[big bang] Your Signal in the Distance (Master Post)
Author: dugindeep
Artist: cassiopeia7
Title: Your Signal in the Distance
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Warnings: graphic descriptions of murders, crime scenes, non-con touching, and stalking related to OCs; explicit sex and language; asshole(ish) Jensen, main character depression/dissociation
Summary: Life as a psychometric is more than just being a part of the Empaths. Jensen’s specialty is reliving the deaths of murder victims, which does him no favors except in his job as a Special Investigator with the Homicide Division. That’s why Jensen doesn’t do relationships of any kind. Doesn’t even try, just shuts himself off from natural emotions. He experiences enough of them at his crime scenes.
Hooking up with a stranger in a club helps to relieve the tension he carries from one murder to the next, but it complicates everything when the one-night stand, Jared, is tied to his next case. Being forced to deal with Jared cracks the facade of the well-built defenses Jensen has created to protect him from the side effects of his abilities. The way Jared slips inside overwhelms Jensen in ways he’d hadn’t known were possible, so his only option is to push Jared as far away as possible. That is, until Jensen begins to really feel.
Thanks: To neros_violin for running through it and pointing out all the uneven/troublesome parts! Your continued support is appreciated. To cleflink for helping throughout with empath vs. telepath conversations, for a final and thorough beta, and for nitpitcking this story with me down to the very last days. ♥ to you both. Love, as always to wendy and thehighwaywoman for running a fabulous challenge!
To my artist, cassiopeia, who was fabulous enough to choose me and I feel eternally lucky for it. Not only is the art incredible and a-plenty, but her interest in this story and her dedication to SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF ART is both something I’ve never experienced before and something I doubt I’ll know again. You are an incredibly talented, lovely, hilarious person, and I am so glad we were paired up together for art and fic. Better yet, I’m beyond thrilled that we got to know one another over this time. It’s been a fabulous collaboration, and I would be happy to work with you again any time, any place, on any thing <33333333333
Notes: Title from Foo Fighters' "Walk". Case story inspired by an episode of Investigation Discovery's Nightmare Next Door. I would say don't laugh, but I am already.
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