LNDF, pt 4
Part 3
Despite its incessant noise, Jared wanted to hug his alarm clock. Alarm meant morning, which meant work, which meant seeing Jensen again. Because Jensen was coming back to work; he had said so when Jared dropped him off last night.
Jared couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face when he thought about the previous night. God, one evening with the guy, and Jared was already giddy.
Guy. It was easy to think about now.
Huh.
When Jared walked into the theater, it was business as usual. Music playing over the sound system, Scrub Squad tidying the lobby, concession stand getting set up. No major change in the world to indicate that Jared had one of the best nights of his life last night.
Well, except for the Cheshire grin he knew was plastered all over his face.
Jared made his way to the employee lounge and stopped just in the doorway. There was Jensen, chatting away with Chris.
“Well, it doesn’t look like the aftermath of Ebola.” Chris had his hat tipped far back on his head, lips curled in mock concern but eyes glittering with amusement. “You sure you’re safe to be around?”
Jensen gave the weakest and most pathetic cough Jared thought he’d ever heard. “Pretty sure.”
“Good. But if you pull a stunt like that again, I might have to kill you, ya hear me?” Chris rolled his eyes, finally caught sight of Jared standing at the door. “Hey, Jared.”
Jensen turned his way as well, all pretense of sickness replaced by an eager grin. “Hey.”
Jared’s cheeks were starting to hurt from how much he was smiling. “Hey yourself.”
For a moment, all was quiet, and Chris just looked back and forth between the two of them. Then, “Jesus, rookie, you’re squirming more than a puppy being taught to ‘stay.’ Just get it over with and kiss your boy already.”
Let it never be said that Jared Padalecki couldn’t follow orders.
When they broke apart, Jared caught sight of Chris trying to wipe a smile off his face. “Right,” Chris said, clearing his throat a little. “Can we get back to work now, where life isn’t a romantic comedy?”
For the record, it was completely unfair that Jensen was scheduled to work up in projection and Jared was stuck at concessions all day. What made it worse was the fact that customers and coworkers alike kept giving Jared odd looks. Chris would just shake his head whenever he passed by the stand, but everyone else looked completely perplexed by the grin on Jared’s face.
And god, how he wanted to tell them - tell them all. He’d meant every word he told Jensen. He didn’t want to hide this, wasn’t going to. The problem was that he didn’t know if it was really his story to tell. Did Jensen want everyone to know?
The true test on the matter came later that night. While the rest of the crew clocked out and got ready to take off for the bar, Kripke pulled Jensen aside to put his absentee paperwork in order.
“You guys go ahead,” Jensen called as he made his way to the office. “I’ll meet you there.” He looked at Jared, just a slight upturn to his lips. “Save me a seat.”
Easier said than done, and they had barely made it to their usual table before Jared found himself wedged into the corner with Mike on one side of him and Allison on the other. By the time Jensen got there, they looked very comfortable with two beers in front of each of them. And Jensen, well, he had a look on his face that Jared could only describe as disappointed.
Jared raised his hands to his side, perplexed on how to deal it. Quickly cutting his eyes in Mike’s direction, he tried as hard as he could to communicate should I make him move to Jensen. He held his breath, waiting to see how Jensen would respond, because this moment would answer the question Jared had been asking himself all day.
That breath came out in a rush when Jensen gave the tiniest of head nods.
And Jared didn’t care how ridiculous he might look; he gave Jensen the flashiest smile he had in his arsenal before turning to Mike. “You mind switching seats so Jensen can sit there?”
Of course, nothing was ever that easy. Mike snorted a little into his beer bottle. “No way. You snooze, you lose. Finder’s keepers. First come, first serve, and every other cliché I can possibly find to fit the moment. I like my seat. Get your own, Jenny-boy.”
“Please?” And yep, it was time for the big guns.
“Oh hell, don’t use the puppy eyes on me. I’m not a chick, and it won’t work.”
“Oh my god.” The whole table looked over at Kristin, who had her beer paused just short of her lips. She was glancing back and forth between Jared and Jensen. Jared couldn’t be sure, but it looked like Jensen was blushing a little under the scrutiny.
“Oh my god!” This time it was Allison, only her outburst was followed by a thunking noise and Mike yelping and rubbing his shin. “Move, you jerk. Let Jensen sit there.”
“Geez, all right!” Mike hopped out of his chair, grabbing his beer on the way up. “I don’t know what’s so damn important about Jensen getting this particular spot.”
Jared almost couldn’t hear him. He was too taken in by the expression on Jensen’s face as he maneuvered into the vacated seat. Jensen just looked so happy and…relieved. And Jared couldn’t help himself. He reached for Jensen’s hand, twined their fingers together, and squeezed reassuringly. “Told you I meant it.”
Mike’s “Oh” was completely drowned out by the girls’ cooing noises.
*****
So that was that.
Nothing changed, and no one treated them differently. True, over the following weeks, Jared kept catching Allison and Kristin out of the corner of his eye, watching him, but he thought it was less them being judgmental and more them hoping to catch him and Jensen making out.
Tough luck with that when he and Jensen were the only ones assigned to the second projection room.
To be honest, he’d only meant it as a game at first. Every time they passed one another on the way to check a reel, Jared would sneak out a hand to brush, pinch, or otherwise tease Jensen in some manner.
How it escalated to him pressing Jensen up against the wall and licking the taste of the morning coffee out of Jensen’s mouth, Jared couldn’t remember. Not that he was complaining. And judging by the way Jensen’s fingers tightened in Jared’s hair, he was more than happy to oblige.
Actually, no, the evidence of Jensen’s happiness was hard against Jared’s thigh. Even through two layers of denim, Jared could feel the heat radiating off Jensen, and it was driving him absolutely insane.
Without really thinking about it, Jared braced himself with one hand against the wall and let his other hand drift from Jensen’s waist to cupping Jensen through his jeans. Jensen inhaled sharply through his nose, jerked back a little, and promptly bounced his head against the wall.
Jared’s you okay froze on his tongue when he got a good look at Jensen’s face. His eyes were wide, so much like the other times Jared had caught him shocked and unaware, but now that deep moss green was nearly overcome by blown pupils. His lips, kiss-swollen and spit-shiny, were slightly parted, and they made the most wonderful shapes when Jensen whispered, “Are you sure?”
Jared gave one slow, firm stroke along Jensen’s length, watched carefully as Jensen’s eyelids fluttered a little. “What-” Jensen stuttered, voice still hushed to preserve the necessary silence of the projection room. “What happened to just dating for a bit?”
Jared responded by flicking open the button of Jensen’s jeans and slowly inching the zipper down.
As he started to reach inside, Jensen’s grip on his wrist stopped him. “We’ll miss a cue mark. Kripke will-”
“Never know,” Jared finished for him. “I worked this block earlier this week. We just started a ten minute gap where none of the reels need changing.” And then, because it beared asking: “Are you sure? I mean, if you don’t want to, I could stop.”
Jensen’s hold on his arm was gone in a flash. “Don’t you dare.”
Jared smiled as he slid his hand past the fly of Jensen’s briefs and took a hold of Jensen’s dick. He had a split second to marvel at the feel of silk-over-steel, familiar yet so completely not, flushed hot against his palm, before Jensen was bucking against him with a breathy moan. “God, you and those fucking hands.”
Jared leaned closer, his mouth just a hairsbreadth away from Jensen’s ear. “You got a thing for my hands, Jen?” He gave his wrist an experimental twist and was rewarded with Jensen keening beneath him.
“Fuck yes. Been dreaming about them since the day you started.” Never one to miss a cue, Jared adjusted his grip and started stroking in earnest, rhythmic, confident movements that had Jensen panting. The hand that had previously circled Jared’s wrist was now fumbling with the button to Jared’s jeans. “Jared, can I?”
Yes. Oh god, yes. “Please,” he murmured, lips against Jensen’s jaw.
Jensen had Jared’s pants down and his dick out before he could say another word. At the moment Jensen’s hand was upon him, Jared threw his head back and bit into his bottom lip to trap a building moan. Jensen took the opportunity to lean forward and latch onto the tender skin at Jared’s collarbone, placing light nips up his throat to his jaw line in time with his near-frantic jacking. “How much time do we have left?” Jensen whispered against his skin, and he punctuated the question by brushing his thumb over the head of Jared’s cock, nearly causing Jared’s knees to buckle.
“Not enough time.” Jared tipped his head forward to nudge Jensen’s lips up to his own, sharing breath between the two of them. “God, not nearly enough time for what I want to do to you.”
The hand still wound in Jared’s hair suddenly clenched tight enough to sting, and then Jensen was spilling over Jared’s wrist with a hissed, “oh fuck.” Jared cast his eyes down to see where Jensen’s come had splashed across his skin, watched as Jensen’s hand still pumped over Jared’s dick.
And then it hit him: he did this. He had made Jensen absolutely lose it, and oh god, it was so perfect.
Oh god…
The wave of Jared’s orgasm completely broadsided him, but somehow Jensen knew it was coming because he was right there, kissing Jared with everything he had and swallowing down the moan Jared had no chance in hell of stifling.
It all went a little fuzzy after that.
A few moments later, Jared was coming down from his high, softening the kiss and pulling back enough to get a glimpse of the blissed look on Jensen’s face, made even more…well, beautiful, post-coital.
“I’m totally about to ruin the afterglow,” Jared said, trying to pull himself together, “but the reel for number fifteen’s about to go.”
Jensen groaned and rolled his eyes. “You get it. I’m gonna get busy melting into a lump of goo over here. You can’t say shit like that to me when I’m that close.”
Jared chuckled, tucked himself back into his pants and wiped his hand on his undershirt. Yeah, it would be gross later, but guess what? He didn’t care. He started to move away when Jensen’s grip returned to his arm. “Hey, Jared. I…” Jensen went quiet, his mouth open just enough to give the impression of words on the tip of his tongue.
“Yeah.” Jared stepped back, planted the softest of kisses on those parted lips. “Yeah, same here.”
Jensen smiled, his words still unsaid but understood, and Jared went back to work.
*****
“Damn it! Could you two keep it down with the sweet nothings? I’m getting a cavity over here.” Chris ducked as both Jared and Jensen chucked empty soda cups at his head.
The day’s schedule put the three of them at the concession stand, and so far it was a slow day, even by matinee standards. Their entertainment options were limited and, short of popping straws and playing another round of “Who Can Make the Tallest Slushie Tower,” they were running out of ideas. Which led to Jared whispering all sorts of dirty alternatives in Jensen’s ear, half of which involved the contents of the candy counter.
And if Chris thought they were only swapping cute endearments, well, it was better for him that way. He said he was already traumatized enough after walking in on them making out in the supply closet. The last thing they wanted was to give the guy more fodder for complaint.
Though, they still maintained it was his own damn fault for not knocking first.
Jared was in the middle of describing a scenario which involved hijacking the use of Kripke’s desk when a loud and familiar voice cut through the silence of the lobby.
“Hey, Jay-red!”
Chad was striding right for him, arm-in-arm with a leggy brunette and leading the pack of another six or seven people. People that included Sandy and Justin.
It was no surprise when Jared felt Jensen go completely tense against him. It was a bit of shock to feel Jensen inching away right after.
No time to question it though, because then Chad was right up at the counter. “Dude, aren’t you going to get in trouble being back there?” He leaned forward, then added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Grab me some Junior Mints while you’re there.”
Jared couldn’t stop his eyes from rolling. “Chad, what does my shirt say?”
And Chad, God help him, actually took the time to read the embroidery above Jared’s pocket. “Man! Right, your job.”
“Right. And you forgot. Again. Which means no free candy for you.” The rest of the pack chuckled behind Chad before Jared continued. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you said the Starlight was a dive.”
“Yeah, well, the crew wanted to see the new Flannery movie, and this is the only place in the whole fucking city showing it. So, here we are.” Chad motioned somewhat disdainfully at the general lobby area, and in truth, it made Jared’s hackles rise. A few months’ time had been long enough for him to develop a fondness for the theater. Suddenly, the idea of taking pride in his job had a developed real meaning.
“So, who are your buds?” Chad’s quick change of topic had Jared looking behind him at his coworkers. Chris was glaring daggers at Justin, his hands clenched tight against the edge of the counter behind him. And next to him, Jensen…
Jensen was staring at the floor. Yeah, that wasn’t going to work.
Without missing a beat, Jared moved to Jensen’s side. “The guy in the hat is Chris. And this,” he put his arm around Jensen’s waist, “is Jensen, my boyfriend.”
Whoa, okay. Maybe he should have thought about that first. He and Jensen had never really discussed the “b” word yet, if they were official or anything, and yeah, maybe he should have consulted Jensen before announcing their relationship to the world.
Then again, maybe not, because the thrill of Jensen’s focus, having all that attention whipped at him from up off the floor, Jensen staring him in the face? Watching how his look of surprise melted into one of awe and fondness, and how the tension just slid away as he leaned closer into Jared’s side? That was freakin’ incredible.
Chad, on the other hand, looked absolutely flabbergasted. “Okay, this I would have remembered. Since when?”
Had it only been a few weeks? No matter. “Long enough. This gonna be a problem?” And try as he might, Jared couldn’t help flicking his eyes in Justin’s direction.
“No,” Chad replied way too quickly to sound comfortable and shuffled a bit where he stood. “Um, can I just get those Junior Mints? And a large Diet Coke for Sophia.”
It was ridiculously quiet while Jared got the candy and drink and rang the register when Chad handed over the cash.
“So, hey, I’ll give you a call,” Chad said as he collected the food. “See ya around, Jared.”
Only two other people in the group bought something from the counter; Justin and Sandy never even got close. That didn’t stop Chris from giving them the finger as they walked away.
Jensen was still staring at Jared, and it was becoming a little worrisome. “You alright?”
“I just didn’t think you’d-” Jensen cut himself off, shook his head, and beamed up at Jared. “I’m great. You okay?”
Jared took one last look to see Chad disappearing into the theater with the rest of his friends. “Yeah.” He glanced back at Jensen and returned the smile with everything he had. “I’m perfect.”
And he meant it.
*****
Jared had barely blinked, and suddenly it was August. It was a total shock to the system the day he came home from shift and found a letter from his school on the kitchen counter, outlining his new dorm assignment and the schedule of move-in days.
“Never thought I’d say it,” Jared told Jensen on the phone that night. “But I kinda don’t want to leave. I mean, at the Starlight, at least I get to see you every day.”
“I know what you mean.”
“You’ll come to visit, right? I mean, I know it’s a bit of a drive to get to S.T.U., but when you have a long weekend or something?”
There was silence over the line for a moment before Jensen answered, “Of course. And you’ll…come back to visit sometimes too?”
“Whenever I can.”
The last two weeks flew by faster than Jared wanted. The summer crew started dwindling in numbers; vacation was ending for all of the different students and they had to head back to their schools and universities. He told Kripke he’d work through the Saturday before his classes started, just to help cover the rush of school kids having one last hurrah before school fell back in session.
Of course, Jared pulled Scrub Squad on his last day.
He was sweeping past the manager’s office when Kripke stuck his head out the door. “Hey. Before I forget, you did good work, Padalecki. You let me know if you want to come back next summer, okay?”
Jared was still staring at the door when Jensen walked up five minutes later. “What’s up?”
“He got my name right.”
“He knew it the whole time.” Jensen’s grin was just barely constrained while Jared blinked stupidly at him. “Kripke picks a rookie each year to goof on. And with your last name, who could possibly resist?”
“Oh, ha ha.” Jared took a swipe at Jensen, who easily dodged out of the way. “You could have told me. Thought the guy had a disability or something.” Jensen laughed loudly as he disappeared down the hall.
End of shift rolled around, and everyone took the time to wish Jared the best of luck in his upcoming school year. Allison and Kristin each gave him a hug, Mike practically tackled him - “Oh Scarecrow, I think I’ll miss you most of all” - and Tom and Chris gave him a little wave from next to the time clock.
It took a little longer than he thought it would to say goodbye to Jensen. For some odd reason, his arms just wouldn’t unwrap from around Jensen’s shoulders. Freak muscle spasm, had to be.
“I’ll call you as soon as I get there, okay?”
Jensen patted him on the back. “Okay.”
“You have my dorm stuff, right? Phone number, address? You’ll come visit whenever you can?”
“I told you I would.”
Jared squeezed a little tighter. Damn those muscle spasms. “Six hours is a long drive, though. Just don’t want you to change your mind or anything.”
“Jared,” Jensen pried himself loose, took a hold of Jared’s shoulders, and held him at arm’s length. “I’m not going to change my mind. I promise. You’ll see me before you know it.”
Fuck it. Jared pulled Jensen in for another hug. Jensen sighed, but Jared could feel the smile on his face. Especially when Jensen burrowed in a little deeper and tightened his own arms around Jared’s waist.
Who knew muscle spasms were contagious?
*****
“Explain to me again why I waited until the last possible day before classes start to move back into the dorms?” Jared cradled his cell phone against his shoulder as he stacked the last of his textbooks on the shelf near his bed. The bookstore had looked insane when he had driven onto campus at around two that afternoon, and after quickly dumping his luggage and boxes in his new room, Jared had rushed over to grab the semester’s supplies. Nearly eight hours later, he was finally unpacked.
“You said it was something stupid like wanting to spend as much time with me as you could before you had to leave.” Jensen’s smile was all too clear over the phone line. “So, what’s the roommate like?”
Jared looked over at the empty bed on the other side of the room. “Non-existent. Housing director told me that something came up with the guy’s financial aid and he had to skip a semester. So unless they fill the space with someone else, I get a single room for half the price.”
“Lucky you.”
“Lucky us,” Jared corrected. “It’ll be nice not to worry about someone walking in when you get the chance to come up and visit me.”
“Why, Mr. Padalecki,” Jensen sing-songed. “I do believe you’re planning on having your way with me.”
Jared laughed. “Might be.”
“Not in those dorm beds, you’re not. I’m convinced they design them too small on purpose.”
Once again, Jared looked over at the empty bed. Yeah, it would require a death-defying feat of acrobatics just to get two grown men to fit in one, never mind actually doing anything once they got there. “Nothing in the rule book says we can’t push the two beds together.”
Jensen was silent for a moment. Then another moment. After three, Jared looked at his phone display. Yep, disconnected. “Oh damn it.” He had his thumb on the redial button when someone knocked at the door.
Jared didn’t bother with the peephole, still looking down at his cell as he opened the door. Needless to say he was a little surprised to look up and find Jensen staring back at him.
Jensen, who had his hands in his pockets and was rocking back and forth on his heels. In the freaking flesh. “Just FYI, those beds are a bitch to move on your own.”
Jared took a moment to gawk. When he told Jensen to come and visit whenever possible, he didn’t anticipate finding the guy at his door their very first night apart. “You’re here!” Yeah, way to state the obvious. Jared mentally slapped himself. “I mean, you didn’t have to make that drive today.”
“Yes, I did.” Jensen rolled his eyes as he said it, shook his head, and stepped a little closer. “I go here, Jared. First year grad student. We spent all summer together and you never once asked what I normally do. It’s not like I work at the Starlight all year round.”
Son of a…
Jensen had a point though. He hadn’t asked. But then again -
“So that whole time I was saying goodbye…”
“Took everything I had to keep a straight face, especially with Chris standing behind you, trying not to crack up. Performance that good, I’m thinking about ditching the physical therapy degree and getting into acting.” There was just a small smile on Jensen’s face though. “It is really nice though, Jared. Knowing you care that much.”
“Well, yeah.”
They had a brief moment of just looking at each other, and Jared realized finally that he had a whole year with Jensen ahead of him. If they were this happy over just a summer...
His train of thought must have been crystal clear, because Jensen suddenly broke into his brilliant smile that Jared had come to pretty much adore. “I think you were saying something earlier about having your way with me.”
“Damn straight.” Jared curled his fist into the collar of Jensen’s shirt and pulled. He was busy kissing Jensen stupid before the door even swung shut behind them.
*****
Just like every other normal morning, the alarm clock went off at an unearthly volume.
Not like every other morning was the arm reaching across Jared’s torso and slapping the clock halfway across the room.
“Christ, Jared,” Jensen yawned into Jared’s chest, snuggling back down. “You find that thing at Satan’s garage sale or something?”
Jared didn’t answer. He just wrapped his arm around Jensen’s shoulders and pulled him closer, content to doze off again.
They never did anything important on the first day of class anyway.
*****
The Next Summer -
Miracles of all miracles, on the first day of the following summer, Jared T. Padalecki woke up all by himself. He gave his alarm clock a little conciliatory pat as he rolled out of bed.
Needless to say, his mother was shocked. And wouldn’t you know it, but he caught her just as she was about to put the iron to his jeans again. It was the smallest victories in life that made it so worth it.
He drove into the parking lot with time to spare and made his way into the theater. There were a few new faces, all blinking owlishly as they looked around the room. Man, had he looked like that on his first day?
No time to think on it, because Jensen was standing by the concession stand, smirking, with Chris at his side. Jared shook Chris’ hand when he got close - “How the hell did you grow even more?” Chris asked - and then turned to Jensen.
Who soundly kissed him, hard and fast.
“Just sending out a ‘hands-off’ message to the rookies,” Jensen whispered against Jared’s lips. “Good morning, by the way.”
“Morning,” Jared smiled back, then linked his fingers through Jensen’s and moved to lean against the counter.
It didn’t take long for Kripke to come stomping out of his office, clipboard in hand. Once everyone was gathered around, he started his speech.
The same damn one. “Welcome, worms, to Starlight Cinemas, your home away from home for the next three months.”
This time, Jared was more than happy to join Jensen and Chris in their mimicry, throwing in a word or two whenever he remembered what came next. They all twiddled their thumbs when Kripke’s attention turned back their way.
“Kane, for the last time, lose the hat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Speech over, Kripke started doling out the day’s positions, veterans first. Jensen got projection room three; Chris and Alexis on tickets. Kristin and Allison the concessions, and then, “Padalecki, you’re in three with Ackles. No funny business in there, and I mean it.” Jared couldn’t be completely certain, but it looked like Kripke was trying not to smile.
Rookies next. It was all smooth sailing until, “Ve-Vent-oh you have to be kidding me.”
“Ventimiglia, sir,” a rookie near the front answered. This year’s target, no doubt. “Milo, if it’s easier.”
“Whatever. You’re on clean up detail with Tal and Welling.” Kripke took one last look back at his clipboard. “That’s it. Everyone to work!”
“Poor guy,” Jared mused quietly. “Kripke’s gonna be calling him ‘ventilator’ before the day’s over.”
“My money’s on ‘venison,’” Jensen added before he stepped away from the counter, smirking once again. “Well, you heard the man. You ready?”
“He said no funny business.”
“Right,” Jensen said while hooking two fingers through one of Jared’s belt loops. “Only completely serious business while we’re up there.” He gave a tug, causing Jared’s hips to jerk a little.
Jared just rolled his eyes in mock frustration. “Work, work, work.”
end
Author’s Notes:
I’d like to make a couple thank yous first.
To rei_c for all of her cheerleading and basically being a rock when I was just about ready to tear my hair out. Especially when the plot in my head decided to take a flying leap out the window.
To affectingly, keepaofthecheez, and rejeneration for being fantastic betas and really whipping this into shape for me. Your advice was extremely helpful and I love you all for stepping up to help.
To gummishiip for her AMAZING art. She had it done in absolutely no time, and it fits the story so absolutely perfectly.
And of course, to wendy and audrarose for putting this all together and challenging me to step out of my comfort zones of ficlets.
This whole story came from a trip to the movie theater. I was sitting at my seat, waiting for the previews to start and listening to the pre-show entertainment. I basically heard the same three songs in a row that I had heard the previous time I'd attended. Well, that instantly made me feel terrible for the employees who have to listen to the damn thing day in and out. Had the best mental image of them all going Office Space on the damn stereo. Thus, fic was born.
And I don't apologize at all for the amount of schmoop in this story. Sometimes, we all just need a feel-good story, and this was mine. So there. ♥
And now, I'm pleased to announce that this fic has won Best Supporting Cast at j2_slash_awards. Thank you, everyone, who voted for it!
