Is That A Sword In Your Pocket? Part II
Back to PART ONE
Jensen can list dozens of potential hideouts where they could go to ground - abandoned offices, old friends’ places, empty cabins. However, Eliot's tastes are a little different and given the circumstances, strangely brilliant.
Over an hour out of L.A., sun fully set, Eliot had pulled into a half-full parking lot, looking for all the world like he'd just come home.
"A strip joint?" Alec looked out the passenger window at the nondescript building, its neon sign proclaiming 'The Menagerie’ was open for business. "This was your plan?"
"Like anyone would look for us here."
They'd all followed Eliot, smiling as he greeted the bouncers outside and the sultry women and bartenders inside.
Now, Jensen's enjoying a double scotch neat, watching the other three men crowded around a table closer to one of the stages, pieces of their exuberant conversation reaching him.
"Now kid, you gotta pay attention," Eliot's saying over the blaring music. "There's a certain way you need to handle these fine ladies."
"Seriously?" Jared's face twists in confusion and it's a little adorable to see. "Aren't twenty dollar bills the best way to-"
"Dude! I know you did not just say that."
"Eliot, let me field this one," Alec interrupts, large hand pressed to Eliot's chest to hold him away from Jared.
"Yeah, cause you're the fuckin' expert," the cowboy mutters, falling back in his chair.
"That chick in Palo Alto?"
"The entire sorority at SoCal?"
"It wasn't an entire sorority, I saw the video on YouTube."
Jensen laughs softly as he watches Jared get frustrated with trying to interrupt. The women of the club flock to their table in pairs, loud laughter and their willingness to have a little fun drawing the ladies. It keeps them away from Jensen and he's grateful. Not really his type, anyway.
"You've got to charm them, Jared," Jensen hears Eliot say, and he must be warming up to Jared for him to drop the 'kid' moniker for a little while.
Jared sits and listens attentively even though his eyes are slightly glassy from the beers he's had. Every so often Jensen catches a glance thrown in his direction - Jared's hazel eyes are speculative, curious. They stay at their respective tables, Eliot and Alec running their mouths back and forth while Jared’s attention is split.
After another drink, the day’s starting to catch up with Jensen and colored lights are going fuzzy in the corners of his eyes. Alec and Eliot are still going strong but Jared's turned staring into a teasing game. Jensen's not oblivious - Jared has probably noticed desire flare in Jensen's eyes more than once since this morning. He's getting frustrated but it's a far cry from the anxiety and anger he felt in King's penthouse. Jared's no longer a mystery and he's more appealing to Jensen now.
But he's tired; the energy that's kept him going all day has drained as fast as Jensen drains his scotch. The motel across the street is sounding better and better. By the looks of things his buddies aren't turning in anytime soon and Jensen can't begrudge them their fun. They're all wound tight, losing focus - no one more so than Jensen, and it's all because of the kid.
While Jared's distracted by a leggy brunette, Jensen drops some money on the table and slips out. The California night is crisp, the slight chill easing the flush of his skin and calming him. He pays cash for two rooms, leaving a key with the wrinkled manager for one of the other guys to pick up. God, he hopes Alec takes the other room - that dude snores.
A few minutes later Jensen's got the door to his room propped open, letting the cool air filter through and replace the musty motel smells. He takes a long drag from his cigarette, nicotine doing for the thrum in his blood what the night breeze did for his warm skin.
The air around him shifts ever so slightly and Jensen doesn't need to look up to know that Jared's standing beside him.
“Finished learning to charm strippers and whores?”
“I left when Eliot and Alec started arguing over how to kiss a woman.”
Jensen only hums in response, exhaling the bitter smoke and watching it disperse into the air.
Jared steps a little closer, voice slurred and sultry. "There's nothin' those guys can teach me I haven't already learned."
The invitation is clear as day in Jared's whispered words and Jensen's sick of fighting. Fighting Richelieu's thugs, fighting King's invisible foes, fighting this.
Flicking his cigarette to the ground and crushing it with his shoe, Jensen looks Jared straight in the eye.
"How about putting those lessons to use, kid."
It's not so dark that Jensen misses the narrowing of Jared's eyes. Good, he's still with me. The younger man's so close, breath mingling, and the dim light doesn't hide the mottled bruising starting to appear on Jared's face. He wants to reach out - to soothe, to touch - but he doesn't, just waits for Jared to make the first move.
"I told you," Jared exhales. "Don't fuckin' call me kid."
Jared's lips are warm on his cool cheek, moving slowly towards his mouth. Jensen tilts his head before their lips meet, baring his jaw and throat for soft nips and kisses. He's not prepared for that - not ready.
The younger man keeps trying even when Jensen pushes him away. He swears he hears a low whimper but he ignores it, raising a hand to grip Jared's elbow and spin them both into the room, kicking the door closed. His hands settle on Jared's lean waist, nearly losing himself to firm lips traveling down his neck. It's gentle, caring, and too much. Jensen can't take it; he's got to have Jared now.
Palms grip tighter and Jensen feels Jared's arms wind low around his hips. Jared's lips move to his ear, whispering nonsense but that's no good either. Jensen distracts them both by starting to unbutton Jared's dress shirt, while the younger man slips Jensen's leather jacket off.
He's flipping the shirt off Jared's shoulders when he's suddenly pushed back, the edge of the bed catching his knees and Jensen drops onto the mattress. Jared groans and falls to his knees, pushing forward between Jensen's legs, hands running along his calves and pushing for space. Jensen's shirt is the next to go, landing at their feet. Jared doesn't try to kiss him again but the younger man's breath is hot along Jensen's collarbone, teeth catching on his silver cross as Jared moves down.
Jared's goal is clear when hands find Jensen's zipper, quickly working to expose his dick. When Jared's head bends down, face pressed teasingly against Jensen's inner thigh, he's suddenly breathless. It's a gorgeous sight, Jared's bare shoulders flexing and back undulating when his mouth closes over Jensen. He has to wind one hand through Jared's hair, feeling the softness, using the other to support himself on the bed so he doesn't collapse backwards.
Jensen doesn't have the mental ability to critique Jared's blow job, but whatever he's doing is pretty damn good. Despite their earlier flirting, Jared's not teasing him. It's all firm pressure and wet heat, long swipes of tongue and delicious twists of Jared's palm. He's close to coming within minutes and if he gets off now, Jensen's not sure he'll have the energy to return the favor afterward. And hell no, that's something he has to see.
"Jared. Jared..."
He waits until Jared pulls off his cock, the blood heavy muscle straining to return to hot pleasure. Seeing Jared's slick and parted lips, Jensen's so tempted to lean forward and kiss him. Not yet. Jared catches him staring, blurry eyes showing no disappointment - only a grudging acceptance.
Using a last burst of energy, Jensen pulls Jared onto the bed, twisting so they're touching foreheads to thighs. Jared hardly pauses before his tongue and lips slide back onto Jensen's cock, but Jensen's got Jared's jeans to contend with. When he finally pushes them down to Jared's knees, he catches his breath, temple resting on Jared's muscular leg, his body nearly wiped out.
But Jared's cock, slightly curved and very flushed, is too enticing. He mirrors what Jared's doing to him, enthusiasm tempered slightly by exhaustion. Sucking kisses, pulsating throats, and smooth strokes leave them both panting after a few minutes.
They're just stroking each other now, breathing harshly against sensitive skin, rhythms faltering as pleasure takes over. Jared comes first, gasping and mouthing at Jensen's inner thigh. Feeling teeth bite into the flesh there, Jensen loses it, splashing hot over Jared's hand and chin.
When the only sounds in the dingy room are their matched, deep breaths, Jared pulls Jensen up and around. He's too spent and lethargic to fight the movement. It's uncomfortable, half dressed and getting sticky, but Jared barely looks coherent. Jensen squints when he turns on the bedside lamp, Jared flinching away from the light and curling into a pillow.
Grabbing a pillowcase from the other bed, Jensen wipes them both clean before tossing the fabric into a corner. He strips them both down to boxers, too tired to be amused at Jared's sleepy protests. Jensen quickly stops in the bathroom, downing two glasses of water and filling one for Jared. He contemplates stealing the second pillow from Jared's bed for himself, or just passing out right there in the empty space next to the younger man, but he doesn't, settling down on the other bed.
He doesn't really want to deal with Jared's long limbs without knowing what he's getting into first.
Jared wakes with a shiver. He doesn't remember the room being that cold last night but it's all he can feel. Cold and pain.
He sits up with a gasp, momentarily disoriented, but a warm palm presses down on his chest, holding him back.
"Hey," Jensen's voice is a low whisper against his temple. "Jared, lay back. It's okay."
Guided by strong hands, Jared settles back against the sheets with Jensen leaning over him. His face aches, the pain from all those punches yesterday no longer masked by adrenaline and excitement. Sympathetic green eyes watch as Jared brings a hand to his sore face, feeling along slightly swollen ridges where the bruising has got to be spectacular.
He groans deep in his throat and Jensen reaches to lift his hand away, replacing it with a bag of ice. That explains the cold, he thinks then hisses, shocked for a second by the frozen compress before it starts to feel good. Neither man speaks but for Jared, this feels more intimate than last night. Jensen’s so close and so caring, moving the ice along his jaw and cheek. This side of Jensen is new - Jared bets it's one rarely shared. He tries to ignore the crazy voice in his head that claims mine. After a few minutes, Jensen moves the bag of ice to press on Jared's right hand, covering tender knuckles with blissful cold.
When the pain starts to subside, Jared lifts his free hand and rests it on Jensen's cheek, elated when the man's eyes slide closed, turning his face into Jared's palm. Carefully, he draws Jensen to him, fascinated when Jensen's eyes open just before their mouths connect.
A long buried memory comes to Jared's mind as their lips press together cautiously.
The first kiss should be all that you are.
He can feel the truth in that. After the first hesitant touch, Jensen becomes confident but playful, a perfect compliment to the older man's strong and teasing personality. His tongue parts Jared's lips, the low rumble of Jensen's contented moan travels along the supple flesh and Jared can feel it against his tongue. Jensen's hold on him is firm but not constraining - not holding Jared back if there's anything he wants to take.
And Jared does, slipping his sore hand behind Jensen's neck, banishing any hesitation he feels. He's glad this didn't happen last night; the memory would have been tainted and fuzzy from alcohol. This is so much better, drawing back to suck softly on Jensen's lower lip, curious but uninhibited, and hearing the low sounds they're both making. He hopes Jensen can feel everything he's trying to convey in the kiss and in the exploration of his hands.
Their quiet moment lasts until Jared rolls onto the melting bag of ice. The cold shock forces him to break the kiss with a gasp and Jensen laughs when he sees what happened. The older man pulls back and stands up, Jared finally noticing that Jensen's fully dressed, hair still wet from a recent shower.
"You going somewhere?"
Jensen nods and Jared's throat feels tight. "Rebecca DeWinter's got a nice place in San Diego where she's holed up, according to Alec's searching."
"Do we have a plan?"
If Jensen notices that Jared's including himself, he doesn't mention it.
"Get up and grab a shower," the detective says, slight smile keeping the instructions from sounding too harsh. "I grabbed a couple of shirts from Alec's bag in case you wanted to change. Don't worry, they're clean, I checked. Meet us over in room twelve when you're done and we'll talk."
He wants to reach out and drag Jensen down for their second kiss but he disappears too quickly, leaving Jared alone to get ready.
Half an hour later, all four men are crowded around Alec's computer set up, listening to what he's found.
"Now here's where it gets a little funky," Hardison's saying, pointing to lines of code that hurt Jared's eyes. "Far as I can tell, everything King's been accused of actually happened. That's why it's all so convincing. The trails are real. But," he stops to laugh. “They obviously never expected a being with my kind of talent to comb through this."
"Stop preenin'," Eliot smacks Alec's shoulder. "What's the funky part?"
"It looks like someone else is guilty of all this but logs were changed, phone and credit card records tampered with and put in different names."
Jensen crosses his arms. "Someone went through a lot of trouble to frame King."
"We know who..."
Jared can feel the three men's anger flare up again, only banished temporarily last night to let them unwind, and he sympathizes. From what he knows, Jensen, Alec, and Eliot looked on Alan King like a father; they feel his betrayal acutely, ready to do battle for their mentor. The bruises on Jared's face and hands remind him that he's got a score to settle with Richelieu and his goons, too.
He realizes he hasn't been paying attention when Jensen says, "so we split up, just in case, and drive down to DeWinter's place in San Diego. Eliot, can you grab me a car?"
"Not a problem."
"You two can take Eliot's truck."
"And dude, Hardison, no more eating in my truck!"
Jared's as lost as he felt in King's penthouse. So much for my involvement. Then, in a gesture that must be obvious to Alec and Eliot, Jensen's hand drops on his arm.
"You coming?"
"Jenny..." Eliot grumbles.
Alec doesn't look bothered and Jared doesn't know why Eliot's quietly objecting. He thought they were past all that. Jensen's looking at him expectantly and Jared smiles. Working with Jensen? Almost certain danger?
"Absolutely."
Eliot comes through on a car an hour later - Jared finally grasping that when Jensen said "grab a car" he actually meant "steal a car." Sitting in a stolen older model Mercedes is a new experience for Jared but he just shrugs when Jensen asks if there's a problem. Compared to everything else in the last thirty-six hours, this is nothing.
Driving with Jensen isn't awkward - Jensen tells him all about Rebecca DeWinter and what he'd missed of Alec's findings this morning - but there's no mention of the previous night or their first kiss. He's not going to bring it up, not when things are easy. It feels like he's known Jensen for a long time. There's still a lot of mystery but Jared knows enough to trust him. Jensen's the kind of man Gerald Padalecki would have approved of. Speaking of...
"You knew my Dad."
"I knew of him," he replies, weaving in and around traffic. They're sticking to local roads, through tougher neighborhoods while the others take the highway. "I never got the chance to meet him. Alan always mentioned your dad though, said he was a great guy."
"He was. They went to school together, you know. High school and college, that's why they were close and why I could have had a job with him."
"What kind of work were you-"
The familiar sound of tires screeching on pavement cuts Jensen off and Jared prays that no one's chasing them. But Jensen starts swearing, dashing Jared's hopes and taking a swift turn to shake the s.u.v. that's now obviously tailing them.
"How the fuck," Jared's thrown into the passenger door as Jensen takes another curve without braking, "did they find us?"
"A charge at the bar? Watching motels? I have no idea!"
Jared quickly decides that trying to talk is a bad idea. Letting Jensen concentrate on driving? Way better. In a move Jared couldn't pull off in Grand Turino, Jensen pulls the Mercedes into narrow alley, barely enough room for the car to pass through. He thinks that just maybe they've eluded the other car, but less than thirty seconds later it pulls in after them, stopping a hundred feet away. It's a menacing thing to see with deeply tinted windows blocking one of their ways out.
Before Jensen can put the car in gear to pull forward out of the alley, a shot echoes through the narrow space. Jared's muscles lock up, he feels paralyzed; he's never heard anything like it. He wants to turn but Jensen's pushing him down, shouting something but it's all jumbled in Jared's head.
There's another shot and the car shudders alarmingly, Jared finally processing what Jensen's yelling.
"Stay down, Jared!"
Jensen tries to press the gas and the Mercedes protests.
"Shit, they shot out our back tires!"
The gunfire ceases but Jared's ears are ringing. Movement on Jensen's side of the car catches his eye and he watches the detective pull a weapon from his shoulder holster - Jared hadn't even noticed he was carrying.
"Fuckin' pieces of shit," Jensen's fuming as he pulls back the slide and checks the magazine before clicking everything back in place, thumbing off the safety.
"You're gonna shoot back?" Jared yells from where he's scrunched down in his seat.
"Hell yes! I don't really like getting shot at, Jared!"
Jensen looks at him and the fury dims just a little bit in those bright green eyes.
"Look, they're not trying to kill us, Jared."
That's news to me, he wants to say, but keeps quiet.
The other man sighs but he doesn't sound annoyed. "Richelieu doesn't want a body count on this thing, or any of the questions that come with it." Jensen stops and thinks for a moment, Jared desperate to know what's going through his mind. Finally, he swallows and looks pointedly at Jared.
"Get out of the car and stay low."
"What?"
"Do it, Jared. Trust me."
It would be wrong to argue with Jensen when there are people shooting at them, so he obeys, sliding out the passenger door and crouching low on the dirty pavement. Jensen follows, crawling over the center console and kneeling beside Jared. He leans up just slightly to look through the Mercedes' windows and another gunshot drops him quickly.
"Shit, they don't want us leaving this alley."
"I thought you said..."
"They've gotta know we're up to something by now," Jensen looks to the other end of the alley and the quiet street beyond. "Better to keep us pinned here as long as they can than have us messing up their plans."
Jensen reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out a slip of paper, handing it to Jared.
"That's the address of the DeWinter mansion, we're only an hour or so away."
"And clearly this car isn't going anywhere, Jensen. What am I supposed to do with this?"
He can swear Jensen almost smiles at his high-pitched whine. Asshole.
"You need to go, Jared. Get out of alley and find a cab, find a bus, something. Get down to San Diego to help the guys or go back to Santa Cruz. I'll cover you."
Cover him. With a gun. While people are shooting at him.
"You're insane, I'm staying with you!"
"No, you're not!"
Jared wants to shake Jensen. They've come through all this together, and there's no fucking way he's going to leave Jensen alone in an alley with God only knows how many hired guns. He's about to keep protesting when Jensen spins quickly, grabbing Jared's upper arms and leaning close.
"Jared..."
The single word is so soft compared to the shouting and the gunfire. Jensen doesn't say anything else but Jared's reading Jensen's eyes. In this one look, he can see everything - Jensen's need to protect those around him, his resolve to always be strong, his desire for justice. His desire for Jared. It's more than the older man could have said with a thousand words and it's more than enough for Jared to nod his head shakily.
"Okay," he whispers and Jensen's chest collapses with the force of his relieved sigh, eyes dropping to watch Jared stuff the address in his pocket.
"I'll be fine, Jared, I swear," Jensen answers before Jared can even ask his next question. "I swear."
He's being pushed away and Jared can't say anything else. Jensen's yelling at him to run, standing up and firing a few shots at the immobile s.u.v.. He hears more shots as he's running, to afraid to look back, rounding the corner of the alley and coming out onto a brighter street. He doesn't stop to catch his breath until he's well away from the alley, not running in the open and hiding from any passing cars.
Jared's about a block away when the look hits him again. He nearly doubles over from the pain it's causing him, even though Jensen had sworn...
He takes a deep breath and leans against a brick wall, listening closely for any more gunshots. Spying a parking lot across the street, an idea starts coming together in his head. Jared thinks through his plan for a moment, nodding to himself that yeah, this could work.
But Jensen's probably going to kill him later.
He only prays that his iPhone is as useful in a pinch as all those ads claimed.
"Stupid motherfuckers."
Jensen’s down to his last clip, currently crouched behind a dumpster midway down the alley. The Mercedes is useless now, plenty of bullet holes in the gold metal. He’s got to make a run for it soon, still glad that Jared’s already clear. Jensen can’t second guess sending him away; he needs to keep Jared safe. Yeah, he’s a part of their little “rebellion” now, but thugs with guns are something else entirely. If Jared were to get seriously hurt…
A mixed cacophony of shouts and sirens breaks out in Jensen’s ears. The men from the other car are scrambling and yelling to each other as the whine of sirens gets closer. And over all the noise, Jensen hears a familiar voice calling out.
“Jensen!”
What the…
“Jensen, run! Come on!”
Jared’s at the end of the alley standing next to a silver sedan. Jensen doesn’t fight the urge that has him running while the gunmen are distracted. Jared’s already jumping in the driver’s seat and Jensen slides in opposite, looking back at the alley as Jared peels away.
Twenty minutes later, after a tense and quiet drive and once Jensen’s positive they aren’t being pursued, Jensen tells Jared to pull off into a grocery store’s parking lot.
“You came back?”
He doesn’t mean to sound angry, but Jensen was just rescued for fuck’s sake and it’s absurd.
"I hotwired a car!" Jared's practically bouncing in the driver's seat. "I had to look it up on the internet but-"
Jensen shakes his head, fighting the laugh already in his throat. This kid is ridiculous. "Holy shit, I can't believe you."
"And then I called the cops."
"You fuckin' what?"
"I called 9-1-1 from a payphone, Jensen. I reported shots fired two blocks away from where you were. Figured the sirens might scare Richelieu's men off..."
Jared's smiling like he's just been given a freakin' puppy, but all he's gotten out of this is Jensen, shaky from nerves and scuffed up from his roll in the alley.
“You stupid…” He’s trying to process the fact that Jared came back for him, probably risking more than he knew, but thinking is complicated so he just stops, leaning across the seat and grabbing Jared’s shoulder.
This time their lips meet passionately, the second kiss more wild and desperate than the first. Gentle and exploratory was good, but this is better, bodies pressed as close as they can be in the limited space. Jensen’s taken back to their very first meeting, the dilemma of fight or fuck swirling through his mind. Thankfully he hasn’t needed to fight Jared yet, but this is incomparable. It’s all they are - all they can be together. Jensen's never been prone to such harlequin insights, but feels it now with Jared.
A honk across the parking lot makes Jared pull his lips away, but it’s probably for the best. The younger man still looks ecstatic, and Jensen hopes it’s more from the kiss than from stealing a car. Which, Jensen figures, he’ll be dealing with later, hopefully once they’re all free of this mess.
Jared’s voice is excited and a little smug. “So, are we even now?”
“Even?”
“You rescued me, I rescued you.”
Jensen smirks, leaning back in the passenger seat. “In your dreams, kid.”
The younger man’s laugh is the best thing he’s heard in a while and Jensen has to pray they make it out of this okay so that maybe he can have this whenever he wants.
“Whatever,” Jared jokes lightly. “Ready to go kick some more ass?”
He could be annoyed that this kid’s starting to sound like him, but he just grins, wide and honest.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Seriously, have you ever had to torture someone before?”
“Man, why you gotta make everything a competition?”
“I’m not! Geez, Hardison, we’re sort of on a timeline here.”
“Can’t rush perfection, man.”
“Christ, just give me the scissors and I’ll do it.”
The scene Jared and Jensen walk in on shouldn’t be funny, but neither man can stop laughing. They hadn’t encountered any more problems on their way to the DeWinter mansion, Jared still riding an adrenaline high from the firefight and subsequent car theft. Not to mention that kiss.
Now, after stepping over a few unconscious bodyguards - Eliot’s work, no doubt - they’ve found Jensen’s friends arguing while a man sits, tied to a chair, gagged, and looking terrified, between them. There's a variety of useful objects lying around them - a baseball bat, a golf club, a kitchen knife set, and for some strange reason, a bottle of ketchup. Jared immediately starts laughing because he'd never expected to come upon a scene like this, coupled with the ridiculous arguing. Jensen raises his eyebrow like he thinks Jared's crazy, but then starts laughing along with him.
"What the hell's taking so long?"
Eliot whips around, calming when he sees them. "That's what I've been asking, Jenny. Hardison won't let me have a turn."
"Don't be so dramatic."
"Don't change the subject!"
"Holy shit, they're like kids with a piñata," Jensen leans over and whispers, then asks loudly, "have you found out anything useful?"
"Rebecca's already left the country," Eliot starts, the bound man whimpering when the cowboy steps closer. "She flew out as soon as the news hit the air. But this kind gentleman," he indicates the simpering figure, "is her personal secretary and he knows all about what his boss was up to."
"And he knows where the backups of all Richelieu's and Rebecca's files are," Alec adds, swinging a pair of scissors casually around his finger.
"Bet he knows where Rebecca fled to."
"I was just about to crack this guy..."
"When? Sometime in the next century?"
"I was choosing a technique!"
Jared suddenly wishes he'd gotten more sleep last night - these guys are driving him crazy. If he were tied to that chair, he'd start talking just to make them shut up. He turns to say as much to Jensen but he's no longer by Jared's side. Ignoring Alec and Eliot, he finds the detective leaning over their captive from behind. Jensen's lips move in a whisper. Jared can't make out what he's saying but their captive's eyes go wide as saucers and he starts stammering.
"Fine! Fine! They're in the hidden bedroom safe!" He yells frantically, twisting against the duct tape binding him. "The code is six-one-two-eight-one-four-four!"
Jensen's smile is a little dangerous when he stands straight and there's no denying it's turning Jared on. Jesus, the things he could do with that man...if they weren't trying to bring down a dirty politician and considering methods of torture, of course.
DeWinter's secretary is still blathering and Jensen looks satisfied. Eliot and Alec just stand there with slack jaws - they stop arguing and glare at Jensen in sync.
"Aw man! Why you gotta ruin things like that? I was just about to get down to business."
"Come on, Alec," Jensen laughs. "Let this nice man take us to the safe, what do you say?"
"Fine, but next time I get to be the silent-ninja bad ass."
The two of them drag their poor "victim" upstairs, leaving Jared in the living room with Eliot.
"What the hell did Jensen say to that guy?" Jared blurts out, curiosity assaulting his inner-cat.
"Probably better if we don't know, kid." Eliot's watching him carefully and Jared can feel his energy draining. He backs up and sits on a couch, uncomfortable with the way Eliot's just staring.
"Lookin' a little tense, Jared."
"You think?"
"Not really all you expected when you showed up in L.A., huh?"
"I thought I'd have a job by now and spend today looking for apartments."
Eliot kicks aside the baseball bat and sits in the chair their captive vacated. "Don't think it's all so bad though. I mean, if this all goes down right, I think King'll give you a job, easy."
"Yeah..."
"And then there's you and Jensen."
"Yeah...wait, what?"
One corner of Eliot's lips are pulled in a smirk but it doesn't make him look any less menacing. Of course, Eliot could be sticking his tongue out at Jared and still look borderline homicidal.
"Y'all crashed pretty early last night, it's not that hard to figure out," the cowboy's saying. "'Course, there's also the way you two birds are lookin' at each other all the time. Kinda creepy, but what can I say?"
Jared doesn't really want Eliot to say anything and he wishes there was something interesting in the room to comment on, but it's filled with ugly designer furniture, walls decorated with the art of inflated egos and stuffed wallets. Boring, so Jared starts playing with the hem of his t-shirt. Alec's t-shirt actually, he'd forgotten.
"Look," Eliot says finally, and Jared can't read his expression. "I just want you to know, Jenny doesn't do this all the time."
"Doesn't try to save the world and rescue strays?" Jared deflects, knowing perfectly well what Eliot's trying to say.
"That either, but he's damn good at it, huh?"
Jared's spared any further awkward conversation with Jensen and Alec's reappearance.
"We got everything we need," Alec fist-bumps Eliot as he walks by, dropping on the couch next to Jared. "Time to celebrate!"
"Wait, where's the secretary?"
"Glad to finally be unconscious," Jensen drawls. "I cuffed him to one of the beds for a nice, long nap."
Jensen stands next to Eliot, eyes on Jared. He tilts his head just slightly.
You okay?
Jared nods and blinks slowly.
Yeah, just tired.
"So what now?" Alec unknowingly interrupts their silent conversation.
"Now, you can wrap all that evidence in a bow and hand it over to that Channel Five anchor you're always goin' on about."
"Aw man, Julie's gonna love me when I give her this story," Alec's giddy now. "It's gotta be worth what, five or six dates?"
"She's married, Hardison."
"So, this is the story of the year right here, bro!"
Jared really has no idea what's they're talking about and Jensen's still quiet, letting the other two hammer out their plans. He trusts them - whatever they do with their evidence is bound to rock Los Angeles and set things right, but Jared's just glad the worst is over. He hopes.
When they're clear of the mansion, all four men back in Eliot's truck, they head back towards L.A.. Jared catches a few more details as the other three are talking, but for the most part he's still in a daze.
It's only been two days since he left his small apartment in Santa Cruz but it feels like weeks. With all that's happened, Jared hasn't had time to stop and think, no chance to properly freak out. He's quiet for most of the ride; Jensen notices but doesn't push. He slides a fraction closer on the bench seat and rests warm fingers on Jared's thigh. Jared appreciates the silent support - Jensen probably knows exactly what's spinning through his mind.
Closer to the city, Jensen leans up towards the driver's seat.
"Hey Eliot, do you mind dropping Jared and me off before you two meet up with Julie?"
"Where?" Eliot sounds unsure but there's no arguing.
"Pick someplace nearby, I don't care."
"Jensen, I'm fine," Jared insists, figuring all this is on his account. "Just keep going and -"
"You've been sittin' there like a zombie for half an hour, kid." Eliot finds his eyes in the rearview.
Jared doesn't sulk but he crosses his arms and keeps his mouth shut until Eliot pulls into a parking lot and Jensen's yanking Jared and his bag out of the truck.
They're at a hotel this time, every room displaying the same bland anonymity. It's clean and the beds look soft; Jared can't really ask for anything more than that. Though, he certainly wants more.
"Hey, sit down before you fall over."
He's obeying before he thinks to object, needs of his body overriding his mind. Jensen's on the hotel phone and fifteen minutes later there's a knock on their door. Jared comes out of his haze to the smell of food - burgers and fries - and his stomach chimes in with how long it's been since a proper meal.
Plates are emptied quickly to the tune of light conversation, both standing to stretch sore muscles and tight stomachs when dinner is finished. Jared drops his arms with an aching sigh and finds Jensen in his space.
Jensen's eyes appraise him first. "You okay?"
There are so many possible ways Jared can take that - and a myriad of answers.
"Yeah." It's the truth, Jared can admit. He's had two days of violence, adrenaline, and friendship all churned together with intrigue but he's okay with all of it. He’s a big boy, he can deal. So he tries to joke.
"You're so serious," he says, moving close enough to Jensen to nip playfully at his nose.
Jensen's eyelids drop, relieved, and he grins tiredly. "Just making sure, it's been a crazy couple of days."
"Mmmm," he shuffles closer, leaning into Jensen. He'll never admit to this vertical cuddling, but it's nice.
"Jared..."
He feels Jensen's warm breath against his ear and pulls back just enough to meet somber green eyes. A hundred possibilities occur to him in the span of seconds. Jensen's going to thank me and say we're done. He's going to tell me to go back to Santa Cruz. It was only one night and -
"Jared, you stole a car."
Birds could fly into Jared's mouth, his jaw drops so quickly.
Holy shit, I stole a CAR.
Then he slams it shut and starts laughing uncontrollably. Jensen takes one look at his red face and loses it right along with him, releasing all the tension and nerves in a bout of gasping silliness.
When they've gotten themselves back under control, Jensen's voice is pitched low.
"You were amazing, Jared, I mean it."
The sentiment's punctuated by Jensen's fingers hooked in his belt. He doesn't know what Jensen likes, so Jared follows his own road, slipping his hands in Jensen's back pockets and fusing their bodies together. This kiss is altogether different from the previous two. Wrapped up in their lips is everything Jared wants tonight - touch, taste, and more of the feeling that he's an essential part of Jensen's world.
“But seriously,” Jensen pulls away, “no more stealing cars.”
“It wasn’t that hard, I mean-“
“Jared.” Gun calloused hands slide along his jaw, and he’s intent on learning their texture in the near future. “Promise me. No…?”
“No more stealing cars. Got it.”
“Good.” Jensen moves back in to lick at Jared’s lips, muttering. “Bad enough I have to deal with the one car…”
They’d left the sedan at the DeWinter mansion, Alec and Eliot swearing they’d take care of it.
"Going to arrest me, Jenny?" He adds Eliot’s sugary nickname like icing on his sultry tone.
Green eyes flash dangerously and again Jared feels that thrill of arousal. "I didn't bring my handcuffs."
"Guess we'll have to save that for later."
"Count on it."
It's déjà vu when Jensen comes out of the bathroom.
Jared's breathing is deep and even. He's already fast asleep, not reacting at all when the door closes and the bedside lamp is flicked off. Just like the first night, Jared's curled around a pillow, stripped down to boxers and leaving plenty of room for Jensen to lie down beside him.
This time, he doesn't resist. He slips in under the soft sheet, content just to stare at the long lines of Jared's back on display. He's free to touch, thrilled by the possibility of learning every inch of Jared intimately in the future.
It's almost ironic - Jensen's way out of his comfort zone with Jared but it feels good. Two days and he's considering a future? Strange, but he's learned more about Jared, about them together, in the last forty-eight hours than in the entirety of his few former relationships. He grins to himself thinking that all first dates should be comprised of car chases, gunfights, and strips clubs. Life and death situations certainly bring out a person’s true nature.
He’s looking forward to learning everything he can about Jared’s nature if he gets the opportunity. They didn’t talk about it tonight - both men deciding their time was better spent making out and stripping each other until Jared finally threw Jensen back on the bed and straddled him. After that, there was little thinking of any kind, Jared taking control to grind their naked bodies together until they both exploded.
It was completely different from their first coupling - that one fueled by fading adrenaline and stress. This time, Jared’s smile was bright and relaxed as he bit gently across Jensen’s stomach, stopping every few moments to steal another kiss, making up for Jensen’s denial the first night. Jensen found that he was grinning in turn. Jared’s enthusiasm was contagious and he let himself go, releasing the last shreds of frustration and stress to enjoy the younger man affecting presence.
When they came, Jensen was pinned beneath Jared once more, bare shafts slick and sliding against one another. Jared’s lips and hands hadn’t paused in their joined assault for even a moment and he felt the younger man come apart as Jensen rode the high of his own orgasm.
Now, stretched out behind Jared, Jensen feels the call of sleep, so different from the night before. He pulls the sheet over them both, shifting closer so his arm lies along the line of Jared’s back.
He’s so comfortable that he doesn’t even mind when fifteen minutes later, Jared flips in his sleep and wraps every spare limb around Jensen.
EPILOGUE
They're gathered at Saul's a couple days later, watching the news on the tiny television screen behind the bar.
"Citizens of Los Angeles breathed a sigh of relief today as their popular mayor, Alan King, was released from police custody and cleared of all wrongdoing..."
"'Bout time!" Eliot cheers, clinking his pint glass against Jensen's.
"...and in a related story, California politician Timothy Richelieu was arrested last night on charges of fraud, conspiracy, and attempted murder. Police have also issued warrants for the arrest of at least two other accomplices in the case."
"Don't suppose they could mention us, or nothin'." Alec grumbles, but Jensen knows he's just as happy with the news as they are.
“…Mayor King will be holding a press conference at five p.m. tonight. Channel Five’s Julie Delpy will be there providing full coverage, as well as an exclusive interview with the Mayor.”
Saul drops off another round of beers and the three men toast to a job well done. It's not a party yet, Jensen thinks. There's still someone missing...
As if he was just waiting for Jensen to start missing him, Jared walks into the bar, bright smile and dimples giving away the results of his meeting with Alan King. Jensen's up and hugging him before he can say a word, whispering quiet congratulations in his ear, feeling the thank you spoken silently against his temple.
When he lets go, Alec and Eliot are standing behind them, not bothering to hide their amusement. Eliot holds his hand out for Jared to shake, but the younger man swoops forward before his friend can react. Jared wraps Eliot in the most enthusiastic hug Jensen's ever witnessed; Eliot's feet leave the ground as Jared picks him up and swings him. Jensen can't stop laughing at how uncomfortable Eliot looks.
"Put me down, ya damn beast!"
Jared does, and Alec takes a step back to avoid the same fate. "I'm guessin' you got the job then?"
Reaching back to wrap an arm around Jensen's shoulders, Jared nods. "I'm starting next week as the assistant to his head of Public Relations. Now all I have to do is find an apartment!"
"You could move in with me." Jensen's brain absolutely misfires, sending the thought straight to his mouth.
"What?"
He can't reply, still trying to figure why he just blurted that out. Fortunately, Eliot runs with it.
"Do it, kid. He's serious."
Jared turns hazel eyes on him, looking a few breaths away from panicking. "Are you?"
He can't fault Jared, needing to hear it from him instead of going by Eliot's word.
"Yeah," he croaks, and clears his throat. "Yeah, I really am. I mean, my place is plenty big enou-"
Jensen's arms are filled with Jared before he can finish, the younger man kissing him senseless. Definitely senseless, since they're in a bar and Jensen's not even bating an eyelash. He's too wrapped up in twining his tongue along Jared's, feeling soft lips part for him and giving everything back in return. When they break apart, Jared's grin matches how Jensen's must look - unabashedly happy.
From the corner of his eye, Jensen sees Eliot smack Alec's shoulder. "Are you cryin'?"
"California air pollen, man."
"We're inside, Hardison."
Jared draws him back, whispering quietly so it stays between the two of them. "I don't want to ask you again if you're sure. I'm too afraid you'll change your mind."
Being able to make Jared smile whenever he feels like it? Mind-blowing sex whenever he wants, plus a best friend right under his roof? Hell yes, sign Jensen up.
"I won't."
"Hey Saul! Grab our boy Jared a beer and put it on my tab."
The bottle Saul hands over means their three just became four, better now than they were before.
Jensen presses close to Jared at the bar, the younger man fitting between him and Alec like he was always meant to be there.
"So Jay man, tell me more about that punk who chased you down here?"
"Oh, Chad?" Jared takes a swallow of his beer, sly look crossing his face. "Nothin' much to tell. He still thinks I took advantage of his sister."
Eliot's the first to offer. "Want me to rip his arms out?"
"How 'bout I send him like a thousand porn magazines?"
Jared smiles wide and genuine, leaning back against Jensen's side.
"No offense Eliot, but definitely the porn. Can you make it gay porn?”
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks, Alec."
"My pleasure, bro. My pleasure."
FIN
Additional notes: D'Artangan was a STUPID LITTLE BITCH for not going back for Athos. That's ALL I have to say about that. I feel I've rectified that as best I can, so there. To be honest, I feel a little bad that this story followed the plot of the movie so closely - but it’s a movie I enjoy SO much.
Many thanks to my f-list who encouraged me not to trash this story. It was originally set in the same time period as the movie, and super-serious, but that was NO fun. Then I was going to drop it all together, but alas! Eliot and Alec came to mind and this was born.
One of the biggest gripes I got with this was that I ought to make a version with either Chris & Steve or Tom & Mike for those who didn't know what Leverage was all about. The only problem? THEY'RE NOT FUNNY [and I know jack-shit about them]. Eliot & Alec = HILARITY.
Special thanks to matalinolukaret who Leverage-proofed the story =)
Thanks to the ladies who started the j2_everafter challenge. It was a blast! Feedback is welcomed!
All my other fics are H E R E.
Jensen can list dozens of potential hideouts where they could go to ground - abandoned offices, old friends’ places, empty cabins. However, Eliot's tastes are a little different and given the circumstances, strangely brilliant.
Over an hour out of L.A., sun fully set, Eliot had pulled into a half-full parking lot, looking for all the world like he'd just come home.
"A strip joint?" Alec looked out the passenger window at the nondescript building, its neon sign proclaiming 'The Menagerie’ was open for business. "This was your plan?"
"Like anyone would look for us here."
They'd all followed Eliot, smiling as he greeted the bouncers outside and the sultry women and bartenders inside.
Now, Jensen's enjoying a double scotch neat, watching the other three men crowded around a table closer to one of the stages, pieces of their exuberant conversation reaching him.
"Now kid, you gotta pay attention," Eliot's saying over the blaring music. "There's a certain way you need to handle these fine ladies."
"Seriously?" Jared's face twists in confusion and it's a little adorable to see. "Aren't twenty dollar bills the best way to-"
"Dude! I know you did not just say that."
"Eliot, let me field this one," Alec interrupts, large hand pressed to Eliot's chest to hold him away from Jared.
"Yeah, cause you're the fuckin' expert," the cowboy mutters, falling back in his chair.
"That chick in Palo Alto?"
"The entire sorority at SoCal?"
"It wasn't an entire sorority, I saw the video on YouTube."
Jensen laughs softly as he watches Jared get frustrated with trying to interrupt. The women of the club flock to their table in pairs, loud laughter and their willingness to have a little fun drawing the ladies. It keeps them away from Jensen and he's grateful. Not really his type, anyway.
"You've got to charm them, Jared," Jensen hears Eliot say, and he must be warming up to Jared for him to drop the 'kid' moniker for a little while.
Jared sits and listens attentively even though his eyes are slightly glassy from the beers he's had. Every so often Jensen catches a glance thrown in his direction - Jared's hazel eyes are speculative, curious. They stay at their respective tables, Eliot and Alec running their mouths back and forth while Jared’s attention is split.
After another drink, the day’s starting to catch up with Jensen and colored lights are going fuzzy in the corners of his eyes. Alec and Eliot are still going strong but Jared's turned staring into a teasing game. Jensen's not oblivious - Jared has probably noticed desire flare in Jensen's eyes more than once since this morning. He's getting frustrated but it's a far cry from the anxiety and anger he felt in King's penthouse. Jared's no longer a mystery and he's more appealing to Jensen now.
But he's tired; the energy that's kept him going all day has drained as fast as Jensen drains his scotch. The motel across the street is sounding better and better. By the looks of things his buddies aren't turning in anytime soon and Jensen can't begrudge them their fun. They're all wound tight, losing focus - no one more so than Jensen, and it's all because of the kid.
While Jared's distracted by a leggy brunette, Jensen drops some money on the table and slips out. The California night is crisp, the slight chill easing the flush of his skin and calming him. He pays cash for two rooms, leaving a key with the wrinkled manager for one of the other guys to pick up. God, he hopes Alec takes the other room - that dude snores.
A few minutes later Jensen's got the door to his room propped open, letting the cool air filter through and replace the musty motel smells. He takes a long drag from his cigarette, nicotine doing for the thrum in his blood what the night breeze did for his warm skin.
The air around him shifts ever so slightly and Jensen doesn't need to look up to know that Jared's standing beside him.
“Finished learning to charm strippers and whores?”
“I left when Eliot and Alec started arguing over how to kiss a woman.”
Jensen only hums in response, exhaling the bitter smoke and watching it disperse into the air.
Jared steps a little closer, voice slurred and sultry. "There's nothin' those guys can teach me I haven't already learned."
The invitation is clear as day in Jared's whispered words and Jensen's sick of fighting. Fighting Richelieu's thugs, fighting King's invisible foes, fighting this.
Flicking his cigarette to the ground and crushing it with his shoe, Jensen looks Jared straight in the eye.
"How about putting those lessons to use, kid."
It's not so dark that Jensen misses the narrowing of Jared's eyes. Good, he's still with me. The younger man's so close, breath mingling, and the dim light doesn't hide the mottled bruising starting to appear on Jared's face. He wants to reach out - to soothe, to touch - but he doesn't, just waits for Jared to make the first move.
"I told you," Jared exhales. "Don't fuckin' call me kid."
Jared's lips are warm on his cool cheek, moving slowly towards his mouth. Jensen tilts his head before their lips meet, baring his jaw and throat for soft nips and kisses. He's not prepared for that - not ready.
The younger man keeps trying even when Jensen pushes him away. He swears he hears a low whimper but he ignores it, raising a hand to grip Jared's elbow and spin them both into the room, kicking the door closed. His hands settle on Jared's lean waist, nearly losing himself to firm lips traveling down his neck. It's gentle, caring, and too much. Jensen can't take it; he's got to have Jared now.
Palms grip tighter and Jensen feels Jared's arms wind low around his hips. Jared's lips move to his ear, whispering nonsense but that's no good either. Jensen distracts them both by starting to unbutton Jared's dress shirt, while the younger man slips Jensen's leather jacket off.
He's flipping the shirt off Jared's shoulders when he's suddenly pushed back, the edge of the bed catching his knees and Jensen drops onto the mattress. Jared groans and falls to his knees, pushing forward between Jensen's legs, hands running along his calves and pushing for space. Jensen's shirt is the next to go, landing at their feet. Jared doesn't try to kiss him again but the younger man's breath is hot along Jensen's collarbone, teeth catching on his silver cross as Jared moves down.
Jared's goal is clear when hands find Jensen's zipper, quickly working to expose his dick. When Jared's head bends down, face pressed teasingly against Jensen's inner thigh, he's suddenly breathless. It's a gorgeous sight, Jared's bare shoulders flexing and back undulating when his mouth closes over Jensen. He has to wind one hand through Jared's hair, feeling the softness, using the other to support himself on the bed so he doesn't collapse backwards.
Jensen doesn't have the mental ability to critique Jared's blow job, but whatever he's doing is pretty damn good. Despite their earlier flirting, Jared's not teasing him. It's all firm pressure and wet heat, long swipes of tongue and delicious twists of Jared's palm. He's close to coming within minutes and if he gets off now, Jensen's not sure he'll have the energy to return the favor afterward. And hell no, that's something he has to see.
"Jared. Jared..."
He waits until Jared pulls off his cock, the blood heavy muscle straining to return to hot pleasure. Seeing Jared's slick and parted lips, Jensen's so tempted to lean forward and kiss him. Not yet. Jared catches him staring, blurry eyes showing no disappointment - only a grudging acceptance.
Using a last burst of energy, Jensen pulls Jared onto the bed, twisting so they're touching foreheads to thighs. Jared hardly pauses before his tongue and lips slide back onto Jensen's cock, but Jensen's got Jared's jeans to contend with. When he finally pushes them down to Jared's knees, he catches his breath, temple resting on Jared's muscular leg, his body nearly wiped out.
But Jared's cock, slightly curved and very flushed, is too enticing. He mirrors what Jared's doing to him, enthusiasm tempered slightly by exhaustion. Sucking kisses, pulsating throats, and smooth strokes leave them both panting after a few minutes.
They're just stroking each other now, breathing harshly against sensitive skin, rhythms faltering as pleasure takes over. Jared comes first, gasping and mouthing at Jensen's inner thigh. Feeling teeth bite into the flesh there, Jensen loses it, splashing hot over Jared's hand and chin.
When the only sounds in the dingy room are their matched, deep breaths, Jared pulls Jensen up and around. He's too spent and lethargic to fight the movement. It's uncomfortable, half dressed and getting sticky, but Jared barely looks coherent. Jensen squints when he turns on the bedside lamp, Jared flinching away from the light and curling into a pillow.
Grabbing a pillowcase from the other bed, Jensen wipes them both clean before tossing the fabric into a corner. He strips them both down to boxers, too tired to be amused at Jared's sleepy protests. Jensen quickly stops in the bathroom, downing two glasses of water and filling one for Jared. He contemplates stealing the second pillow from Jared's bed for himself, or just passing out right there in the empty space next to the younger man, but he doesn't, settling down on the other bed.
He doesn't really want to deal with Jared's long limbs without knowing what he's getting into first.
Jared wakes with a shiver. He doesn't remember the room being that cold last night but it's all he can feel. Cold and pain.
He sits up with a gasp, momentarily disoriented, but a warm palm presses down on his chest, holding him back.
"Hey," Jensen's voice is a low whisper against his temple. "Jared, lay back. It's okay."
Guided by strong hands, Jared settles back against the sheets with Jensen leaning over him. His face aches, the pain from all those punches yesterday no longer masked by adrenaline and excitement. Sympathetic green eyes watch as Jared brings a hand to his sore face, feeling along slightly swollen ridges where the bruising has got to be spectacular.
He groans deep in his throat and Jensen reaches to lift his hand away, replacing it with a bag of ice. That explains the cold, he thinks then hisses, shocked for a second by the frozen compress before it starts to feel good. Neither man speaks but for Jared, this feels more intimate than last night. Jensen’s so close and so caring, moving the ice along his jaw and cheek. This side of Jensen is new - Jared bets it's one rarely shared. He tries to ignore the crazy voice in his head that claims mine. After a few minutes, Jensen moves the bag of ice to press on Jared's right hand, covering tender knuckles with blissful cold.
When the pain starts to subside, Jared lifts his free hand and rests it on Jensen's cheek, elated when the man's eyes slide closed, turning his face into Jared's palm. Carefully, he draws Jensen to him, fascinated when Jensen's eyes open just before their mouths connect.
A long buried memory comes to Jared's mind as their lips press together cautiously.
The first kiss should be all that you are.
He can feel the truth in that. After the first hesitant touch, Jensen becomes confident but playful, a perfect compliment to the older man's strong and teasing personality. His tongue parts Jared's lips, the low rumble of Jensen's contented moan travels along the supple flesh and Jared can feel it against his tongue. Jensen's hold on him is firm but not constraining - not holding Jared back if there's anything he wants to take.
And Jared does, slipping his sore hand behind Jensen's neck, banishing any hesitation he feels. He's glad this didn't happen last night; the memory would have been tainted and fuzzy from alcohol. This is so much better, drawing back to suck softly on Jensen's lower lip, curious but uninhibited, and hearing the low sounds they're both making. He hopes Jensen can feel everything he's trying to convey in the kiss and in the exploration of his hands.
Their quiet moment lasts until Jared rolls onto the melting bag of ice. The cold shock forces him to break the kiss with a gasp and Jensen laughs when he sees what happened. The older man pulls back and stands up, Jared finally noticing that Jensen's fully dressed, hair still wet from a recent shower.
"You going somewhere?"
Jensen nods and Jared's throat feels tight. "Rebecca DeWinter's got a nice place in San Diego where she's holed up, according to Alec's searching."
"Do we have a plan?"
If Jensen notices that Jared's including himself, he doesn't mention it.
"Get up and grab a shower," the detective says, slight smile keeping the instructions from sounding too harsh. "I grabbed a couple of shirts from Alec's bag in case you wanted to change. Don't worry, they're clean, I checked. Meet us over in room twelve when you're done and we'll talk."
He wants to reach out and drag Jensen down for their second kiss but he disappears too quickly, leaving Jared alone to get ready.
Half an hour later, all four men are crowded around Alec's computer set up, listening to what he's found.
"Now here's where it gets a little funky," Hardison's saying, pointing to lines of code that hurt Jared's eyes. "Far as I can tell, everything King's been accused of actually happened. That's why it's all so convincing. The trails are real. But," he stops to laugh. “They obviously never expected a being with my kind of talent to comb through this."
"Stop preenin'," Eliot smacks Alec's shoulder. "What's the funky part?"
"It looks like someone else is guilty of all this but logs were changed, phone and credit card records tampered with and put in different names."
Jensen crosses his arms. "Someone went through a lot of trouble to frame King."
"We know who..."
Jared can feel the three men's anger flare up again, only banished temporarily last night to let them unwind, and he sympathizes. From what he knows, Jensen, Alec, and Eliot looked on Alan King like a father; they feel his betrayal acutely, ready to do battle for their mentor. The bruises on Jared's face and hands remind him that he's got a score to settle with Richelieu and his goons, too.
He realizes he hasn't been paying attention when Jensen says, "so we split up, just in case, and drive down to DeWinter's place in San Diego. Eliot, can you grab me a car?"
"Not a problem."
"You two can take Eliot's truck."
"And dude, Hardison, no more eating in my truck!"
Jared's as lost as he felt in King's penthouse. So much for my involvement. Then, in a gesture that must be obvious to Alec and Eliot, Jensen's hand drops on his arm.
"You coming?"
"Jenny..." Eliot grumbles.
Alec doesn't look bothered and Jared doesn't know why Eliot's quietly objecting. He thought they were past all that. Jensen's looking at him expectantly and Jared smiles. Working with Jensen? Almost certain danger?
"Absolutely."
Eliot comes through on a car an hour later - Jared finally grasping that when Jensen said "grab a car" he actually meant "steal a car." Sitting in a stolen older model Mercedes is a new experience for Jared but he just shrugs when Jensen asks if there's a problem. Compared to everything else in the last thirty-six hours, this is nothing.
Driving with Jensen isn't awkward - Jensen tells him all about Rebecca DeWinter and what he'd missed of Alec's findings this morning - but there's no mention of the previous night or their first kiss. He's not going to bring it up, not when things are easy. It feels like he's known Jensen for a long time. There's still a lot of mystery but Jared knows enough to trust him. Jensen's the kind of man Gerald Padalecki would have approved of. Speaking of...
"You knew my Dad."
"I knew of him," he replies, weaving in and around traffic. They're sticking to local roads, through tougher neighborhoods while the others take the highway. "I never got the chance to meet him. Alan always mentioned your dad though, said he was a great guy."
"He was. They went to school together, you know. High school and college, that's why they were close and why I could have had a job with him."
"What kind of work were you-"
The familiar sound of tires screeching on pavement cuts Jensen off and Jared prays that no one's chasing them. But Jensen starts swearing, dashing Jared's hopes and taking a swift turn to shake the s.u.v. that's now obviously tailing them.
"How the fuck," Jared's thrown into the passenger door as Jensen takes another curve without braking, "did they find us?"
"A charge at the bar? Watching motels? I have no idea!"
Jared quickly decides that trying to talk is a bad idea. Letting Jensen concentrate on driving? Way better. In a move Jared couldn't pull off in Grand Turino, Jensen pulls the Mercedes into narrow alley, barely enough room for the car to pass through. He thinks that just maybe they've eluded the other car, but less than thirty seconds later it pulls in after them, stopping a hundred feet away. It's a menacing thing to see with deeply tinted windows blocking one of their ways out.
Before Jensen can put the car in gear to pull forward out of the alley, a shot echoes through the narrow space. Jared's muscles lock up, he feels paralyzed; he's never heard anything like it. He wants to turn but Jensen's pushing him down, shouting something but it's all jumbled in Jared's head.
There's another shot and the car shudders alarmingly, Jared finally processing what Jensen's yelling.
"Stay down, Jared!"
Jensen tries to press the gas and the Mercedes protests.
"Shit, they shot out our back tires!"
The gunfire ceases but Jared's ears are ringing. Movement on Jensen's side of the car catches his eye and he watches the detective pull a weapon from his shoulder holster - Jared hadn't even noticed he was carrying.
"Fuckin' pieces of shit," Jensen's fuming as he pulls back the slide and checks the magazine before clicking everything back in place, thumbing off the safety.
"You're gonna shoot back?" Jared yells from where he's scrunched down in his seat.
"Hell yes! I don't really like getting shot at, Jared!"
Jensen looks at him and the fury dims just a little bit in those bright green eyes.
"Look, they're not trying to kill us, Jared."
That's news to me, he wants to say, but keeps quiet.
The other man sighs but he doesn't sound annoyed. "Richelieu doesn't want a body count on this thing, or any of the questions that come with it." Jensen stops and thinks for a moment, Jared desperate to know what's going through his mind. Finally, he swallows and looks pointedly at Jared.
"Get out of the car and stay low."
"What?"
"Do it, Jared. Trust me."
It would be wrong to argue with Jensen when there are people shooting at them, so he obeys, sliding out the passenger door and crouching low on the dirty pavement. Jensen follows, crawling over the center console and kneeling beside Jared. He leans up just slightly to look through the Mercedes' windows and another gunshot drops him quickly.
"Shit, they don't want us leaving this alley."
"I thought you said..."
"They've gotta know we're up to something by now," Jensen looks to the other end of the alley and the quiet street beyond. "Better to keep us pinned here as long as they can than have us messing up their plans."
Jensen reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out a slip of paper, handing it to Jared.
"That's the address of the DeWinter mansion, we're only an hour or so away."
"And clearly this car isn't going anywhere, Jensen. What am I supposed to do with this?"
He can swear Jensen almost smiles at his high-pitched whine. Asshole.
"You need to go, Jared. Get out of alley and find a cab, find a bus, something. Get down to San Diego to help the guys or go back to Santa Cruz. I'll cover you."
Cover him. With a gun. While people are shooting at him.
"You're insane, I'm staying with you!"
"No, you're not!"
Jared wants to shake Jensen. They've come through all this together, and there's no fucking way he's going to leave Jensen alone in an alley with God only knows how many hired guns. He's about to keep protesting when Jensen spins quickly, grabbing Jared's upper arms and leaning close.
"Jared..."
The single word is so soft compared to the shouting and the gunfire. Jensen doesn't say anything else but Jared's reading Jensen's eyes. In this one look, he can see everything - Jensen's need to protect those around him, his resolve to always be strong, his desire for justice. His desire for Jared. It's more than the older man could have said with a thousand words and it's more than enough for Jared to nod his head shakily.
"Okay," he whispers and Jensen's chest collapses with the force of his relieved sigh, eyes dropping to watch Jared stuff the address in his pocket.
"I'll be fine, Jared, I swear," Jensen answers before Jared can even ask his next question. "I swear."
He's being pushed away and Jared can't say anything else. Jensen's yelling at him to run, standing up and firing a few shots at the immobile s.u.v.. He hears more shots as he's running, to afraid to look back, rounding the corner of the alley and coming out onto a brighter street. He doesn't stop to catch his breath until he's well away from the alley, not running in the open and hiding from any passing cars.
Jared's about a block away when the look hits him again. He nearly doubles over from the pain it's causing him, even though Jensen had sworn...
He takes a deep breath and leans against a brick wall, listening closely for any more gunshots. Spying a parking lot across the street, an idea starts coming together in his head. Jared thinks through his plan for a moment, nodding to himself that yeah, this could work.
But Jensen's probably going to kill him later.
He only prays that his iPhone is as useful in a pinch as all those ads claimed.
"Stupid motherfuckers."
Jensen’s down to his last clip, currently crouched behind a dumpster midway down the alley. The Mercedes is useless now, plenty of bullet holes in the gold metal. He’s got to make a run for it soon, still glad that Jared’s already clear. Jensen can’t second guess sending him away; he needs to keep Jared safe. Yeah, he’s a part of their little “rebellion” now, but thugs with guns are something else entirely. If Jared were to get seriously hurt…
A mixed cacophony of shouts and sirens breaks out in Jensen’s ears. The men from the other car are scrambling and yelling to each other as the whine of sirens gets closer. And over all the noise, Jensen hears a familiar voice calling out.
“Jensen!”
What the…
“Jensen, run! Come on!”
Jared’s at the end of the alley standing next to a silver sedan. Jensen doesn’t fight the urge that has him running while the gunmen are distracted. Jared’s already jumping in the driver’s seat and Jensen slides in opposite, looking back at the alley as Jared peels away.
Twenty minutes later, after a tense and quiet drive and once Jensen’s positive they aren’t being pursued, Jensen tells Jared to pull off into a grocery store’s parking lot.
“You came back?”
He doesn’t mean to sound angry, but Jensen was just rescued for fuck’s sake and it’s absurd.
"I hotwired a car!" Jared's practically bouncing in the driver's seat. "I had to look it up on the internet but-"
Jensen shakes his head, fighting the laugh already in his throat. This kid is ridiculous. "Holy shit, I can't believe you."
"And then I called the cops."
"You fuckin' what?"
"I called 9-1-1 from a payphone, Jensen. I reported shots fired two blocks away from where you were. Figured the sirens might scare Richelieu's men off..."
Jared's smiling like he's just been given a freakin' puppy, but all he's gotten out of this is Jensen, shaky from nerves and scuffed up from his roll in the alley.
“You stupid…” He’s trying to process the fact that Jared came back for him, probably risking more than he knew, but thinking is complicated so he just stops, leaning across the seat and grabbing Jared’s shoulder.
This time their lips meet passionately, the second kiss more wild and desperate than the first. Gentle and exploratory was good, but this is better, bodies pressed as close as they can be in the limited space. Jensen’s taken back to their very first meeting, the dilemma of fight or fuck swirling through his mind. Thankfully he hasn’t needed to fight Jared yet, but this is incomparable. It’s all they are - all they can be together. Jensen's never been prone to such harlequin insights, but feels it now with Jared.
A honk across the parking lot makes Jared pull his lips away, but it’s probably for the best. The younger man still looks ecstatic, and Jensen hopes it’s more from the kiss than from stealing a car. Which, Jensen figures, he’ll be dealing with later, hopefully once they’re all free of this mess.
Jared’s voice is excited and a little smug. “So, are we even now?”
“Even?”
“You rescued me, I rescued you.”
Jensen smirks, leaning back in the passenger seat. “In your dreams, kid.”
The younger man’s laugh is the best thing he’s heard in a while and Jensen has to pray they make it out of this okay so that maybe he can have this whenever he wants.
“Whatever,” Jared jokes lightly. “Ready to go kick some more ass?”
He could be annoyed that this kid’s starting to sound like him, but he just grins, wide and honest.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Seriously, have you ever had to torture someone before?”
“Man, why you gotta make everything a competition?”
“I’m not! Geez, Hardison, we’re sort of on a timeline here.”
“Can’t rush perfection, man.”
“Christ, just give me the scissors and I’ll do it.”
The scene Jared and Jensen walk in on shouldn’t be funny, but neither man can stop laughing. They hadn’t encountered any more problems on their way to the DeWinter mansion, Jared still riding an adrenaline high from the firefight and subsequent car theft. Not to mention that kiss.
Now, after stepping over a few unconscious bodyguards - Eliot’s work, no doubt - they’ve found Jensen’s friends arguing while a man sits, tied to a chair, gagged, and looking terrified, between them. There's a variety of useful objects lying around them - a baseball bat, a golf club, a kitchen knife set, and for some strange reason, a bottle of ketchup. Jared immediately starts laughing because he'd never expected to come upon a scene like this, coupled with the ridiculous arguing. Jensen raises his eyebrow like he thinks Jared's crazy, but then starts laughing along with him.
"What the hell's taking so long?"
Eliot whips around, calming when he sees them. "That's what I've been asking, Jenny. Hardison won't let me have a turn."
"Don't be so dramatic."
"Don't change the subject!"
"Holy shit, they're like kids with a piñata," Jensen leans over and whispers, then asks loudly, "have you found out anything useful?"
"Rebecca's already left the country," Eliot starts, the bound man whimpering when the cowboy steps closer. "She flew out as soon as the news hit the air. But this kind gentleman," he indicates the simpering figure, "is her personal secretary and he knows all about what his boss was up to."
"And he knows where the backups of all Richelieu's and Rebecca's files are," Alec adds, swinging a pair of scissors casually around his finger.
"Bet he knows where Rebecca fled to."
"I was just about to crack this guy..."
"When? Sometime in the next century?"
"I was choosing a technique!"
Jared suddenly wishes he'd gotten more sleep last night - these guys are driving him crazy. If he were tied to that chair, he'd start talking just to make them shut up. He turns to say as much to Jensen but he's no longer by Jared's side. Ignoring Alec and Eliot, he finds the detective leaning over their captive from behind. Jensen's lips move in a whisper. Jared can't make out what he's saying but their captive's eyes go wide as saucers and he starts stammering.
"Fine! Fine! They're in the hidden bedroom safe!" He yells frantically, twisting against the duct tape binding him. "The code is six-one-two-eight-one-four-four!"
Jensen's smile is a little dangerous when he stands straight and there's no denying it's turning Jared on. Jesus, the things he could do with that man...if they weren't trying to bring down a dirty politician and considering methods of torture, of course.
DeWinter's secretary is still blathering and Jensen looks satisfied. Eliot and Alec just stand there with slack jaws - they stop arguing and glare at Jensen in sync.
"Aw man! Why you gotta ruin things like that? I was just about to get down to business."
"Come on, Alec," Jensen laughs. "Let this nice man take us to the safe, what do you say?"
"Fine, but next time I get to be the silent-ninja bad ass."
The two of them drag their poor "victim" upstairs, leaving Jared in the living room with Eliot.
"What the hell did Jensen say to that guy?" Jared blurts out, curiosity assaulting his inner-cat.
"Probably better if we don't know, kid." Eliot's watching him carefully and Jared can feel his energy draining. He backs up and sits on a couch, uncomfortable with the way Eliot's just staring.
"Lookin' a little tense, Jared."
"You think?"
"Not really all you expected when you showed up in L.A., huh?"
"I thought I'd have a job by now and spend today looking for apartments."
Eliot kicks aside the baseball bat and sits in the chair their captive vacated. "Don't think it's all so bad though. I mean, if this all goes down right, I think King'll give you a job, easy."
"Yeah..."
"And then there's you and Jensen."
"Yeah...wait, what?"
One corner of Eliot's lips are pulled in a smirk but it doesn't make him look any less menacing. Of course, Eliot could be sticking his tongue out at Jared and still look borderline homicidal.
"Y'all crashed pretty early last night, it's not that hard to figure out," the cowboy's saying. "'Course, there's also the way you two birds are lookin' at each other all the time. Kinda creepy, but what can I say?"
Jared doesn't really want Eliot to say anything and he wishes there was something interesting in the room to comment on, but it's filled with ugly designer furniture, walls decorated with the art of inflated egos and stuffed wallets. Boring, so Jared starts playing with the hem of his t-shirt. Alec's t-shirt actually, he'd forgotten.
"Look," Eliot says finally, and Jared can't read his expression. "I just want you to know, Jenny doesn't do this all the time."
"Doesn't try to save the world and rescue strays?" Jared deflects, knowing perfectly well what Eliot's trying to say.
"That either, but he's damn good at it, huh?"
Jared's spared any further awkward conversation with Jensen and Alec's reappearance.
"We got everything we need," Alec fist-bumps Eliot as he walks by, dropping on the couch next to Jared. "Time to celebrate!"
"Wait, where's the secretary?"
"Glad to finally be unconscious," Jensen drawls. "I cuffed him to one of the beds for a nice, long nap."
Jensen stands next to Eliot, eyes on Jared. He tilts his head just slightly.
You okay?
Jared nods and blinks slowly.
Yeah, just tired.
"So what now?" Alec unknowingly interrupts their silent conversation.
"Now, you can wrap all that evidence in a bow and hand it over to that Channel Five anchor you're always goin' on about."
"Aw man, Julie's gonna love me when I give her this story," Alec's giddy now. "It's gotta be worth what, five or six dates?"
"She's married, Hardison."
"So, this is the story of the year right here, bro!"
Jared really has no idea what's they're talking about and Jensen's still quiet, letting the other two hammer out their plans. He trusts them - whatever they do with their evidence is bound to rock Los Angeles and set things right, but Jared's just glad the worst is over. He hopes.
When they're clear of the mansion, all four men back in Eliot's truck, they head back towards L.A.. Jared catches a few more details as the other three are talking, but for the most part he's still in a daze.
It's only been two days since he left his small apartment in Santa Cruz but it feels like weeks. With all that's happened, Jared hasn't had time to stop and think, no chance to properly freak out. He's quiet for most of the ride; Jensen notices but doesn't push. He slides a fraction closer on the bench seat and rests warm fingers on Jared's thigh. Jared appreciates the silent support - Jensen probably knows exactly what's spinning through his mind.
Closer to the city, Jensen leans up towards the driver's seat.
"Hey Eliot, do you mind dropping Jared and me off before you two meet up with Julie?"
"Where?" Eliot sounds unsure but there's no arguing.
"Pick someplace nearby, I don't care."
"Jensen, I'm fine," Jared insists, figuring all this is on his account. "Just keep going and -"
"You've been sittin' there like a zombie for half an hour, kid." Eliot finds his eyes in the rearview.
Jared doesn't sulk but he crosses his arms and keeps his mouth shut until Eliot pulls into a parking lot and Jensen's yanking Jared and his bag out of the truck.
They're at a hotel this time, every room displaying the same bland anonymity. It's clean and the beds look soft; Jared can't really ask for anything more than that. Though, he certainly wants more.
"Hey, sit down before you fall over."
He's obeying before he thinks to object, needs of his body overriding his mind. Jensen's on the hotel phone and fifteen minutes later there's a knock on their door. Jared comes out of his haze to the smell of food - burgers and fries - and his stomach chimes in with how long it's been since a proper meal.
Plates are emptied quickly to the tune of light conversation, both standing to stretch sore muscles and tight stomachs when dinner is finished. Jared drops his arms with an aching sigh and finds Jensen in his space.
Jensen's eyes appraise him first. "You okay?"
There are so many possible ways Jared can take that - and a myriad of answers.
"Yeah." It's the truth, Jared can admit. He's had two days of violence, adrenaline, and friendship all churned together with intrigue but he's okay with all of it. He’s a big boy, he can deal. So he tries to joke.
"You're so serious," he says, moving close enough to Jensen to nip playfully at his nose.
Jensen's eyelids drop, relieved, and he grins tiredly. "Just making sure, it's been a crazy couple of days."
"Mmmm," he shuffles closer, leaning into Jensen. He'll never admit to this vertical cuddling, but it's nice.
"Jared..."
He feels Jensen's warm breath against his ear and pulls back just enough to meet somber green eyes. A hundred possibilities occur to him in the span of seconds. Jensen's going to thank me and say we're done. He's going to tell me to go back to Santa Cruz. It was only one night and -
"Jared, you stole a car."
Birds could fly into Jared's mouth, his jaw drops so quickly.
Holy shit, I stole a CAR.
Then he slams it shut and starts laughing uncontrollably. Jensen takes one look at his red face and loses it right along with him, releasing all the tension and nerves in a bout of gasping silliness.
When they've gotten themselves back under control, Jensen's voice is pitched low.
"You were amazing, Jared, I mean it."
The sentiment's punctuated by Jensen's fingers hooked in his belt. He doesn't know what Jensen likes, so Jared follows his own road, slipping his hands in Jensen's back pockets and fusing their bodies together. This kiss is altogether different from the previous two. Wrapped up in their lips is everything Jared wants tonight - touch, taste, and more of the feeling that he's an essential part of Jensen's world.
“But seriously,” Jensen pulls away, “no more stealing cars.”
“It wasn’t that hard, I mean-“
“Jared.” Gun calloused hands slide along his jaw, and he’s intent on learning their texture in the near future. “Promise me. No…?”
“No more stealing cars. Got it.”
“Good.” Jensen moves back in to lick at Jared’s lips, muttering. “Bad enough I have to deal with the one car…”
They’d left the sedan at the DeWinter mansion, Alec and Eliot swearing they’d take care of it.
"Going to arrest me, Jenny?" He adds Eliot’s sugary nickname like icing on his sultry tone.
Green eyes flash dangerously and again Jared feels that thrill of arousal. "I didn't bring my handcuffs."
"Guess we'll have to save that for later."
"Count on it."
It's déjà vu when Jensen comes out of the bathroom.
Jared's breathing is deep and even. He's already fast asleep, not reacting at all when the door closes and the bedside lamp is flicked off. Just like the first night, Jared's curled around a pillow, stripped down to boxers and leaving plenty of room for Jensen to lie down beside him.
This time, he doesn't resist. He slips in under the soft sheet, content just to stare at the long lines of Jared's back on display. He's free to touch, thrilled by the possibility of learning every inch of Jared intimately in the future.
It's almost ironic - Jensen's way out of his comfort zone with Jared but it feels good. Two days and he's considering a future? Strange, but he's learned more about Jared, about them together, in the last forty-eight hours than in the entirety of his few former relationships. He grins to himself thinking that all first dates should be comprised of car chases, gunfights, and strips clubs. Life and death situations certainly bring out a person’s true nature.
He’s looking forward to learning everything he can about Jared’s nature if he gets the opportunity. They didn’t talk about it tonight - both men deciding their time was better spent making out and stripping each other until Jared finally threw Jensen back on the bed and straddled him. After that, there was little thinking of any kind, Jared taking control to grind their naked bodies together until they both exploded.
It was completely different from their first coupling - that one fueled by fading adrenaline and stress. This time, Jared’s smile was bright and relaxed as he bit gently across Jensen’s stomach, stopping every few moments to steal another kiss, making up for Jensen’s denial the first night. Jensen found that he was grinning in turn. Jared’s enthusiasm was contagious and he let himself go, releasing the last shreds of frustration and stress to enjoy the younger man affecting presence.
When they came, Jensen was pinned beneath Jared once more, bare shafts slick and sliding against one another. Jared’s lips and hands hadn’t paused in their joined assault for even a moment and he felt the younger man come apart as Jensen rode the high of his own orgasm.
Now, stretched out behind Jared, Jensen feels the call of sleep, so different from the night before. He pulls the sheet over them both, shifting closer so his arm lies along the line of Jared’s back.
He’s so comfortable that he doesn’t even mind when fifteen minutes later, Jared flips in his sleep and wraps every spare limb around Jensen.
EPILOGUE
They're gathered at Saul's a couple days later, watching the news on the tiny television screen behind the bar.
"Citizens of Los Angeles breathed a sigh of relief today as their popular mayor, Alan King, was released from police custody and cleared of all wrongdoing..."
"'Bout time!" Eliot cheers, clinking his pint glass against Jensen's.
"...and in a related story, California politician Timothy Richelieu was arrested last night on charges of fraud, conspiracy, and attempted murder. Police have also issued warrants for the arrest of at least two other accomplices in the case."
"Don't suppose they could mention us, or nothin'." Alec grumbles, but Jensen knows he's just as happy with the news as they are.
“…Mayor King will be holding a press conference at five p.m. tonight. Channel Five’s Julie Delpy will be there providing full coverage, as well as an exclusive interview with the Mayor.”
Saul drops off another round of beers and the three men toast to a job well done. It's not a party yet, Jensen thinks. There's still someone missing...
As if he was just waiting for Jensen to start missing him, Jared walks into the bar, bright smile and dimples giving away the results of his meeting with Alan King. Jensen's up and hugging him before he can say a word, whispering quiet congratulations in his ear, feeling the thank you spoken silently against his temple.
When he lets go, Alec and Eliot are standing behind them, not bothering to hide their amusement. Eliot holds his hand out for Jared to shake, but the younger man swoops forward before his friend can react. Jared wraps Eliot in the most enthusiastic hug Jensen's ever witnessed; Eliot's feet leave the ground as Jared picks him up and swings him. Jensen can't stop laughing at how uncomfortable Eliot looks.
"Put me down, ya damn beast!"
Jared does, and Alec takes a step back to avoid the same fate. "I'm guessin' you got the job then?"
Reaching back to wrap an arm around Jensen's shoulders, Jared nods. "I'm starting next week as the assistant to his head of Public Relations. Now all I have to do is find an apartment!"
"You could move in with me." Jensen's brain absolutely misfires, sending the thought straight to his mouth.
"What?"
He can't reply, still trying to figure why he just blurted that out. Fortunately, Eliot runs with it.
"Do it, kid. He's serious."
Jared turns hazel eyes on him, looking a few breaths away from panicking. "Are you?"
He can't fault Jared, needing to hear it from him instead of going by Eliot's word.
"Yeah," he croaks, and clears his throat. "Yeah, I really am. I mean, my place is plenty big enou-"
Jensen's arms are filled with Jared before he can finish, the younger man kissing him senseless. Definitely senseless, since they're in a bar and Jensen's not even bating an eyelash. He's too wrapped up in twining his tongue along Jared's, feeling soft lips part for him and giving everything back in return. When they break apart, Jared's grin matches how Jensen's must look - unabashedly happy.
From the corner of his eye, Jensen sees Eliot smack Alec's shoulder. "Are you cryin'?"
"California air pollen, man."
"We're inside, Hardison."
Jared draws him back, whispering quietly so it stays between the two of them. "I don't want to ask you again if you're sure. I'm too afraid you'll change your mind."
Being able to make Jared smile whenever he feels like it? Mind-blowing sex whenever he wants, plus a best friend right under his roof? Hell yes, sign Jensen up.
"I won't."
"Hey Saul! Grab our boy Jared a beer and put it on my tab."
The bottle Saul hands over means their three just became four, better now than they were before.
Jensen presses close to Jared at the bar, the younger man fitting between him and Alec like he was always meant to be there.
"So Jay man, tell me more about that punk who chased you down here?"
"Oh, Chad?" Jared takes a swallow of his beer, sly look crossing his face. "Nothin' much to tell. He still thinks I took advantage of his sister."
Eliot's the first to offer. "Want me to rip his arms out?"
"How 'bout I send him like a thousand porn magazines?"
Jared smiles wide and genuine, leaning back against Jensen's side.
"No offense Eliot, but definitely the porn. Can you make it gay porn?”
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks, Alec."
"My pleasure, bro. My pleasure."
FIN
Additional notes: D'Artangan was a STUPID LITTLE BITCH for not going back for Athos. That's ALL I have to say about that. I feel I've rectified that as best I can, so there. To be honest, I feel a little bad that this story followed the plot of the movie so closely - but it’s a movie I enjoy SO much.
Many thanks to my f-list who encouraged me not to trash this story. It was originally set in the same time period as the movie, and super-serious, but that was NO fun. Then I was going to drop it all together, but alas! Eliot and Alec came to mind and this was born.
One of the biggest gripes I got with this was that I ought to make a version with either Chris & Steve or Tom & Mike for those who didn't know what Leverage was all about. The only problem? THEY'RE NOT FUNNY [and I know jack-shit about them]. Eliot & Alec = HILARITY.
Special thanks to matalinolukaret who Leverage-proofed the story =)
Thanks to the ladies who started the j2_everafter challenge. It was a blast! Feedback is welcomed!
All my other fics are H E R E.