Reading Jensen
So, I think I've officially given up on NaNo, because I've made no progress, and I have more personal crap going on now. It's keeping me busy and harshing my NaNo squee, and my brain is kind of broken. And I'm opting to write little things like this instead, because they sort of make me happy? Yeah. I mean, maybe I could turn around and write like 40,000 words before the end of November, but I doubt it. Just being realistic. I'm kinda disappointed, but at least I know I'm capable of it, since I did it last year. I'm still gonna write/finish the fic, because...I have to. I do like the story, and I want to write it and make it not suck. It's just (most likely) not gonna happen this month.
Title: Reading Jensen
Fandom: RPS
Characters: Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki
Prompt: 026. Teammates.
fanfic100 table: here
Word Count: 1,265
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for 5x04 (obviously).
Summary: Jared comes back from LA to find Jensen completely burnt out after filming his scenes for 5x04. Jensen is grumpy. Jared cuddles him.
Author's Notes: Came up with this after watching videos from the con this past weekend. Wrote it while tired, so it may not make sense. Thinking of writing a separate one from Jensen's POV, but we'll see. :P
Jared showed up on set more rested than he was used to being, after spending the long weekend in LA. He was fresh and excited, the prospect of playing Lucifer dangling in front of him. He bounded over to the trailer he shared with Jensen, flinging open the door.
“Honey, I’m home!” he shouted, grinning broadly. He laughed a little, and then stopped abruptly, catching sight of Jensen.
Jensen sat in a chair in the trailer, script in hand. His eyes were red, dark circles pronounced around them, makeup having yet to do their job of making them disappear. He looked ragged and worn, completely burnt out, and he half glared at Jared until he was too spent to even do that anymore.
“Jesus,” Jared said, without really meaning to, and Jensen just turned his attention back down to the script in his hands. He kept going, trying to inject more humor into his voice. “You look like hell.”
“I know,” Jensen grit out, not bothering to look up at him again. His body went stiff, shoulders tense where he hunched over, and Jared knew then that this wasn’t a joking matter. Jensen was beyond exhausted and stressed. “How was your vacation?”
It was sarcastic, and Jensen always joked that way with Jared, but it held a little more bite this time, and Jared felt it. He wasn’t offended, but Jensen was driving the point home that he was not in a laughing mood. Jared took that and nodded, ignoring Jensen’s bitter question.
“You ready?” he asked quietly, tone a little more sensitive, and Jensen sighed and stood up, walking right past him to the door.
“I’m always ready.”
****
It was his big scene in a light Sam episode, so he wanted to make it count. He tried his best, bringing Lucifer out in full force, and it helped to still have Jensen there to work off of. Lucifer fed on Dean’s emotion, using it to make himself seem more sympathetic, and taking in Dean’s tears with a soft smile and a compliment, as if he wished they could be friends. It felt good when he was done, like he’d really accomplished what he’d set out to do. He couldn’t help but smile, and he turned to share the look with Jensen, but Jensen was already turning away, wiping at his eyes and shuffling away from the set. Some crew member made a crack about Jared needing a break, and Jensen barely turned his head when he bit back, “Right. I’m the one actually working here.”
****
Jensen landed on the couch when they got home and promptly fell asleep. Jared let him go until it got a bit late, and he noticed how crooked and bent Jensen was on the couch cushions.
“Jensen?” he whispered, crouching down in front of the couch and gently shaking Jensen’s shoulder. “Jen? Come on, man, you can’t sleep like that, you’ll regret it in the morning. Let me take you up to bed. Jen?” Jensen grunted unhappily, his eyebrows drawing together and his face scrunching up in his half-sleep, and Jared almost thought for a moment that he was going to cry. “Come on,” he prodded softly. “Just a minute to get up the steps.”
He waited a moment, then started to physically lift Jensen out of his cramped position, Jensen showing minimal resistance when he realized Jared would do most of the work and he didn’t have to fully wake up.
“That’s it,” Jared soothed, even though Jensen wasn’t doing anything to help him, here. He gathered Jensen in his arms and practically carried him to the stairs and up, feeling the strain in his muscles, but working through it. “Alright. Almost there.”
He let out a long breath when he finally laid Jensen down on the bed, and then he busied himself with maneuvering Jensen around to undress him. Jensen made a noise in the back of his throat when he was left naked on top of the covers and curled onto his side, and Jared smiled softly, undressing himself before getting him and Jensen beneath the covers, laying on his back and letting Jensen’s body drape over his, Jensen nuzzling into his neck. He waited, trailing his fingertips up and down Jensen’s spine, feeling and listening to him breathe. He should be sleeping.
“’m sorry.”
He should be, but he wasn’t, and Jared cocked his head as much as could, never slowing or stopping the movement of his hand on Jensen’s back.
“For what?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“’m grumpy,” Jensen mumbled into his neck, and Jared couldn’t hold back his chuckle.
“You’re always grumpy,” he said affectionately, running his other hand through the short, soft strands of Jensen’s hair.
“’m sorry,” Jensen said again, and Jared felt that one. Jensen sounded so remorseful, so guilty, even though his voice was gravelly with sleep and he didn’t even have the strength to move.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jared said, running his fingers through Jensen’s hair again. “Just get some sleep.”
“I was so mean,” Jensen said, and while Jared kind of loved how limited Jensen’s vocabulary got when he was this tired, he couldn’t let Jensen beat himself up so much over this.
“You weren’t,” he assured him. “You were just Jensen.” He paused for a second and then allowed himself to smile again, speaking again with a small laugh. “We’ve been doing this for five years, man. I think I know you by now. I know what you really mean and what you don’t, no matter what kind of mood you’re in. You don’t have to tell me.”
“I should still say it sometime,” Jensen said, breath warm against Jared’s neck, and Jared appreciated that, at least. That they hadn’t gotten comfortable to the point of foregoing courtesy and manners. That they hadn’t gone so far as to forget about each other’s feelings, whether they were hurt or not. Sure, Jared knew the difference between Jensen’s stressed sarcasm and a true mean streak. But it really didn’t hurt for Jensen to still apologize to him for it; to not take Jared’s knowledge of his personality for granted.
“Thank you,” Jared said, kissing what he could of Jensen and getting mostly hair. “Now go to sleep. You need it.”
“’m I hurting you?” Jensen asked, and Jared shook his head as much as he could.
“No. And even if you were, I could just move you. Don’t worry about it. Go to sleep.”
“Didn’t even tell you how ‘mazing you were,” Jensen drawled still, and Jared could tell from the sound of his voice that he probably wouldn’t even remember having this conversation in the morning. “Stole the ep’sode, Jare. ‘mazing.”
“Nah, I ain’t stealin’ anything from you,” Jared said, shrugging the compliment off, even if he couldn’t keep from smiling like a fool. “I’m sure you kicked ass at playin’ two Deans.”
There was a moment of silence, and Jared could tell that Jensen was moving in and out of sleep now.
“’m glad you’re home,” Jensen managed, one last thing, beginning to drift away, and Jared felt the warmth of the sentiment spread throughout his body. He kissed Jensen’s hair again, still stroking his back.
“Sleep, Jen,” he whispered, and the silence stretched on longer this time, no response from Jensen. He felt Jensen’s breathing even out, his body go even more lax against him, and he closed his own eyes, glad that Jensen was finally getting the rest he deserved.
He was happy to be home, too.
Title: Reading Jensen
Fandom: RPS
Characters: Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki
Prompt: 026. Teammates.
fanfic100 table: here
Word Count: 1,265
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for 5x04 (obviously).
Summary: Jared comes back from LA to find Jensen completely burnt out after filming his scenes for 5x04. Jensen is grumpy. Jared cuddles him.
Author's Notes: Came up with this after watching videos from the con this past weekend. Wrote it while tired, so it may not make sense. Thinking of writing a separate one from Jensen's POV, but we'll see. :P
Jared showed up on set more rested than he was used to being, after spending the long weekend in LA. He was fresh and excited, the prospect of playing Lucifer dangling in front of him. He bounded over to the trailer he shared with Jensen, flinging open the door.
“Honey, I’m home!” he shouted, grinning broadly. He laughed a little, and then stopped abruptly, catching sight of Jensen.
Jensen sat in a chair in the trailer, script in hand. His eyes were red, dark circles pronounced around them, makeup having yet to do their job of making them disappear. He looked ragged and worn, completely burnt out, and he half glared at Jared until he was too spent to even do that anymore.
“Jesus,” Jared said, without really meaning to, and Jensen just turned his attention back down to the script in his hands. He kept going, trying to inject more humor into his voice. “You look like hell.”
“I know,” Jensen grit out, not bothering to look up at him again. His body went stiff, shoulders tense where he hunched over, and Jared knew then that this wasn’t a joking matter. Jensen was beyond exhausted and stressed. “How was your vacation?”
It was sarcastic, and Jensen always joked that way with Jared, but it held a little more bite this time, and Jared felt it. He wasn’t offended, but Jensen was driving the point home that he was not in a laughing mood. Jared took that and nodded, ignoring Jensen’s bitter question.
“You ready?” he asked quietly, tone a little more sensitive, and Jensen sighed and stood up, walking right past him to the door.
“I’m always ready.”
****
It was his big scene in a light Sam episode, so he wanted to make it count. He tried his best, bringing Lucifer out in full force, and it helped to still have Jensen there to work off of. Lucifer fed on Dean’s emotion, using it to make himself seem more sympathetic, and taking in Dean’s tears with a soft smile and a compliment, as if he wished they could be friends. It felt good when he was done, like he’d really accomplished what he’d set out to do. He couldn’t help but smile, and he turned to share the look with Jensen, but Jensen was already turning away, wiping at his eyes and shuffling away from the set. Some crew member made a crack about Jared needing a break, and Jensen barely turned his head when he bit back, “Right. I’m the one actually working here.”
****
Jensen landed on the couch when they got home and promptly fell asleep. Jared let him go until it got a bit late, and he noticed how crooked and bent Jensen was on the couch cushions.
“Jensen?” he whispered, crouching down in front of the couch and gently shaking Jensen’s shoulder. “Jen? Come on, man, you can’t sleep like that, you’ll regret it in the morning. Let me take you up to bed. Jen?” Jensen grunted unhappily, his eyebrows drawing together and his face scrunching up in his half-sleep, and Jared almost thought for a moment that he was going to cry. “Come on,” he prodded softly. “Just a minute to get up the steps.”
He waited a moment, then started to physically lift Jensen out of his cramped position, Jensen showing minimal resistance when he realized Jared would do most of the work and he didn’t have to fully wake up.
“That’s it,” Jared soothed, even though Jensen wasn’t doing anything to help him, here. He gathered Jensen in his arms and practically carried him to the stairs and up, feeling the strain in his muscles, but working through it. “Alright. Almost there.”
He let out a long breath when he finally laid Jensen down on the bed, and then he busied himself with maneuvering Jensen around to undress him. Jensen made a noise in the back of his throat when he was left naked on top of the covers and curled onto his side, and Jared smiled softly, undressing himself before getting him and Jensen beneath the covers, laying on his back and letting Jensen’s body drape over his, Jensen nuzzling into his neck. He waited, trailing his fingertips up and down Jensen’s spine, feeling and listening to him breathe. He should be sleeping.
“’m sorry.”
He should be, but he wasn’t, and Jared cocked his head as much as could, never slowing or stopping the movement of his hand on Jensen’s back.
“For what?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“’m grumpy,” Jensen mumbled into his neck, and Jared couldn’t hold back his chuckle.
“You’re always grumpy,” he said affectionately, running his other hand through the short, soft strands of Jensen’s hair.
“’m sorry,” Jensen said again, and Jared felt that one. Jensen sounded so remorseful, so guilty, even though his voice was gravelly with sleep and he didn’t even have the strength to move.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jared said, running his fingers through Jensen’s hair again. “Just get some sleep.”
“I was so mean,” Jensen said, and while Jared kind of loved how limited Jensen’s vocabulary got when he was this tired, he couldn’t let Jensen beat himself up so much over this.
“You weren’t,” he assured him. “You were just Jensen.” He paused for a second and then allowed himself to smile again, speaking again with a small laugh. “We’ve been doing this for five years, man. I think I know you by now. I know what you really mean and what you don’t, no matter what kind of mood you’re in. You don’t have to tell me.”
“I should still say it sometime,” Jensen said, breath warm against Jared’s neck, and Jared appreciated that, at least. That they hadn’t gotten comfortable to the point of foregoing courtesy and manners. That they hadn’t gone so far as to forget about each other’s feelings, whether they were hurt or not. Sure, Jared knew the difference between Jensen’s stressed sarcasm and a true mean streak. But it really didn’t hurt for Jensen to still apologize to him for it; to not take Jared’s knowledge of his personality for granted.
“Thank you,” Jared said, kissing what he could of Jensen and getting mostly hair. “Now go to sleep. You need it.”
“’m I hurting you?” Jensen asked, and Jared shook his head as much as he could.
“No. And even if you were, I could just move you. Don’t worry about it. Go to sleep.”
“Didn’t even tell you how ‘mazing you were,” Jensen drawled still, and Jared could tell from the sound of his voice that he probably wouldn’t even remember having this conversation in the morning. “Stole the ep’sode, Jare. ‘mazing.”
“Nah, I ain’t stealin’ anything from you,” Jared said, shrugging the compliment off, even if he couldn’t keep from smiling like a fool. “I’m sure you kicked ass at playin’ two Deans.”
There was a moment of silence, and Jared could tell that Jensen was moving in and out of sleep now.
“’m glad you’re home,” Jensen managed, one last thing, beginning to drift away, and Jared felt the warmth of the sentiment spread throughout his body. He kissed Jensen’s hair again, still stroking his back.
“Sleep, Jen,” he whispered, and the silence stretched on longer this time, no response from Jensen. He felt Jensen’s breathing even out, his body go even more lax against him, and he closed his own eyes, glad that Jensen was finally getting the rest he deserved.
He was happy to be home, too.