Muffins 'Verse | #09; Stolen Glances
Title: Stolen Glances
Author:
cocoplumb
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Jared/Jensen. Mac and Cheese. It's that simple.
Warnings: If you're hungry I'm sorry.
Word Count: 1350
Summary: Jared cooks for Jensen during his recovery.
Notes: I'm easing myself back into writing after almost two years away so bare with me, I know this isn't long at all, but hopefully its at least literate. If you've been with this 'verse since the begining then once again, so sorry for the indefinite hiatus. If you're new, hi, hello, this is a universe in which Jensen has cancer and meets Jared outside a coffee shop where they ate muffins on their first date. You might want to read some of the previous parts first to get the full gist :)
Extras: Jensen's Apartment Layout
Previous Parts: #01 | #02 | #03 | #04 | #05 | #06 | #07 | #08
Jared arrived at Jensen’s apartment after work to find his boyfriend exactly where he expected him to be. Jensen was laid out on the sofa, covered with a plaid blanket with his book face down on the floor and his walking stick leant against the arm on the couch. It was fairly dark out but the lamp wasn’t on, so Jensen must have been asleep for at least an hour or so if he was reading with daylight from the window above him.
Jared felt his heart swell. Jensen slept a lot these days. It was like his body was catching up on the rest it had missed during the last year of chemo, cancer and pain. Sure, Jensen slept more than most guys his age during that time, but it had been restless sleep. Even with the heavy drugs.
It was like Jensen had found peace with his remission. Like he no longer hated the world and every healthy person in it just a tiny bit deep down. Jensen had never said as much, but Jared would sometimes, in Jensen’s darkest hours, see the flicker of resentment in his eyes. It was always gone before it became anything tangible, but Jared saw it none the less.
Gently, he placed a hand on Jensen’s cheek and rubbed his thumb along his jaw. It would be enough to wake him if he was ready, but not enough to disturb him if he wasn’t. Jared bit the smile forming when Jensen didn’t move an inch, and decided to get started on dinner.
Earlier in the week, Jared had called his mother and asked about the family famous Mac and Cheese she used to always make him when he was a kid. After swearing the secret recipe would only leave his lips if it was to be passed onto his children, she ran down the list of ingredients and instructions for him and told him to follow them to the letter. The recipe called for seven different types of cheeses, which Jared thought was ridiculous, but something told him his mother would know if he cut any corners.
He unpacked the grocery shopping he’d bought on the way home and set out everything he needed. He wasn’t exactly known for his culinary skills but even he could manage Mac and Cheese. At least he hoped.
Pots and pans clattered, though Jared tried to be as quiet as he could, but Jensen never made a muff. The kitchen spotlights shone a soft glow through the open plan apartment and across Jensen’s freckled features on the couch. Jared stole glances at Jensen through the glass doors that separated the kitchen from the living space while he cooked.
He tried to the keep the chaos to a minimum while he cooked, but it wasn’t long before things got out of control. The endless packets of cheeses, the impossible garlic press and flower on every surface including the ceiling were just some of the disasters he encountered as he went along. Mac and Cheese was supposed to be the thing you did if you wanted something quick and easy. Jared’s speed however, meant it was nearly an hour and half later that was finishing up.
While he waited for the cheese sauce to bubble -its ready when it bubbles Jared, no sooner no later- he heard his mothers voice in his head, Jared set the table, lit candles and all. He wanted tonight to be perfect. It wasn’t a special occasion or even a particularly interesting day in the week, but Jared wanted to spoil Jensen this evening.
When everything was about ready, he leaned over the couch and kissed Jensen awake. He felt the man smile under him and chuckle when he fluttered his eyes open. His lashes were starting to grow back and they were beautiful. His head fuzz had also made a reappearance and Jensen had almost reached for the clippers last week until Jared interjected that he had to start somewhere.
“I probably taste rank,” Jensen mumbled when their lips parted. He playfully tangled his fingers through Jared's hair and smiled. Jared's mop grew crazy fast and was already long enough to flop over his forehead once again. He could tell Jensen was enjoying it much more than the rough buzz. He often ran his fingers through it when they sat on the couch watching a movie. Jared wondered if Jensen was testing out how long hair felt again, trying to decide whether or not to let his own hair grow to how it was before he was diagnosed, when it was as long as Jared's used to be.
“True, but you’re so cute when you wake up. Nap breath was worth it."
Jensen snorted and gingerly sat himself up. “You’re such a jerk.” His nose then perked up and his brow creased. “What smells good?”
“Mama Padalecki’s Mac and Cheese. I had to swear on our future children to get the recipe.”
“Wow,” Jensen cleared his throat. “Um, that sounds like something we should talk about some other time, like after we at least move in, and I’m somewhat awake.”
“Mac and Cheese?”
“Children,” Jensen answered.
Jared made an awkward noise, “Totally.” Neither of them were ready for that conversation yet, though his mother may be inclined to think otherwise.
Jared held out his hands to help Jensen to stand and watched him make his way over to the table with his walking stick. He still needed an aid to get him from A to B, but long gone was the walker he used the few weeks after surgery and the wheelchair he reluctantly sat in occasionally after a torturous PT session.
“Are we celebrating something?” Jensen asked, looking at the table settings and candles.
“Sure, my ability to actual cook without burning something.” Okay that was a lie, he’d burned the first pot of macaroni because he was concentrating so hard on the cheese sauce and multitasking wasn’t in his skillset. The second attempt went fine and the huge bowl of cheesy macaroni goodness in the middle of the table was evident of his pride.
Jensen stared at Jared’s hard work and grinned. “This is awesome,” he declared, leaning over with his walking stick still firmly in his grasp to kiss Jared.
“I’m just gonna go get changed,” Jared told him when he sat down.
Jared let himself into Jensen’s bedroom to change from his stuffy -and now sweaty from the cooking- work shirt and slacks. He threw on a pair of navy sweats he found neatly folded away in the top drawer of Jensen’s chest and a white v-neck tee from the same spot. Frowning to himself, he noticed various bits and pieces of his belongings in the drawer too. Like the braided leather bracelet he wore on weekends. The tab that broke from the zip on his wallet a week or so ago. His deodorant, various pairs of underwear, his favourite belt, a few pairs of his jeans and his knitting needles, they were all in there. Jensen must have tidied earlier, must have put all his things away in one neat place, a place he specifically cleared out that used to have his own things in and now only contains Jared’s things. Holy shit Jensen cleared out a drawer for him.
“Jay? You coming, or am I starting without the chef?”
Jared stuck his tongue in his cheek and rubbed his eyes.
“Coming,” he shouted to the other room and composed himself.
Jensen asked if he was okay when he came back, so he knew he must have red eyes. He assured Jensen he was fine and they dug into their meal.
“This is amazing, Jay,” Jensen said with his mouth full and the tiny knot Jared had in his stomach released. It was an incredible feeling to help someone enjoy food again after such an uphill battle.
Remission looked good on both of them.
“I got us muffins for desert by the way,” Jared said with a smile.
Jensen snorted and shook his head. “You’re such a romantic.”
The End
A/N: As always, feel free to leave any comments or prompts for this verse.
Author:
cocoplumb
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Jared/Jensen. Mac and Cheese. It's that simple.
Warnings: If you're hungry I'm sorry.
Word Count: 1350
Summary: Jared cooks for Jensen during his recovery.
Notes: I'm easing myself back into writing after almost two years away so bare with me, I know this isn't long at all, but hopefully its at least literate. If you've been with this 'verse since the begining then once again, so sorry for the indefinite hiatus. If you're new, hi, hello, this is a universe in which Jensen has cancer and meets Jared outside a coffee shop where they ate muffins on their first date. You might want to read some of the previous parts first to get the full gist :)
Extras: Jensen's Apartment Layout
Previous Parts: #01 | #02 | #03 | #04 | #05 | #06 | #07 | #08
Jared arrived at Jensen’s apartment after work to find his boyfriend exactly where he expected him to be. Jensen was laid out on the sofa, covered with a plaid blanket with his book face down on the floor and his walking stick leant against the arm on the couch. It was fairly dark out but the lamp wasn’t on, so Jensen must have been asleep for at least an hour or so if he was reading with daylight from the window above him.
Jared felt his heart swell. Jensen slept a lot these days. It was like his body was catching up on the rest it had missed during the last year of chemo, cancer and pain. Sure, Jensen slept more than most guys his age during that time, but it had been restless sleep. Even with the heavy drugs.
It was like Jensen had found peace with his remission. Like he no longer hated the world and every healthy person in it just a tiny bit deep down. Jensen had never said as much, but Jared would sometimes, in Jensen’s darkest hours, see the flicker of resentment in his eyes. It was always gone before it became anything tangible, but Jared saw it none the less.
Gently, he placed a hand on Jensen’s cheek and rubbed his thumb along his jaw. It would be enough to wake him if he was ready, but not enough to disturb him if he wasn’t. Jared bit the smile forming when Jensen didn’t move an inch, and decided to get started on dinner.
Earlier in the week, Jared had called his mother and asked about the family famous Mac and Cheese she used to always make him when he was a kid. After swearing the secret recipe would only leave his lips if it was to be passed onto his children, she ran down the list of ingredients and instructions for him and told him to follow them to the letter. The recipe called for seven different types of cheeses, which Jared thought was ridiculous, but something told him his mother would know if he cut any corners.
He unpacked the grocery shopping he’d bought on the way home and set out everything he needed. He wasn’t exactly known for his culinary skills but even he could manage Mac and Cheese. At least he hoped.
Pots and pans clattered, though Jared tried to be as quiet as he could, but Jensen never made a muff. The kitchen spotlights shone a soft glow through the open plan apartment and across Jensen’s freckled features on the couch. Jared stole glances at Jensen through the glass doors that separated the kitchen from the living space while he cooked.
He tried to the keep the chaos to a minimum while he cooked, but it wasn’t long before things got out of control. The endless packets of cheeses, the impossible garlic press and flower on every surface including the ceiling were just some of the disasters he encountered as he went along. Mac and Cheese was supposed to be the thing you did if you wanted something quick and easy. Jared’s speed however, meant it was nearly an hour and half later that was finishing up.
While he waited for the cheese sauce to bubble -its ready when it bubbles Jared, no sooner no later- he heard his mothers voice in his head, Jared set the table, lit candles and all. He wanted tonight to be perfect. It wasn’t a special occasion or even a particularly interesting day in the week, but Jared wanted to spoil Jensen this evening.
When everything was about ready, he leaned over the couch and kissed Jensen awake. He felt the man smile under him and chuckle when he fluttered his eyes open. His lashes were starting to grow back and they were beautiful. His head fuzz had also made a reappearance and Jensen had almost reached for the clippers last week until Jared interjected that he had to start somewhere.
“I probably taste rank,” Jensen mumbled when their lips parted. He playfully tangled his fingers through Jared's hair and smiled. Jared's mop grew crazy fast and was already long enough to flop over his forehead once again. He could tell Jensen was enjoying it much more than the rough buzz. He often ran his fingers through it when they sat on the couch watching a movie. Jared wondered if Jensen was testing out how long hair felt again, trying to decide whether or not to let his own hair grow to how it was before he was diagnosed, when it was as long as Jared's used to be.
“True, but you’re so cute when you wake up. Nap breath was worth it."
Jensen snorted and gingerly sat himself up. “You’re such a jerk.” His nose then perked up and his brow creased. “What smells good?”
“Mama Padalecki’s Mac and Cheese. I had to swear on our future children to get the recipe.”
“Wow,” Jensen cleared his throat. “Um, that sounds like something we should talk about some other time, like after we at least move in, and I’m somewhat awake.”
“Mac and Cheese?”
“Children,” Jensen answered.
Jared made an awkward noise, “Totally.” Neither of them were ready for that conversation yet, though his mother may be inclined to think otherwise.
Jared held out his hands to help Jensen to stand and watched him make his way over to the table with his walking stick. He still needed an aid to get him from A to B, but long gone was the walker he used the few weeks after surgery and the wheelchair he reluctantly sat in occasionally after a torturous PT session.
“Are we celebrating something?” Jensen asked, looking at the table settings and candles.
“Sure, my ability to actual cook without burning something.” Okay that was a lie, he’d burned the first pot of macaroni because he was concentrating so hard on the cheese sauce and multitasking wasn’t in his skillset. The second attempt went fine and the huge bowl of cheesy macaroni goodness in the middle of the table was evident of his pride.
Jensen stared at Jared’s hard work and grinned. “This is awesome,” he declared, leaning over with his walking stick still firmly in his grasp to kiss Jared.
“I’m just gonna go get changed,” Jared told him when he sat down.
Jared let himself into Jensen’s bedroom to change from his stuffy -and now sweaty from the cooking- work shirt and slacks. He threw on a pair of navy sweats he found neatly folded away in the top drawer of Jensen’s chest and a white v-neck tee from the same spot. Frowning to himself, he noticed various bits and pieces of his belongings in the drawer too. Like the braided leather bracelet he wore on weekends. The tab that broke from the zip on his wallet a week or so ago. His deodorant, various pairs of underwear, his favourite belt, a few pairs of his jeans and his knitting needles, they were all in there. Jensen must have tidied earlier, must have put all his things away in one neat place, a place he specifically cleared out that used to have his own things in and now only contains Jared’s things. Holy shit Jensen cleared out a drawer for him.
“Jay? You coming, or am I starting without the chef?”
Jared stuck his tongue in his cheek and rubbed his eyes.
“Coming,” he shouted to the other room and composed himself.
Jensen asked if he was okay when he came back, so he knew he must have red eyes. He assured Jensen he was fine and they dug into their meal.
“This is amazing, Jay,” Jensen said with his mouth full and the tiny knot Jared had in his stomach released. It was an incredible feeling to help someone enjoy food again after such an uphill battle.
Remission looked good on both of them.
“I got us muffins for desert by the way,” Jared said with a smile.
Jensen snorted and shook his head. “You’re such a romantic.”
The End
A/N: As always, feel free to leave any comments or prompts for this verse.