Schmoop Bingo - Blackout
Title: Your Protector
Author: Redsirenfiction
Fandom: CWRPS (J2)
Schmoop: Blackout
Prompt: Kiss - First time.
Medium: Fic
Rating: R for a nude scene.
Warnings: Will rot your teeth.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. This is all a mirage.
Summary: Where there's an end, there is always a beginning. |SOUNDTRACK|
Word Count: 3366
It's crazy how sometimes, a single person can change your whole world. With one look, one smile, one touch, everything you know is flipped head over heels and you don't know which way is up anymore.
They slip into your life, a friend, a pal, a familiar face. They become your friend, your confidant, your ally. You find them moving slowly to the top of your speed dial as they're the first person you call when times are good. They are the ones you call when weeping the loss of something or someone. You call them first when you're bored because you know damn well they're sitting on their own couch feeling exactly the same way.
Most times, a relationship plateaus in this beautiful little valley where everything is just too perfect, too beautiful, too comfortable; what lies beyond it is fearful, untrodden territory filled with dark crevices and uncertain, winding roads. One misstep and you may very well find yourself at the bottom of the mountain, broken and bleeding, decaying like the ancient rocks from the inside out. Death may not even be there to carry you quickly over the river; She is a cruel mistress and fickle. She finds humor in your suffering. No, Death will leave you there to wither in your own carcass, leaving your only with the memories of the valley and how you should have never ventured away from it.
Occasionally however, there is no darkness, no beast lurking in the shadows, ready to tear meat from bones and pry shrill screams from throats. Occasionally, there is merely filtered sunlight, divots in the pebbled way, and the far-off sight of the next village where singing can be heard. The wheel might fall off the wagon, but you are never off the path for more than a few moments. Nevertheless, you are careful, treading without confidence and with great care that you should not take the wrong fork in the road.
Should you find yourself on the shaded path with little bumps and foliage skimming your arms, count yourself lucky. Very few reach the right road, and even fewer make it across to the other valley, one more pristine, more vibrant, more full of life than the first.
Jared and Jensen are on of the lucky ones. This is their story, one as worthy of re-telling as any of the great myths.
---------
“You guys are gonna love it. Best bar in town. Laid back, good food, the game'll be on every screen.” Marty Lovato is an idiot; A loveable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. He's Italian bred, and Vancouver born and thinks he's king of the streets, when really, his lot in life is bringing Jared and Jensen coffee every morning. He's a PA at best, when he's actually paying attention, and most mornings, as Jensen's returning his coffee because Marty got the order wrong again, he wonders how the kid hasn't managed to get fired yet.
Regardless, it's their day off tomorrow and he's got no plans. Cheap beer, good food and maybe even a number or two come the end of the night won't hurt and so he nods and waves off the man, setting Jared's coffee on the long table in front of their mirrors. He only hopes whatever's going on with the Sasquatch and his girlfriend doesn't last much longer; His coffee's going to get cold and Jared hates cold coffee.
The bang of the trailer door hitting the wall and the subsequent smaller bangs of cork boards and Styrofoam mannequin heads falling from the aftershocks cues Jared's entrance. Jensen manages to hold onto his coffee and his heart without spilling anything. Any thought of going out gets thrown out the window, as Jensen prepares himself for what will inevitably turn out to be a night at home with a movie; Going out without Jared just plain sucks as the guy is single-handedly the life of every party.
One look at his six-four friend and co-star and Jensen knows that without a doubt, things aren't looking so hot for the cutest couple he's seen since Ben and Jen 2.0 went public. Jared practically has steam coming out of his ears and his hands are shaking. Jensen weighs his options.
“You wanna---”
“Nope.”
“Okay.” And it's settled; Jared will be likely to punch him in the throat if he pushes and Jensen needs it for saying his lines so he feigns ignorance and pretends Jared isn't there.
The only problem is that he hasn't really been able to do that since the morning he woke with soaked boxers and a heaving chest, images of Jared writhing nude beneath him still swarming his mind. Jensen's been bi since high school and Jared is without a doubt the biggest crush he's had since he first realized his dick went just as hard (if not harder) for guys as it did for girls. Sure, if he were to be truthful with himself, he'd drop the protection blanket and just come out as full on gay, but he has to think of his family's reaction and right now, thousands of miles away, it just doesn't seem worth the hassle.
Two days later and its the same story. Jared steamrolling the door and not saying a fucking word to anyone, even his closest friend. Jensen's got a protective streak a mile long and he's seen what he thinks is the cause of all the unrest in the house of Padalecki. The guy's not bad looking and all that he's been privy too thus far is harmless, bored chatter between two people on a set and behind the cameras. He can tell the relationship is going south and he can only hope that the reason for its decline isn't the Don Juan who's been sneaking in next to Sandy at every available opportunity.
A week and a half into her first visit to Vancouver, Jensen is just about going out of his mind with all the tension he's been the unwilling third wheel to. Their fights have become more numerous and much louder than those first few days. They're sitting apart on set, and even the PA's are noticing just how hostile things are between them. He needs to have a talk with Jared and he needs to do it now, while they've got a two hour break for lunch and resetting the cameras.
Jensen only ever knocks on the trailer door when the 'Do Not Disturb' sign is hanging from the little window in the door of the double-wide. It's all sorts of Pavlovian, but he doesn't care because he respects his friend and his right to get laid in the few short hours and days he gets to spend with his girlfriend. The sign's not up, so he swoops in, calling out to Jared as his eyes scan the main space quickly.
He nearly falls down the steps of the trailer backwards when he gets an eyeful of Sandy, nude and bouncing hard on Don Juan's dick, his meaty hands making short work of her tiny frame. It's like a scene out of one of those extreme pornos where the girl is nothing but a Fleshlight to the guy and is screwed until she's unconscious or brain-damaged, one of the two.
Jensen feels bile rise in his throat and he bangs his hand loudly against the side of the trailer, hoping that the pair will realize he's there and cover the fuck up. But...they don't stop. Don Juan just looks at him with a hazy smile that reeks of pot from where Jensen's standing and jerks his head towards where they're sitting.
“Wanna join in bro? This pussy is so fuckin' tight!”
Jensen's knuckles itch, not because he's grossed out, or put off, but because that is his best friend's girlfriend the douchebag is talking about, and she doesn't even seem to care; Sandy's way too caught up in her ride to even notice the two men are talking. Knowing full well that punching a guy, even to uphold the honor of your best friend will land a guy in prison, Jensen steps back and closes the door, willing himself not to remember the images already seared into his brain.
The second he turns around, he's face to face with Jared, who-for once-is smiling up at him. This is not going to end well at all.
“Hey dude, what's up? Phil told me you wanted to talk?” He asks, moving up the steps to open the door, which Jensen immediately steps in front of.
He knows there's resignation and sadness in his eyes, but also a warning as he looks up at Jared, hoping that his friend will listen to him, just this once.
“You don't want to go in there, man.” He says gravely, one hand reaching for Jared's shoulder in a touch he hopes will calm the seas a little before the storm.
Jared merely laughs at him and goes inside. Jensen takes the rest of the steps down and waits by the railing for the shouting he knows will start in a few short seconds.
“WHAT THE FUCK!?! SANDY!?!” Jensen cringes, his heart hurting for Jared, knowing full well what's going through his mind at the moment, as it went through his not minutes before.
Two seconds go by and Sandy comes running out, still naked, her clothes clutched in front of her in a veritable walk of shame that has nothing to do with alcohol and too many dirty jokes with the girls. It's a full minute later before Don Juan follows suit, his face bloody and filled with confusion; Leave it to a stoner not to understand why fucking another guy's girl is not a good idea; Especially when that guy towers over just about everyone in his path.
Taking a deep breath, he pulls out his phone and tell Eric that he and Jared are calling it a day due to a personal situation that just came up.
“Is she currently running through the lot with her ass hanging out? If so, go make sure Jared's okay. We were pretty much done for the day anyway.” Jensen thanks him for his understanding and flips the phone closed, feet finding the steps before he's even aware of it.
“Jay?” He calls tentatively, looking around for some sign of his friend. The running water in the makeshift kitchen marks the way.
Jensen finds Jared running his busted knuckles under the cold spray, his face so tight with anger its nearly impossible to make out his eyes. He's mumbling under his breath and Jensen catches the words 'stupid' 'fucking' and 'bitch' in quick succession and he really can't blame the guy. He does, however, jump when Jared's booted foot connects with the bottom of the cabinet followed quickly by his fist smashing into the cupboard above his head. Jensen steps in before the human version of Godzilla can ruin anymore wooden panelling and pulls Jared away from the sink.
He fights with the best of them, but after months of fight training, Jensen knows Jared's every move and soon enough has him in a lock that even his tall frame can't get out of.
“Breathe.” He's certainly not about to tell Jared to calm the fuck down which is what he really wants to say, because it's like reverse psychology at this point; Tell him to calm down and he'll have a rabid pitbull on his hands.
Jared surprisingly does as he's told and Jensen feels his body go slack in his grip. Hauling him up as their little tiff had Jared halfway to the floor, Jensen makes quick work of grabbing Jared's things and leading him towards the car. They don't speak a word to one another the whole way back to the house Jared is renting.
Once inside, Jensen orders Jared to go take a shower, because not only will it help relax him, but will get rid of the fake blood he'd been covered in from the scene before lunch; that shit gets everywhere and the quicker Jared gets it off, the better.
While his friend's showering, Jensen orders pizza and ice cream from the local shop and then pops in Jared's favorite movie. Sure, it seems like the beginning of a girl's sleepover, but Jensen knows that the movie will barely be seen and the food won't be eaten until it's nearly cold. Beer and lots of it will be the first order of business. Jensen stocked Jared's fridge with it yesterday, so he knows they're good for the night.
Just as he's pulling out two cold ones, Jared's feet come padding down the hallway and with one look, Jensen rushes to his friend's side. His face is pale and he's holding out a ring box.
“Got any use for an engagement ring, buddy?” He asks, voice tight as he stuffs the blue box into Jensen's hand. It's open and inside is a beautiful ring, understated and elegant just as he'd always assumed Sandy to be.
Jensen closes the box and sets it on the counter, doing the only thing he knows to do that'll allow Jared to break through the wall of stiff-upper-lip he's built up for himself. Without a word, Jensen pulls him into a tight hug, not allowing Jared to pull away but instead soundlessly passing on whatever strength he has to give to his friend.
It only takes a few moments for the shaking of his shoulders to start and a second later, Jared's head is dropping to Jensen's shoulder as he cries softly. Shattered would be a good description of Jensen's heart as he lets his best friend get it all out.
“Was g-gonna ask her to-tomorrow.” He whimpers, the pain and hurt clear in every last syllable. Jensen can only nod, knowing no word adequate for Jared's current situation.
Without thinking, he presses a soft kiss to Jared's temple, his hands running laps up and down the broad back that's so hunched over that it seems to shorten his friend.
Jared doesn't jerk away, but merely wraps his arms around Jensen's waist, crying just a touch harder than before and mumbling incoherently about how she was supposed to be the one.
“What did I do wrong?” He finally manages a complete sentence and the question makes Jensen's blood boil.
“You? You didn't do a damn thing wrong! Don't you even, for a second, let that bitch make you believe that her cheating on you was your fault. That you weren't there enough, or that you didn't pay enough attention to her. Fuck that. She showed her true colors today and son, they're not pretty. Whatever minds games she was playing with you? It ends now. You are an amazing human being with a heart bigger than this whole damn country. You're funny, smart, and a joy to be around. When you walk into a room, people immediately start smiling; Bet you never noticed that one, huh? Your friends love you for your loyalty, your family adores you for your kindness and perfect strangers think you're cool because you were raised with manners and the biggest smile this side of the Atlantic.
“You did nothing wrong, you hear me? Nothing. Sandy can go to hell if she thinks for a second that she can pin this on you. I've never hit a woman in my life, but so help me god if she so much as tries to call you, I will knock that bitch back to where she came from.”
Jensen can feel the anger in his blood, seeping through every pore and it isn't until Jared speaks that he realizes he must look like a love-sick idiot trying to win over the captain of the football team.
“That almost...sounds like...you're giving your girlfriend a pep talk.” Jared manages a soft, wet laugh as he speaks, his big hands wiping his eyes briskly.
Jensen feels his heart pool at his feet, Jared's answer telling him everything he needs to know. Managing a soft, sad smile, Jensen shrugs.
“Just trying to get my friend to realize this wasn't his doing. Wasn't his choice.” His words come out more strained than he wants them to and Jensen turns quickly to head for the bathroom before Jared can see anything deeper than a brotherly love in Jensen's eyes.
He's too quick for Jensen though and the look of shock and realization that cross his face would be priceless if not for the serious nature of their night.
“Jen, come back here a second.” He ventures, hoping he doesn't have to run after Jensen; He's sore from fighting with D-bag Juan and running isn't high on his priority list.
“What? Food'll be here in ten. Gotta take a leak before I go try and find my card.” Jensen tries to change the subject, cover up his feelings, but its no use. Just like he can see through Jared, Jared can see right through him as well.
“You're...” Jensen looks down at his hands, feeling the emotion well in his chest; He hates feeling this way, but it's Jared. It's his best friend and he's about to ruin it all with a simple answer. He nods his head, surprised at the strength of the sadness he feels. Jensen closes his eyes, ready for the blowup, or the freak-out; Waits for the impromptu eviction notice from Jared's place.
“How long?” He asks, Jared's face looking as torn as Jensen feels.
“From day one.”
“Oh, Jen...”
“Look. This isn't my pity party, it's yours. I-” The doorbell ringing cuts him off and Jensen makes a quick getaway, discreetly rubbing his eyes as he goes.
When he comes back into the kitchen, he finds that Jared hasn't moved an inch and is staring somewhat dumfounded at the wall in front of him.
“I'll...I'll get going.” Jensen stammers, knowing discomfort when he sees it. He sets the pizza down on the counter and grabs his keys, more than ready to go home and curl up and die.
The hand one his wrist stills and surprises him and Jensen looks up in confusion at Jared.
“I..I mean that much to you?” He whispered, fresh tears shimmering in his eyes as he searched Jensen's for honesty.
Jensen can only nod again, words escaping him as he stares at the tiled floor.
“Jen...say something. Please.”
“I like you, all right? I like you a lot. I've had a crush on you from day one and pretty much think you're the greatest thing since slice bread. It was stupid of me to tell you though, because it's clearly not only bad timing, but a waste of my time since you obviously don't feel the same. So I'm gonna go home and I will call you to-”
His words are cut off by Jared pulling him in close and pressing his lips to his in the most tender, idyllic kiss Jensen has ever felt. His brain shuts off, his body goes slack and he's pretty sure he gave a Disney princess a run for her money with the sigh that was swallowed by Jared's mouth. It is, in a word, perfect.
When they finally pull away, Jensen is still worried. Worried that Jared's just doing it as payback for Sandy, that he's still going to freak out, that he's just wanting Jensen to hurt as bad as he is.
“Why didn't you say something sooner?” Jared asks, a sweet smile grazing his features for the first time all night as he kept a gentle hold on Jensen's hip.
“Because you were taken and unlike D-bag McGee back at the trailer, I don't roll like that, so...”
Jared just shakes his head, laughs that sweet laugh of his and pulls Jensen in for another kiss. It's the beginning of the new fork in the road, one that Jensen will gladly follow if it means Jared will be there with him.
Author: Redsirenfiction
Fandom: CWRPS (J2)
Schmoop: Blackout
Prompt: Kiss - First time.
Medium: Fic
Rating: R for a nude scene.
Warnings: Will rot your teeth.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. This is all a mirage.
Summary: Where there's an end, there is always a beginning. |SOUNDTRACK|
Word Count: 3366
It's crazy how sometimes, a single person can change your whole world. With one look, one smile, one touch, everything you know is flipped head over heels and you don't know which way is up anymore.
They slip into your life, a friend, a pal, a familiar face. They become your friend, your confidant, your ally. You find them moving slowly to the top of your speed dial as they're the first person you call when times are good. They are the ones you call when weeping the loss of something or someone. You call them first when you're bored because you know damn well they're sitting on their own couch feeling exactly the same way.
Most times, a relationship plateaus in this beautiful little valley where everything is just too perfect, too beautiful, too comfortable; what lies beyond it is fearful, untrodden territory filled with dark crevices and uncertain, winding roads. One misstep and you may very well find yourself at the bottom of the mountain, broken and bleeding, decaying like the ancient rocks from the inside out. Death may not even be there to carry you quickly over the river; She is a cruel mistress and fickle. She finds humor in your suffering. No, Death will leave you there to wither in your own carcass, leaving your only with the memories of the valley and how you should have never ventured away from it.
Occasionally however, there is no darkness, no beast lurking in the shadows, ready to tear meat from bones and pry shrill screams from throats. Occasionally, there is merely filtered sunlight, divots in the pebbled way, and the far-off sight of the next village where singing can be heard. The wheel might fall off the wagon, but you are never off the path for more than a few moments. Nevertheless, you are careful, treading without confidence and with great care that you should not take the wrong fork in the road.
Should you find yourself on the shaded path with little bumps and foliage skimming your arms, count yourself lucky. Very few reach the right road, and even fewer make it across to the other valley, one more pristine, more vibrant, more full of life than the first.
Jared and Jensen are on of the lucky ones. This is their story, one as worthy of re-telling as any of the great myths.
---------
“You guys are gonna love it. Best bar in town. Laid back, good food, the game'll be on every screen.” Marty Lovato is an idiot; A loveable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. He's Italian bred, and Vancouver born and thinks he's king of the streets, when really, his lot in life is bringing Jared and Jensen coffee every morning. He's a PA at best, when he's actually paying attention, and most mornings, as Jensen's returning his coffee because Marty got the order wrong again, he wonders how the kid hasn't managed to get fired yet.
Regardless, it's their day off tomorrow and he's got no plans. Cheap beer, good food and maybe even a number or two come the end of the night won't hurt and so he nods and waves off the man, setting Jared's coffee on the long table in front of their mirrors. He only hopes whatever's going on with the Sasquatch and his girlfriend doesn't last much longer; His coffee's going to get cold and Jared hates cold coffee.
The bang of the trailer door hitting the wall and the subsequent smaller bangs of cork boards and Styrofoam mannequin heads falling from the aftershocks cues Jared's entrance. Jensen manages to hold onto his coffee and his heart without spilling anything. Any thought of going out gets thrown out the window, as Jensen prepares himself for what will inevitably turn out to be a night at home with a movie; Going out without Jared just plain sucks as the guy is single-handedly the life of every party.
One look at his six-four friend and co-star and Jensen knows that without a doubt, things aren't looking so hot for the cutest couple he's seen since Ben and Jen 2.0 went public. Jared practically has steam coming out of his ears and his hands are shaking. Jensen weighs his options.
“You wanna---”
“Nope.”
“Okay.” And it's settled; Jared will be likely to punch him in the throat if he pushes and Jensen needs it for saying his lines so he feigns ignorance and pretends Jared isn't there.
The only problem is that he hasn't really been able to do that since the morning he woke with soaked boxers and a heaving chest, images of Jared writhing nude beneath him still swarming his mind. Jensen's been bi since high school and Jared is without a doubt the biggest crush he's had since he first realized his dick went just as hard (if not harder) for guys as it did for girls. Sure, if he were to be truthful with himself, he'd drop the protection blanket and just come out as full on gay, but he has to think of his family's reaction and right now, thousands of miles away, it just doesn't seem worth the hassle.
Two days later and its the same story. Jared steamrolling the door and not saying a fucking word to anyone, even his closest friend. Jensen's got a protective streak a mile long and he's seen what he thinks is the cause of all the unrest in the house of Padalecki. The guy's not bad looking and all that he's been privy too thus far is harmless, bored chatter between two people on a set and behind the cameras. He can tell the relationship is going south and he can only hope that the reason for its decline isn't the Don Juan who's been sneaking in next to Sandy at every available opportunity.
A week and a half into her first visit to Vancouver, Jensen is just about going out of his mind with all the tension he's been the unwilling third wheel to. Their fights have become more numerous and much louder than those first few days. They're sitting apart on set, and even the PA's are noticing just how hostile things are between them. He needs to have a talk with Jared and he needs to do it now, while they've got a two hour break for lunch and resetting the cameras.
Jensen only ever knocks on the trailer door when the 'Do Not Disturb' sign is hanging from the little window in the door of the double-wide. It's all sorts of Pavlovian, but he doesn't care because he respects his friend and his right to get laid in the few short hours and days he gets to spend with his girlfriend. The sign's not up, so he swoops in, calling out to Jared as his eyes scan the main space quickly.
He nearly falls down the steps of the trailer backwards when he gets an eyeful of Sandy, nude and bouncing hard on Don Juan's dick, his meaty hands making short work of her tiny frame. It's like a scene out of one of those extreme pornos where the girl is nothing but a Fleshlight to the guy and is screwed until she's unconscious or brain-damaged, one of the two.
Jensen feels bile rise in his throat and he bangs his hand loudly against the side of the trailer, hoping that the pair will realize he's there and cover the fuck up. But...they don't stop. Don Juan just looks at him with a hazy smile that reeks of pot from where Jensen's standing and jerks his head towards where they're sitting.
“Wanna join in bro? This pussy is so fuckin' tight!”
Jensen's knuckles itch, not because he's grossed out, or put off, but because that is his best friend's girlfriend the douchebag is talking about, and she doesn't even seem to care; Sandy's way too caught up in her ride to even notice the two men are talking. Knowing full well that punching a guy, even to uphold the honor of your best friend will land a guy in prison, Jensen steps back and closes the door, willing himself not to remember the images already seared into his brain.
The second he turns around, he's face to face with Jared, who-for once-is smiling up at him. This is not going to end well at all.
“Hey dude, what's up? Phil told me you wanted to talk?” He asks, moving up the steps to open the door, which Jensen immediately steps in front of.
He knows there's resignation and sadness in his eyes, but also a warning as he looks up at Jared, hoping that his friend will listen to him, just this once.
“You don't want to go in there, man.” He says gravely, one hand reaching for Jared's shoulder in a touch he hopes will calm the seas a little before the storm.
Jared merely laughs at him and goes inside. Jensen takes the rest of the steps down and waits by the railing for the shouting he knows will start in a few short seconds.
“WHAT THE FUCK!?! SANDY!?!” Jensen cringes, his heart hurting for Jared, knowing full well what's going through his mind at the moment, as it went through his not minutes before.
Two seconds go by and Sandy comes running out, still naked, her clothes clutched in front of her in a veritable walk of shame that has nothing to do with alcohol and too many dirty jokes with the girls. It's a full minute later before Don Juan follows suit, his face bloody and filled with confusion; Leave it to a stoner not to understand why fucking another guy's girl is not a good idea; Especially when that guy towers over just about everyone in his path.
Taking a deep breath, he pulls out his phone and tell Eric that he and Jared are calling it a day due to a personal situation that just came up.
“Is she currently running through the lot with her ass hanging out? If so, go make sure Jared's okay. We were pretty much done for the day anyway.” Jensen thanks him for his understanding and flips the phone closed, feet finding the steps before he's even aware of it.
“Jay?” He calls tentatively, looking around for some sign of his friend. The running water in the makeshift kitchen marks the way.
Jensen finds Jared running his busted knuckles under the cold spray, his face so tight with anger its nearly impossible to make out his eyes. He's mumbling under his breath and Jensen catches the words 'stupid' 'fucking' and 'bitch' in quick succession and he really can't blame the guy. He does, however, jump when Jared's booted foot connects with the bottom of the cabinet followed quickly by his fist smashing into the cupboard above his head. Jensen steps in before the human version of Godzilla can ruin anymore wooden panelling and pulls Jared away from the sink.
He fights with the best of them, but after months of fight training, Jensen knows Jared's every move and soon enough has him in a lock that even his tall frame can't get out of.
“Breathe.” He's certainly not about to tell Jared to calm the fuck down which is what he really wants to say, because it's like reverse psychology at this point; Tell him to calm down and he'll have a rabid pitbull on his hands.
Jared surprisingly does as he's told and Jensen feels his body go slack in his grip. Hauling him up as their little tiff had Jared halfway to the floor, Jensen makes quick work of grabbing Jared's things and leading him towards the car. They don't speak a word to one another the whole way back to the house Jared is renting.
Once inside, Jensen orders Jared to go take a shower, because not only will it help relax him, but will get rid of the fake blood he'd been covered in from the scene before lunch; that shit gets everywhere and the quicker Jared gets it off, the better.
While his friend's showering, Jensen orders pizza and ice cream from the local shop and then pops in Jared's favorite movie. Sure, it seems like the beginning of a girl's sleepover, but Jensen knows that the movie will barely be seen and the food won't be eaten until it's nearly cold. Beer and lots of it will be the first order of business. Jensen stocked Jared's fridge with it yesterday, so he knows they're good for the night.
Just as he's pulling out two cold ones, Jared's feet come padding down the hallway and with one look, Jensen rushes to his friend's side. His face is pale and he's holding out a ring box.
“Got any use for an engagement ring, buddy?” He asks, voice tight as he stuffs the blue box into Jensen's hand. It's open and inside is a beautiful ring, understated and elegant just as he'd always assumed Sandy to be.
Jensen closes the box and sets it on the counter, doing the only thing he knows to do that'll allow Jared to break through the wall of stiff-upper-lip he's built up for himself. Without a word, Jensen pulls him into a tight hug, not allowing Jared to pull away but instead soundlessly passing on whatever strength he has to give to his friend.
It only takes a few moments for the shaking of his shoulders to start and a second later, Jared's head is dropping to Jensen's shoulder as he cries softly. Shattered would be a good description of Jensen's heart as he lets his best friend get it all out.
“Was g-gonna ask her to-tomorrow.” He whimpers, the pain and hurt clear in every last syllable. Jensen can only nod, knowing no word adequate for Jared's current situation.
Without thinking, he presses a soft kiss to Jared's temple, his hands running laps up and down the broad back that's so hunched over that it seems to shorten his friend.
Jared doesn't jerk away, but merely wraps his arms around Jensen's waist, crying just a touch harder than before and mumbling incoherently about how she was supposed to be the one.
“What did I do wrong?” He finally manages a complete sentence and the question makes Jensen's blood boil.
“You? You didn't do a damn thing wrong! Don't you even, for a second, let that bitch make you believe that her cheating on you was your fault. That you weren't there enough, or that you didn't pay enough attention to her. Fuck that. She showed her true colors today and son, they're not pretty. Whatever minds games she was playing with you? It ends now. You are an amazing human being with a heart bigger than this whole damn country. You're funny, smart, and a joy to be around. When you walk into a room, people immediately start smiling; Bet you never noticed that one, huh? Your friends love you for your loyalty, your family adores you for your kindness and perfect strangers think you're cool because you were raised with manners and the biggest smile this side of the Atlantic.
“You did nothing wrong, you hear me? Nothing. Sandy can go to hell if she thinks for a second that she can pin this on you. I've never hit a woman in my life, but so help me god if she so much as tries to call you, I will knock that bitch back to where she came from.”
Jensen can feel the anger in his blood, seeping through every pore and it isn't until Jared speaks that he realizes he must look like a love-sick idiot trying to win over the captain of the football team.
“That almost...sounds like...you're giving your girlfriend a pep talk.” Jared manages a soft, wet laugh as he speaks, his big hands wiping his eyes briskly.
Jensen feels his heart pool at his feet, Jared's answer telling him everything he needs to know. Managing a soft, sad smile, Jensen shrugs.
“Just trying to get my friend to realize this wasn't his doing. Wasn't his choice.” His words come out more strained than he wants them to and Jensen turns quickly to head for the bathroom before Jared can see anything deeper than a brotherly love in Jensen's eyes.
He's too quick for Jensen though and the look of shock and realization that cross his face would be priceless if not for the serious nature of their night.
“Jen, come back here a second.” He ventures, hoping he doesn't have to run after Jensen; He's sore from fighting with D-bag Juan and running isn't high on his priority list.
“What? Food'll be here in ten. Gotta take a leak before I go try and find my card.” Jensen tries to change the subject, cover up his feelings, but its no use. Just like he can see through Jared, Jared can see right through him as well.
“You're...” Jensen looks down at his hands, feeling the emotion well in his chest; He hates feeling this way, but it's Jared. It's his best friend and he's about to ruin it all with a simple answer. He nods his head, surprised at the strength of the sadness he feels. Jensen closes his eyes, ready for the blowup, or the freak-out; Waits for the impromptu eviction notice from Jared's place.
“How long?” He asks, Jared's face looking as torn as Jensen feels.
“From day one.”
“Oh, Jen...”
“Look. This isn't my pity party, it's yours. I-” The doorbell ringing cuts him off and Jensen makes a quick getaway, discreetly rubbing his eyes as he goes.
When he comes back into the kitchen, he finds that Jared hasn't moved an inch and is staring somewhat dumfounded at the wall in front of him.
“I'll...I'll get going.” Jensen stammers, knowing discomfort when he sees it. He sets the pizza down on the counter and grabs his keys, more than ready to go home and curl up and die.
The hand one his wrist stills and surprises him and Jensen looks up in confusion at Jared.
“I..I mean that much to you?” He whispered, fresh tears shimmering in his eyes as he searched Jensen's for honesty.
Jensen can only nod again, words escaping him as he stares at the tiled floor.
“Jen...say something. Please.”
“I like you, all right? I like you a lot. I've had a crush on you from day one and pretty much think you're the greatest thing since slice bread. It was stupid of me to tell you though, because it's clearly not only bad timing, but a waste of my time since you obviously don't feel the same. So I'm gonna go home and I will call you to-”
His words are cut off by Jared pulling him in close and pressing his lips to his in the most tender, idyllic kiss Jensen has ever felt. His brain shuts off, his body goes slack and he's pretty sure he gave a Disney princess a run for her money with the sigh that was swallowed by Jared's mouth. It is, in a word, perfect.
When they finally pull away, Jensen is still worried. Worried that Jared's just doing it as payback for Sandy, that he's still going to freak out, that he's just wanting Jensen to hurt as bad as he is.
“Why didn't you say something sooner?” Jared asks, a sweet smile grazing his features for the first time all night as he kept a gentle hold on Jensen's hip.
“Because you were taken and unlike D-bag McGee back at the trailer, I don't roll like that, so...”
Jared just shakes his head, laughs that sweet laugh of his and pulls Jensen in for another kiss. It's the beginning of the new fork in the road, one that Jensen will gladly follow if it means Jared will be there with him.