and down to the song, and by the time it ended he was out of breath, and he staggered back over to where Jensen was standing, always a bit more reserved.
A slower song started up, and Jared leaned against the wall, arm-to-arm with Jensen, whose green eyes scoured the room.
"Looking for anything specific?" Jared tilted his head down, conscious of the few inches he rose above Jensen in height.
"Nah, just watching." Jensen's eyes met his and they shared a smile. The music wrapped all around them, the happiness.
Jared hardly noticed it at first, but Jensen seemed closer, and suddenly he realized they were going to kiss. He began to lean down to meet Jensen's lips, and suddenly two figures were in front of them, bouncing up and down, grabbing at Jensen and Jared's arms. They sprang apart, eyes anywhere but each other.
Jared tried to affix a smile to his face and listen to Sandy, who had been flirted with by the "cutest guy at the party." Sophia had grabbed Jensen for a piece of advice, and despite the happiness coming at him from all directions, Jared couldn't help but feel more than a little disappointed.
It struck him right then how much he enjoyed spending time with Jensen, how natural and fun their conversations were, and how much he wouldn't mind their relationship becoming more than friends. Oh.
Oh.
"Just figured it out then?" Chad appeared by his side, bouncing on his heels while eating a baby carrot.
"You knew?"
Chad rolled his eyes. "Telepath, hello."
_____
Jared lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Jensen had climbed into bed a while back and was now breathing softly, but Jared could still hear him if he chose to listen. So he did. It wasn't surprising for him to discover that he was in love with Jensen. He'd always been someone who freely gave his support and love, though this was the first time it had happened in a romantic sense. He and Jensen had so much in common - wanting to help people, a similar goofy nature, a wide variety of friends - but Jared felt they connected on a deeper level.
He knew he had to acknowledge that Jensen probably didn't feel the same. After all, Jensen was casually dating the guy Jared had seen him with - Tom, he thought Jensen had said. It wasn't serious, but it was still there. Jared wasn't the type who could bring himself to intrude on that.
But the kiss. The almost kiss. If they hadn't been interrupted by the girls, would it have happened? Jared was starting to doubt that it had been Jensen's intention. It was easier to think that he'd been mistaken, that it was just Jared's wishful thinking.
He turned over on his side and sighed. The post-alcohol haze lulled him near to sleep, so Jared let himself fall the rest of the way, away from his concerns about Jensen, and into the field with the clock.
He stood next to the clock again, listening to the loud reverberation of its gears as they solemnly, stubbornly continued to turn. It was too exposed out here, and Jared found himself ducking down even as he searched for the King who came to get him. The only place to take refuge would be inside the clock itself, where time was on his side and he could calculate his next move.
A crow cawed from somewhere in the field, spurring Jared on. He rounded the edge of the clock and spotted a seam in the otherwise flawless exterior. A small pull-ring served as the door mechanism, so Jared grabbed and tugged, surprised by how easily the small door moved. He crawled through and shut the door behind him, and he almost bumped his head on a low, dust-covered beam.
The clock’s interior reminded him of a barn. Bushels of hay lay strewn about the place as if it hadn't been attended to for a very long time. Despite being night outside, a beam of sunlight came through an open window on the far side of the clock, so Jared went over to explore, and found the window was above his head.
A staircase wound around the inside of the clock, so he jogged over to it, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the place where the window opened up into the sunlight. He thought he could also keep an eye out for the King, who was surely on his way, seeking Jared.
At last he reached the window that had appeared so close the ground. Jared had to shield his eyes from the sun coming through, but as he looked out onto the grassy plain, all he could see was the moonlight gently bathing the land in a soft glow. Maybe he was safe.
He turned to head back down the stairs, but standing just a few steps lower was a figure in a dark cloak, cowl raised over his head. The king. Jared stumbled upwards, trying to put some room between himself and his death. His steps echoed loudly throughout the clock as he thumped across the wooden staircase.
The king was standing just a few stairs below him when he turned around, as if Jared were somehow tugging the king with him. He hadn't heard footsteps at all, so this time he backed up, keeping an eye on the hooded figure. As he went backwards, the figure flickered like it was made of television reception, then cut out completely, reappearing just below where Jared stood.
Stunned, he could only react after the king's hands intertwined in the collar of Jared's shirt, holding him close. His leg lashed out, and he tried to land a blow to the king's knee. The king punched him, sending Jared reeling into the wooden banister, and he slumped to the ground. A second punch hit him in his shoulder blade, completely knocking out the movement in his right arm. He managed to twist to the side and avoid a stomp where his head had been, and when he looked up to see the King, he saw a pair of shining eyes inside the cowl, piercing him like lighthouse beacons.
The king came down to punch him once more, and the fist landed solidly on his jaw. Dazed, he could hardly defend himself as he was lifted into the air, slammed against the side of the clock, and hit again. And again.
It was the final blow to his dream-head that finally forced Jared awake. He was overly hot in the room's cool overnight temperature, his heart still hammered in his chest. The dream was strong in his mind; the way the King had pressed him against the wall, holding him so high his feet couldn't even touch the floor. Despite being so warm, he shivered at the dream memory, the way he could almost smell the King's breath, feel it puffing hotly against his cheek.
As was usual, he glanced over at Jensen's bed, expecting a still, sleeping form, but like Jared, Jensen was thrashing underneath his covers, clearly trapped by the heavier comforter over his body. It took Jared just a moment to make a decision, but he threw his own covers aside and stumbled off his bed and across the narrow room to Jensen.
"Wake up, Jensen," he urged, shaking the other man firmly. Jensen continued moving under the covers, still caught in the throes of whatever dream or nightmare held him fast. Jared leaned over him, hoping that a change in atmosphere around Jensen's face would tell his brain to shift gears, and he shook the man again, raising his voice when he barked, "Jensen!"
Jensen's mouth moved, he noticed, something he hadn't seen from further away inside the dark room. Jared leaned down to see if he could hear what Jensen was saying, and it was just one word repeated over and over again: "No no no no no no."
With renewed vigor, he shook Jensen one more time, also putting his palm to Jensen's cheek and tapping it repeatedly in a gentle slap. It was almost hard to do with the images of his own dream still rattling around in his head, but he continued to try and be enough of a bother so he could get through to Jensen.
Switching tactics, he reached over and flicked on the light near Jensen's bed, flooding the room with soft safety, and turned on the tv. It was set at a low volume, but the noise of the infomercial was just enough to be bothersome. That done, he returned to trying to annoy Jensen out of sleep.
Finally, his frustration got the best of him, and despite knowing it wouldn't do any good, Jared projected his own concern for Jensen's well-being at the sleeping man. Jensen's eyes popped open, vividly green in the dim light. Jared leaned back over him, saying, "Hey, man, you all right?" It wasn't until he felt the wave of fear mixed with relief and one other emotion he couldn't quite but his finger on wash over him that he realized what happened.
He could feel Jensen. Every emotion. Everything. And it was addicting. Jared could have happily committed in that moment to eat, breathe, and sleep Jensen for the rest of his life, because the man he thought he knew was even richer inside. Jared locked eyes with him, and as they remained there staring at each other. Jared analyzed how Jensen's pupils were blown wide, and he realized what the last emotion was. Love.
Jared felt himself take a step back, conflicting emotions of his own desire and fear warring to gain control over his next action. He felt himself say, "Jensen, I didn't know." The statement was completely from left field.
Jensen, who still struggled to free himself from his own covers, didn't even break eye contact or ask Jared what he meant. He simply said, "I hide."
The covers slipped down his frame, revealing a bare chest, darkened nipples, and the fact that Jensen was still breathing heavily from his nightmare. Jared felt his own smothered love for Jensen return in full force, sweeping through him almost like a physical presence. He cleared his throat and tried to look somewhere - anywhere - from where his own personal wet dream was gazing at him under long lashes, but he couldn't help but glance back one more time.
Jensen's arm was out, hand raised toward Jared. "Come here." His face was unreadable, but Jared could feel Jensen's want for him - him! - and he couldn't help but respond. He stepped into Jensen's grasp and leaned in, blowing caution to the wind. He wanted those lips on his, to feel Jensen's skin beneath his fingertips, and when their lips met for a blazing first kiss, Jared knew he'd get all that and more.
It was a passionate kiss, open mouthed with Jensen's tongue sweeping across Jared's lower lip. Jared felt himself press into Jensen's mouth, licking and biting as well, and their teeth clacked together with the force of their passion. Jensen groaned quietly, and his hand swept up the side of Jared's body as he tried to shift position without breaking the kiss.
Only too happy to oblige, Jared moved enough to let Jensen slide into a sitting position, then stepped between Jensen's spread legs, noting quickly that he was wearing only a pair of blue plaid boxers. Jensen's hand maintained its place on Jared's ribcage, which gave Jared just enough courage to wrap his hands around Jensen's slender waist. Jensen let out another breathy moan, apparently approving of Jared's contact.
Because the bed sat up on cinderblocks, when Jared scooted in further into Jensen's space, his hips were separated from Jensen's crotch by only a few inches of space, and he badly wanted to touch more. He slid his hands around to Jensen's back, running his fingertips across the smooth skin before tugging Jensen's entire body toward his own, feeling the way their erections bumped between layers of cotton.
"Fuck," Jensen whispered, and using his free hand, he tangled his fingers in Jared's hair and tried to pull him closer.
Jared sought to reclaim Jensen's kiss-swollen mouth with his own, but Jensen was busy planting small nips and kisses down the side of Jared's neck. Jared's head lolled to the side, and he simply stood there, clutching Jensen tightly, but also reveling in the strong emotions racing through his body. They were not only his own, but Jensen's too. Lust, need, happiness, relief - things he never thought he'd feel from someone he'd been so positive was a Null. The effect on him, knowing that he could feel all of Jensen, was heady, filling him with the need to take this further.
Jared moved both of his hands higher, and with them wrapped around Jensen's chest, stroked across each of Jensen's nipples with his thumbs. Jensen's breath hitched, but his mouth didn't break the pattern it was making across Jared's collarbone. Jared tweaked Jensen's nipples, finally getting Jensen to pull away and meet his gaze.
"Let me on the bed," Jared said, and Jensen immediately scooted back against the wall, making room for Jared to hoist himself up. The blankets were still in a heap on the bed, so Jared shoved them to the very end as he climbed up, trying not to break contact with Jensen, who, when Jared looked back, was hooking his thumbs under the elastic of his boxers. Jared's mouth went dry, and his eyes flickered up to meet Jensen's very green, very intense stare.
"You ok with this?" Jensen asked, voice husky with want. Jared took only a moment to examine the view - Jensen's defined chest red with exertion, his sleep-tousled hair stuck up at odd angles, the way his legs bowed out in a silly and completely hot way.
"Yes, yes, Jensen." Jared was always bad at keeping his hands to himself. He reached out and put his hands to either side of Jensen's, and together they pulled off the plaid shorts, stopping only for a moment for Jensen to lift his hips off the bed. His erection bobbed against his stomach, and Jared couldn't help but admire it.
Jensen's cock curved slightly to the left, circumcised, and all-around a pleasing size. Jared hated to admit it, but he was a bit of a size slut, and had seen enough cock in the last couple of years of high school to say that this rated on his top five. He really hoped Jensen knew how to use it.
Jared realized that he'd been staring at Jensen's body a shade too long, and Jensen was likely getting freaked out. Jared flicked his eyes to meet Jensen's once more, and with a mischievous glance, he leaned over and licked a stripe up the bottom of Jensen's cock, and as he reached the head, flicked his tongue across it and then swallowed it down. Jensen's hips bucked beneath him, followed instantly by a mental flare of desire, and although he didn't mind, Jared lay one arm across the other man, just to keep him from choking Jared. He continued to lick and suck, scraping his teeth lightly over the sensitive skin.
He hadn't had sex since discovering the use of his Craft, and it seemed his abilities only got better. With each flick of his tongue, or when he fisted the bottom of Jensen's cock while paying special attention to the cockhead, Jensen's own desire seemed to amplify his own, and his own cock was straining against the soft fabric of his drawstring pajama pants. He was barely coherent enough to amplify the emotions back to Jensen, whose hands dug into Jared's longer hair and tugged him up to Jensen's face for a rough kiss.
"Take off your fucking pants," Jensen ordered, voice lowered to a hiss.
Jared complied, although awkwardly, since he was kneeling on the bed and didn't quite have the right balance. Jensen's hand wrapped around his cock as soon as it was freed from the pants' confines, and Jared found himself falling forward, one hand on Jensen's shoulder for support.
Jensen jacked him like that, hand rough enough that Jared only vaguely realized that he needed to be rough in return. Jensen wasn't one for tenderness, and Jared realized he kept forgetting to use his Craft to read Jensen - he was almost so attuned to him without it. When he focused, he could feel Jensen's vague, but direct need for a bit of pain with his pleasure, and instead of turning Jared off like he thought it might, it was kind of like a drug. Jensen felt these things. He was real, in front of Jared, craving things Jared could give.
"Oh, God," Jared whispered, the emotion coursing through him. Jensen had started doing some kind of twisting motion with his hand that was sending little bursts of pleasure straight up Jared's cock, and he knew that he would come before the fun really got started if he didn't pull himself away. He closed his hand around Jensen's, communicating his need for a little less contact, and Jensen released him.
"You turn me on a little too much," Jared said, capturing Jensen's full lips in an open-mouthed kiss.
"Good." Jensen yanked on Jared's arms, causing him to collapse down on Jensen's body. Jensen humped up against him, cock sliding over the sweat-slick skin at Jared's hip. They kissed more and slowly rutted against each other a while longer. Jared reached out to see how Jensen felt, and was alarmed when he realized that Jensen's emotions weren't as strong as before, like his defenses were coming up the longer he was awake.
It was probably his panic that caused what happened next, but Jared wouldn't think of that for several years. In his need to keep Jensen's mind and emotions open to him, he pushed more of his desire and need back at the older man, and when Jensen whispered, "Fuck me," all Jared could do was comply. All he knew was that he'd wanted Jensen from the first moment he'd seen him, long eyelashes and vivid green eyes drawing Jared in like a spell. He couldn't even count the number of times he'd caught himself thinking about the crow's feet that showed how often Jensen smiled, the confident way he held himself, and how cute Jensen was when he wore his basketball shorts and a wifebeater while hanging out in the room.
"Where's your stuff?" Jared asked, and Jensen twisted around to lean off the bed, somewhere in the vague direction of his dresser. Jared took the opportunity to give Jensen's ass a little slap, and he couldn't help but grin when he heard Jensen say, "Bitch!"
Then Jensen was twisting back around, condom and lube tumbling onto the bed beside him. He pushed Jared down onto the bed and straddled his hips, thrusting against him as he popped open the lube. Jared was all ready for Jensen to hand him the tube and let him do all the work, but Jensen squeezed an ample amount onto several fingers, reached around, and began to work himself open.
Jared's mouth went dry as he watched Jensen's eyes flutter shut, long lashes dusting his cheek, but also noticing how even though he couldn't see Jensen's eyes, his Craft allowed him to feel every burst of pleasure that went through Jensen's body. "Oh, God," he said, and fisted his own cock. Jensen above him, preparing himself - Jared suddenly felt sure this was a wet dream, and it was the best one he'd ever had.
It only got hotter from there. Jensen surprised him by beginning to roll the condom onto his dick - he must have been more engrossed in feeling what Jensen felt than he'd thought - and he couldn't help but toss his head against the mattress as Jensen's hands stroked him thoroughly before the condom went on.
"Fuck me," Jensen repeated, and Jared cracked his eyes, meeting Jensen's blazing stare. Then Jensen was pushing himself onto Jared's straining cock, and both of them groaned with the sensation. Jensen was so tight, but knew exactly what he wanted. Jared figured it was part of the pain/pleasure thing, and felt his body shudder happily in response.
"Go," Jensen moaned, with Jared still only partially settled in.
"You sure? I don't want to hurt you."
Jensen quirked an eyebrow and thrust himself down, shooting bursts of pleasure through Jared's body. Jared couldn't help but respond, fucking up into Jensen, admiring his beauty, and just wanting Jensen to ride him. Jensen apparently really liked sex. Jared approved.
They set a hard tone, Jared thrusting his hips at a regular, but intense speed, and Jensen coming down back on top of him. It was hot and fun, and Jared knew he could come from it, but he wanted more. When he said, "Let's turn around," Jensen was quick to comply.
Without breaking apart, they flipped over on the tiny dorm bed, which was holding up bravely against the onslaught to its legs. It took only a moment to get settled before Jared set a different rhythm, one that shook the bed frame and had Jensen grasping at the mattress and wall for support. Jensen made tiny noises that would have been cute on a girl, but were seriously sexy coming from him. Jared was aware that he was whispering, "C'mon, god, you're so hot," and other meaningless phrases, but it seemed to work for Jensen, who closed his eyes, apparently just enjoying the sensations. His legs wrapped tightly around Jared's body, encouraging him to keep going harder, faster.
The bed had taken up squeaking in protest to the abuse, but Jared hardly cared. He just wanted this moment. He reached out with his Craft and realized that despite their intimacy, his connection to Jensen was slipping away even faster, and he could barely feel the other man's emotions at all.
He reached between them and grabbed Jensen's cock, jacking it to the rhythm of their sex. It was not the best job he'd ever done, and if it had been him in Jensen's place he would have wanted some lube, but Jensen was getting off on it, hard. "J-Jared," he moaned, and Jared knew that Jensen was close to orgasm. It pushed him too, and as he realized he was going to come, he decided that he didn't want Jensen to only feel one side.
The orgasm burst through him, and as it did, Jared pushed at Jensen's mind with his Craft, sending the waves of pleasure through the thin veil that was left between sensing Jensen's emotions and having Jensen appear a Null once again. When Jensen shouted as he orgasmed, come streaming between them, Jared knew he’d succeded at making Jensen feel.
The sensation was like a magnifying glass between them, amplifying the pleasure that Jared was sending to Jensen with his Craft. Jensen's own orgasm somehow pushed it back at Jared, and that's when he felt it: whatever protected Jensen's mind from Craft just...blew away. It was like watching a window shatter, pieces of glass crumbling from the middle, jagged, painful, but also letting a rush of outside air in. He saw Jensen's eyes burst open, and even in the midst of the orgasm that seemed to last forever, Jared could feel it tinged with fear, shock, and uncertainty.
They pulled apart, and Jensen stared at Jared, emotions raw, mind open, and Jared felt himself retreat, knowing that he'd done this, and now something unexpected had happened and he hadn't the faintest clue what it was. Jensen breathed quickly - too quickly for just an orgasm - and he stumbled out of bed and pulled on his clothing. Jeans, work boots, a tee shirt and hoodie. Jared, stunned, could only watch as Jensen's hyperventilating got worse. He felt frozen, scared.
And then the door slammed and Jared sat there alone, naked, reeking of sex. In Jensen's bed.
Chapter Five | Master Post