Chapter 2: The Hands and Heart
Chapter 2: The Hands and Heart
Author: cleflink
Rating: pg
Pairing: Heavily implied Jared/Jensen, still potentially future everybody/everybody (except Chad, probably)
Word Count: 1950
Summary: In which Jeff gets to know his new subjects and there is talk of fiery vengeance.
"Okay," Jeff says as he sinks onto his throne, addressing his newfound subjects. "We've been sent here to save you, but first, I want you to tell me a story."
"Anything," Dimples says immediately, in what is definitely a bedroom voice. He frowns a little when Felicia half-kills herself trying not to laugh. "Did I say something humourous, your Majesty?"
"Don't worry about it," Jeff says, giving up looking regal in favour of throwing a glare at Felicia. "She has a condition."
"Hey!" Felicia protests.
"Would you like Jensen to examine her?" Dimples asks then, gesturing at his ridiculously attractive companion. "He is well-versed in the healing arts."
Jensen bows his head. "It would be my honour," he says, in that same rough, low tone that makes certain parts of Jeff's anatomy very happy indeed.
Felicia, Jeff can't help but notice, looks a little too interested in this offer.
"Er, maybe later. First, I was wondering if you could tell me where your shrine came from." Jeff waves a hand in the general direction of the airship moldering in the square. "It's a very, uh, unique design."
"It descended from the sky at a time of great strife for our people," Dimples says proudly. "Our homes were being ravaged by invading hordes from the north-"
"-who intended to enslave us all," Jensen picks up, so smoothly that it almost sounds rehearsed. "The shrine arrived in the midst of their final charge-"
"-and destroyed them all!" Dimples finishes gleefully. "Our forefathers brought the shrine to its current location and there it has stayed for countless generations-"
"How many generations?" Alaina mutters, under her breath. "It's not even a century old."
"Hush," Jeff murmurs back. Louder, he says, "So it's an important relic."
Both men nod enthusiastically.
"The most important," Jensen says. "It protects our village, and stands-"
"-as a symbol of hope and fiery vengeance!"
Jeff and his crew exchange a glance.
"Uh…" Jeff says, not really sure where to go with that.
"Personally, I approve of fiery vengeance," Felicia offers.
Jensen and Dimples bow deeply. "We are gratified by your appreciation," they say together.
A glance around the room at the approving smiles on the villagers' faces suggests that their Tweedledee and Tweedledum routine is apparently a) normal and b) something to be pleased about.
He clears his throat delicately. "That's a fascinating story, thank you. Clearly you are, uh, well-versed in the history of your people. Can I ask who are you?"
"I'm Jared," Dimples says, with a beaming smile. "And this is Jens-ow!"
"He means our vocation," Jensen says, with a dryness that is rather unexpected after all the fawning. "Idiot."
"Shut up," Jared hisses back, rubbing at his side where Jensen jabbed him. "You're the idiot."
Jensen raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
Jared makes a face at him, freezes visibly when he remembers that they have an audience, then turns pink. "My apologies, your Majesty."
"That's fine," Jeff says, mentally revising his estimation of their ages down a few years. "But I would like it if you could tell us a little bit about what you do here."
Jared straightens and squares his shoulders, which, wow. Jeff wonders if he's that big all over. "We are the hands-"
"-and the heart of the community." Jensen inclines his head. "We have been raised together since childhood to fill these roles."
"I see," Jeff says, which is the interstellar code phrase for 'the fuck does that mean?'.
The Wonder Twins don't appear to understand.
"It is our duty to care for the shrine-"
"-and for all of your needs, of course, your Majesty."
"Do you always finish each other's sentences?" Felicia asks, before Jeff can quite get his mind around that one.
"Of course," they say, as one.
"Why?"
"A man's hands and heart cannot function separately. So, too, is it with us. We do everything together," Jared says. At his side, Jensen nods, looking fond.
"Well," Alaina says in an undertone. "That's an inspiring mental image."
Struck suddenly by a daydream involving Jared's big, big hands wrapped around Jensen's cock while Jensen uses that mouth to suck hickeys into his neck, Jeff has to agree.
"If I might ask another question," Alaina says then, and Jeff gives her a regal gesture to proceed.
It's totally worth the heel she digs into his foot in retaliation.
"My lady?" Jensen and Jared say in concert.
"When your shrine appeared, were there no… emissaries from the heavens inside it?"
Jensen laughs. "Of course there were! It couldn't have arrived unguided!"
"They didn't last long though," Jared finishes.
There is a momentary silence as they all digest that.
"That's creepy as fuck," Chad says finally.
"I hate to agree with Chad," Felicia says. "But I totally agree with Chad."
"Really?" Chad asks. "Sweet."
Alaina glances at Jeff with an expectantly raised eyebrow. He attempts to use the eloquent downturn of his mouth to convey the fact that he doesn't really want to know, actually, and there is no way in hell she is going to convince him to ask.
At that moment, there is a bustle of activity near the door, and Jeff glances up to see Misha appear out of the crowd. He'd been so distracted by the flowers and the wine and the erotically codependent shrine boys that he hadn't even noticed the man leaving in the first place.
Misha stops in front of Jeff's new throne and bows nearly low enough to hit his nose on the floor. Jeff can admit to being impressed with his flexibility.
"We have prepared dwellings for you, my liege," Misha says, mostly to his kneecaps. "Please allow Jared and Jensen to escort you there."
"Okay," Jeff says because, really, what else is he supposed to say?
Misha straightens and says a few quiet words to Jared and Jensen, who nod in understanding.
"This way," the pair say, and lead the way through the silent throng of villagers. Jeff catches the redhead from earlier throwing Alaina a saucy wink as they pass. He allows himself a moment to appreciate that.
Jared and Jensen lead them to one of the small buildings that ring the square and gesture grandly for them to enter.
It is, Jeff decides once they've all squeezed into the one-room interior, almost exactly the same size as the apartment he lived in during his ill-advised university days. Which is already an unflattering comparison even before he factors in the fact that all four of them are apparently meant to stay here.
Jensen and Jared are crushed up against his side, looking expectant.
"This is," Jeff pauses, groping for a word. "Cozy."
"The Old Book didn't mention that you'd be bringing so many slaves with you," Jensen says, in apology. "Misha is preparing additional residences."
It might be Jeff's imagination, but he's pretty sure that the temperature drops several degrees as the meaning of his words sinks in.
"Ah," Jeff says, determinedly not looking at either Alaina or Felicia. "That is… these people are my trusted companions. Not slaves. Definitely not slaves."
Jensen's mouth curls into a little moue of confusion that does things to his lower lip that Jeff would be much more interested in if he wasn't preoccupied with the death glares that he can feel boring into the back of his head. Jeff has no desire to get castrated by a pair of angry redheads, thanks very much, even if it is considered the height of sexual ecstasy on Altan-four.
"As you say," Jensen settles on finally. "Misha asks that you remain here while the great hall is prepared for the celebration."
"Celebration?" Jeff asks.
"Of your arrival. It will be a feast worthy of your glory, my liege," Jared promises, with a somewhat worrying amount of enthusiasm.
"As worthy as we can make it on short notice," Jensen amends. "The Old Book wasn't really clear on when you were coming. It'll probably be a bit rushed, honestly."
Jeff summons his best smile. "I'm sure it will be wonderful. Now, if you will pardon us, it has been a long journey and we require rest."
They bow again. "Of course, your Majesty."
They sidle out of the cramped space and everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief at the increased breathing room. As they reach the door, Jared reaches for Jensen's hand; their fingers tangle together as they go. Huh, Jeff thinks.
Chad, being Chad, immediately reaches out and yanks a wad of grass and twigs out of the wall.
"Chad!"
"Man," Chad sighs. "This is totally lame. If I wanted to live in a house I could smoke, I woulda stayed on Thoan."
Jeff doesn't even want to know. Better part of valour and all that.
"These are the weirdest fuckers we've ever met," Chad continues, abandoning his handful of grass.
Felicia purses her lips thoughtfully. "I think the caterpillar people on that dinky little moon were weirder."
Chad makes a face. "They didn't think that Jeff was their glorious savior."
"That is a pretty stupid mistake," Felicia agrees. "No offense, cap."
"None taken," Jeff says dryly.
"I notice you didn't ask them what they need saving from," Alaina points out.
"I'll get to it," Jeff protests. "If I'm going to have to fake a miracle, I'd rather do it after a party and a good night's rest."
Alaina arches an elegant eyebrow. "Preferably involving a bedroll shared with a certain pair of pretty boys who do, and I quote, 'everything' together?"
"I wouldn't say no," Jeff says, which was possibly his biggest understatement since describing the deserts of Tol Anu a little hot. Or Chad as a little insane.
"What now?" Felicia asks.
Jeff shrugs. "Not much we can do right now, so we might as well get some rest. Chad, no hotboxing the shack."
"Dude, why you gotta be like that?"
"Because you'd probably burn down the village," Felicia says. "Which is not the kind of distraction that I was hoping for, personally."
"We are not burning down the village so that we can ransack their shrine," Jeff says, because being the captain is not infrequently like being the only adult on a field trip. Also, he doesn't trust the glint in Alaina's eye. "We'll figure something out."
"Instead of 'resting', don't you think we should be getting out of here as soon as possible?" Alaina says, in her 'Captain Idiot, sir' voice.
"You really think we're going to get anywhere near that shrine right now?" Jeff asks. "We're going to have to wait."
"For what? A written invitation?"
"Maybe they'll all get really drunk tonight and won't notice us taking it apart?"
"This is not the sound of you having a plan," Alaina says.
"I'll have one soon," Jeff says firmly. "Until then, everyone should stay here."
"Yeah no. I'm going to go check on the ship," Felicia says, and strolls out of the hut, calm as can be.
Jeff makes a belated and awkward gesture of permission. "Right. You. Do that. Good plan."
Alaina rolls her eyes. "Nice to see that you're in control of the situation."
"Just… stay put, okay?"
And the look Alaina gives him makes it clear that she questions his status as a sentient being, but that's a pretty normal occurrence. What matters is that she'll stay here, for now.
Chad is already snoring in the corner, and Jeff has no idea when that happened. At least he isn't going to be able to set anything on fire in his sleep. Probably.
"Where are you going?" Alaina asks, when Jeff heads for the door instead of claiming his own patch of floor.
"Out," Jeff says, just to see her nostrils flare in irritation. He slaps on a rakish grin. "One of the perks of being captain: I don't have to obey my own orders."
Besides, he can think of a much better way to pass his time.
And I tag deirdre_c to tackle the next bit! Have fun!
Author: cleflink
Rating: pg
Pairing: Heavily implied Jared/Jensen, still potentially future everybody/everybody (except Chad, probably)
Word Count: 1950
Summary: In which Jeff gets to know his new subjects and there is talk of fiery vengeance.
"Okay," Jeff says as he sinks onto his throne, addressing his newfound subjects. "We've been sent here to save you, but first, I want you to tell me a story."
"Anything," Dimples says immediately, in what is definitely a bedroom voice. He frowns a little when Felicia half-kills herself trying not to laugh. "Did I say something humourous, your Majesty?"
"Don't worry about it," Jeff says, giving up looking regal in favour of throwing a glare at Felicia. "She has a condition."
"Hey!" Felicia protests.
"Would you like Jensen to examine her?" Dimples asks then, gesturing at his ridiculously attractive companion. "He is well-versed in the healing arts."
Jensen bows his head. "It would be my honour," he says, in that same rough, low tone that makes certain parts of Jeff's anatomy very happy indeed.
Felicia, Jeff can't help but notice, looks a little too interested in this offer.
"Er, maybe later. First, I was wondering if you could tell me where your shrine came from." Jeff waves a hand in the general direction of the airship moldering in the square. "It's a very, uh, unique design."
"It descended from the sky at a time of great strife for our people," Dimples says proudly. "Our homes were being ravaged by invading hordes from the north-"
"-who intended to enslave us all," Jensen picks up, so smoothly that it almost sounds rehearsed. "The shrine arrived in the midst of their final charge-"
"-and destroyed them all!" Dimples finishes gleefully. "Our forefathers brought the shrine to its current location and there it has stayed for countless generations-"
"How many generations?" Alaina mutters, under her breath. "It's not even a century old."
"Hush," Jeff murmurs back. Louder, he says, "So it's an important relic."
Both men nod enthusiastically.
"The most important," Jensen says. "It protects our village, and stands-"
"-as a symbol of hope and fiery vengeance!"
Jeff and his crew exchange a glance.
"Uh…" Jeff says, not really sure where to go with that.
"Personally, I approve of fiery vengeance," Felicia offers.
Jensen and Dimples bow deeply. "We are gratified by your appreciation," they say together.
A glance around the room at the approving smiles on the villagers' faces suggests that their Tweedledee and Tweedledum routine is apparently a) normal and b) something to be pleased about.
He clears his throat delicately. "That's a fascinating story, thank you. Clearly you are, uh, well-versed in the history of your people. Can I ask who are you?"
"I'm Jared," Dimples says, with a beaming smile. "And this is Jens-ow!"
"He means our vocation," Jensen says, with a dryness that is rather unexpected after all the fawning. "Idiot."
"Shut up," Jared hisses back, rubbing at his side where Jensen jabbed him. "You're the idiot."
Jensen raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
Jared makes a face at him, freezes visibly when he remembers that they have an audience, then turns pink. "My apologies, your Majesty."
"That's fine," Jeff says, mentally revising his estimation of their ages down a few years. "But I would like it if you could tell us a little bit about what you do here."
Jared straightens and squares his shoulders, which, wow. Jeff wonders if he's that big all over. "We are the hands-"
"-and the heart of the community." Jensen inclines his head. "We have been raised together since childhood to fill these roles."
"I see," Jeff says, which is the interstellar code phrase for 'the fuck does that mean?'.
The Wonder Twins don't appear to understand.
"It is our duty to care for the shrine-"
"-and for all of your needs, of course, your Majesty."
"Do you always finish each other's sentences?" Felicia asks, before Jeff can quite get his mind around that one.
"Of course," they say, as one.
"Why?"
"A man's hands and heart cannot function separately. So, too, is it with us. We do everything together," Jared says. At his side, Jensen nods, looking fond.
"Well," Alaina says in an undertone. "That's an inspiring mental image."
Struck suddenly by a daydream involving Jared's big, big hands wrapped around Jensen's cock while Jensen uses that mouth to suck hickeys into his neck, Jeff has to agree.
"If I might ask another question," Alaina says then, and Jeff gives her a regal gesture to proceed.
It's totally worth the heel she digs into his foot in retaliation.
"My lady?" Jensen and Jared say in concert.
"When your shrine appeared, were there no… emissaries from the heavens inside it?"
Jensen laughs. "Of course there were! It couldn't have arrived unguided!"
"They didn't last long though," Jared finishes.
There is a momentary silence as they all digest that.
"That's creepy as fuck," Chad says finally.
"I hate to agree with Chad," Felicia says. "But I totally agree with Chad."
"Really?" Chad asks. "Sweet."
Alaina glances at Jeff with an expectantly raised eyebrow. He attempts to use the eloquent downturn of his mouth to convey the fact that he doesn't really want to know, actually, and there is no way in hell she is going to convince him to ask.
At that moment, there is a bustle of activity near the door, and Jeff glances up to see Misha appear out of the crowd. He'd been so distracted by the flowers and the wine and the erotically codependent shrine boys that he hadn't even noticed the man leaving in the first place.
Misha stops in front of Jeff's new throne and bows nearly low enough to hit his nose on the floor. Jeff can admit to being impressed with his flexibility.
"We have prepared dwellings for you, my liege," Misha says, mostly to his kneecaps. "Please allow Jared and Jensen to escort you there."
"Okay," Jeff says because, really, what else is he supposed to say?
Misha straightens and says a few quiet words to Jared and Jensen, who nod in understanding.
"This way," the pair say, and lead the way through the silent throng of villagers. Jeff catches the redhead from earlier throwing Alaina a saucy wink as they pass. He allows himself a moment to appreciate that.
Jared and Jensen lead them to one of the small buildings that ring the square and gesture grandly for them to enter.
It is, Jeff decides once they've all squeezed into the one-room interior, almost exactly the same size as the apartment he lived in during his ill-advised university days. Which is already an unflattering comparison even before he factors in the fact that all four of them are apparently meant to stay here.
Jensen and Jared are crushed up against his side, looking expectant.
"This is," Jeff pauses, groping for a word. "Cozy."
"The Old Book didn't mention that you'd be bringing so many slaves with you," Jensen says, in apology. "Misha is preparing additional residences."
It might be Jeff's imagination, but he's pretty sure that the temperature drops several degrees as the meaning of his words sinks in.
"Ah," Jeff says, determinedly not looking at either Alaina or Felicia. "That is… these people are my trusted companions. Not slaves. Definitely not slaves."
Jensen's mouth curls into a little moue of confusion that does things to his lower lip that Jeff would be much more interested in if he wasn't preoccupied with the death glares that he can feel boring into the back of his head. Jeff has no desire to get castrated by a pair of angry redheads, thanks very much, even if it is considered the height of sexual ecstasy on Altan-four.
"As you say," Jensen settles on finally. "Misha asks that you remain here while the great hall is prepared for the celebration."
"Celebration?" Jeff asks.
"Of your arrival. It will be a feast worthy of your glory, my liege," Jared promises, with a somewhat worrying amount of enthusiasm.
"As worthy as we can make it on short notice," Jensen amends. "The Old Book wasn't really clear on when you were coming. It'll probably be a bit rushed, honestly."
Jeff summons his best smile. "I'm sure it will be wonderful. Now, if you will pardon us, it has been a long journey and we require rest."
They bow again. "Of course, your Majesty."
They sidle out of the cramped space and everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief at the increased breathing room. As they reach the door, Jared reaches for Jensen's hand; their fingers tangle together as they go. Huh, Jeff thinks.
Chad, being Chad, immediately reaches out and yanks a wad of grass and twigs out of the wall.
"Chad!"
"Man," Chad sighs. "This is totally lame. If I wanted to live in a house I could smoke, I woulda stayed on Thoan."
Jeff doesn't even want to know. Better part of valour and all that.
"These are the weirdest fuckers we've ever met," Chad continues, abandoning his handful of grass.
Felicia purses her lips thoughtfully. "I think the caterpillar people on that dinky little moon were weirder."
Chad makes a face. "They didn't think that Jeff was their glorious savior."
"That is a pretty stupid mistake," Felicia agrees. "No offense, cap."
"None taken," Jeff says dryly.
"I notice you didn't ask them what they need saving from," Alaina points out.
"I'll get to it," Jeff protests. "If I'm going to have to fake a miracle, I'd rather do it after a party and a good night's rest."
Alaina arches an elegant eyebrow. "Preferably involving a bedroll shared with a certain pair of pretty boys who do, and I quote, 'everything' together?"
"I wouldn't say no," Jeff says, which was possibly his biggest understatement since describing the deserts of Tol Anu a little hot. Or Chad as a little insane.
"What now?" Felicia asks.
Jeff shrugs. "Not much we can do right now, so we might as well get some rest. Chad, no hotboxing the shack."
"Dude, why you gotta be like that?"
"Because you'd probably burn down the village," Felicia says. "Which is not the kind of distraction that I was hoping for, personally."
"We are not burning down the village so that we can ransack their shrine," Jeff says, because being the captain is not infrequently like being the only adult on a field trip. Also, he doesn't trust the glint in Alaina's eye. "We'll figure something out."
"Instead of 'resting', don't you think we should be getting out of here as soon as possible?" Alaina says, in her 'Captain Idiot, sir' voice.
"You really think we're going to get anywhere near that shrine right now?" Jeff asks. "We're going to have to wait."
"For what? A written invitation?"
"Maybe they'll all get really drunk tonight and won't notice us taking it apart?"
"This is not the sound of you having a plan," Alaina says.
"I'll have one soon," Jeff says firmly. "Until then, everyone should stay here."
"Yeah no. I'm going to go check on the ship," Felicia says, and strolls out of the hut, calm as can be.
Jeff makes a belated and awkward gesture of permission. "Right. You. Do that. Good plan."
Alaina rolls her eyes. "Nice to see that you're in control of the situation."
"Just… stay put, okay?"
And the look Alaina gives him makes it clear that she questions his status as a sentient being, but that's a pretty normal occurrence. What matters is that she'll stay here, for now.
Chad is already snoring in the corner, and Jeff has no idea when that happened. At least he isn't going to be able to set anything on fire in his sleep. Probably.
"Where are you going?" Alaina asks, when Jeff heads for the door instead of claiming his own patch of floor.
"Out," Jeff says, just to see her nostrils flare in irritation. He slaps on a rakish grin. "One of the perks of being captain: I don't have to obey my own orders."
Besides, he can think of a much better way to pass his time.
And I tag deirdre_c to tackle the next bit! Have fun!