FIC: Re-cast, ch 5/? rated R Jensen/Jared
Feb. 27th, 2007 05:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Author: Ladyjanelly
Rating: PG
Characters: Jensen/Jared,
Summary: Jensen stopped acting in 2000. He still runs into Jared.
Warning: Men sexing men, AU.
Disclaimer: Never happened, not my boys.
Betaed by the lovely
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Feedback: honestly curious what people think of this. Love it, hate it, either way, I'd love to know why.
Jared leaves Jensen’s place in the dark hours of morning. He wants to be there when Jen wakes up, to start the day in his arms, to watch the sunrise caress his skin and the palest blond strands of his hair.
He’s got obligations though, two of them, sitting at home still waiting for their bedtime walk. Harley might make it to morning and only chew up something to show his displeasure. Sadie though, will have left a puddle somewhere and Jared can’t stand to see her ashamed, all tail-tucked and cowering like she expects him to beat her.
He hesitates at the other man’s front door, trying to figure out how to lock it from the outside. There doesn’t seem to be a way, stupid apartment setup. Jensen hadn’t worried about it when Jared said goodbye though. It’s
Jared gets home at four AM and takes the dogs out, almost falls asleep waiting for them to do their business. The thought of getting naked and crawling into his empty bed has no appeal and he ends up sacked out on the couch in all his clothes.
He wakes up for the second time around ten, when a courier brings by a fat envelope of script revisions. His back tries to cramp up, stiff and sore from sleeping twisted. He takes a long hot shower to relax the muscles before he calls Jensen. The man has psychic powers or something, always knows when Jared’s let his hard work go to waste.
It turns out that he needn’t have bothered. The call goes direct to voice mail and he leaves a quick “It’s Jared, just calling to see what you’re up to today.” He restrains himself from saying something flirty—they didn’t really talk afterwards, and he doesn’t want to overstep himself.
He leaves a second message at eleven and a third at eleven-thirty. “Me again, just making sure you’re okay.”
Maybe he’s screwed up somewhere and Jen’s just mad and not taking his calls, but memories of Jensen’s unlocked front door are nagging at him. Jensen’s an adult and it’s not like there’s been a rash of (or any) home invasions lately, but you never know. Jared packs up the dogs and their toys into the cab of the truck. If something’s happened, he needs to know. If not, maybe they can go hang out together. If he’s made an ass of himself with the phone calls and messages and all, he’ll apologize and fix it if he can.
He’s a block from Jen’s when his phone rings.
“Are you stalking me?” Jensen asks without even a hello, but his tone is light, maybe even pleased.
“Nah, just making sure everything was good with me leaving last night.”
“We’re good,” Jensen says. Jared pulls to the curb outside the other man’s place and parks. “What are you up to, today? Want to grab lunch or something?”
“Sure,” says Jared. He leans his head back against the seat’s rest, feels the flush slide up his cheeks. “I’m at your place, you want to meet there?”
It’s totally fair that Jensen laughs at him; it doesn’t mean he has to like it.
“Fine. I’ll meet you in a bit. Stalker.”
Jared’s got the dogs out on their leashes by the time Jensen’s jeep cruises up. It’s only the second time they’ve met him, but their ears perk up and their tails wag. Together they’re almost strong enough to drag Jared over. It’s the direction he wants to go so he lets them win, just this once.
Jensen steps out of the vehicle and Jared puts the brakes on the dogs, because Jen’s dressed way too nice to be fending them off.
Jensen drops into a crouch and opens his arms with a play-growl of “Puppies!”
Jared can’t hold them back anymore. Sadie hits low, trying to nuzzle in under Jen’s elbow while Harley hits high, doing his best to lick the glasses off of Jensen’s face. In seconds, there are scuffs on Jensen’s glossy black shoes and gold dog hair on his charcoal slacks and a huge dusty paw-print on the shoulder of his starched white shirt.
Jared has put a lot of effort into not classifying what he’s feeling for Jensen. He’s been deliberately letting things run their course, not planning too far ahead. Looking down at how happy Jensen is to be mauled by Jared’s babies, he thinks it just might be love.
“Hey,” Jensen says as he smiles up at the taller man, “Just let me change and we can head out for food.” He gives the dogs one last ruffle and stands up. The distance between them seems much too wide to Jared.
“Want to come in?”
“Yeah.” Jared takes up the slack in the leashes. “Just let me--” he makes a gesture from the dogs to the truck.
Jensen’s right eyebrow arches up as he gives Jared one of those Are you trying to be backwards? sort of looks.
“Bring them in. It’s not like they’re yard dogs.”
So Jared brings them along, standing by Jensen as he puts the key in the lock. He follows through the cozy home to the kitchen, where Jen starts filling a bowl with water at the sink. He knows he’s in Jensen’s personal space. He can smell the soap and skin and a brand aftershave he hasn’t noticed before.
Jared’s never been good at suppressing his curiosity. The words “So what were you up to this morning?” are out of his mouth before he can wonder if he sounds like some controlling jerk of a boyfriend.
Unfortunately Jared’s distracted by the quick tongue-flick, teeth-scrape that Jensen gives his own lower lip, so much so that he almost misses when Jen says “Uh, church actually.”
Jared blinks, his preconceptions hitting reality in a disjointed sort of way. “Wait, what?”
Jensen puts the bowl down for the dogs. “You know, pastor, choir, big cross up front? Church.”
“Oh, yeah, um, that’s cool?” Jared doesn’t manage to make it a statement. He feels a spark of worry as he puts things together. Jensen who doesn’t drink and hardly ever swears, Jensen who doesn’t let Jared suck his dick.
Jensen’s lips quirk but his smile is edged with a wariness that Jared hates to see.
“You look like you’ve got questions.” Jensen leans back, ass and hands against the kitchen counter. If he’s strong enough to put himself out there, Jared feels like he owes him at least an honest response.
“That why you don’t drink?” He asks, working up to what he’s afraid to know. He can compete with a lot for someone’s affections but he’s not sure how he’ll do against the fear of God’s disapproval.
Jensen makes a little laugh-noise in his chest; his grin is wry and self deprecating.
“I don’t drink because I have horrible judgment when I’m drunk. I do things I don’t really feel with people who aren’t worth it, or I blow my chances at something good by rushing.” He pauses for breath. “It’s easier to fuck than it is to talk or to feel, and drinking makes it even easier.”
Jensen searches Jared’s face for understanding, and as much as Jared wouldn’t have minded more fucking, it makes him feel special that Jen’s worried about it.
“Drinking alone is sad and stupid, and drinking around people is dangerous for me, so I just gave it up.” He reaches out, almost uncertain, and takes Jared’s hand. He rubs his thumb over the dry skin of Jared’s knuckles.
“Last night, with you, was the only time in my life I’ve been sober the first time I went to bed with somebody.” He hesitates for a second, and then amends his statement. “Okay, the first time since high school, but yeah.”
Jensen takes another deep breath and then presses on. “I got a little overwhelmed but I’m glad for everything we did last night. I have no regrets.”
Jared can’t resist anymore; he reaches up to caress along Jen’s jaw, the soft skin below his ear. Jensen leans into the touch and already Jared’s feeling relieved. This can work, this can be okay.
“So I didn’t seduce you into a night of sin?” He asks, and he’s only half teasing.
Jensen chuckles and shakes his head. “It’s not that kind of church.” There’s just a brief second where his smile twists to bitterness. “My mom would probably say I’m doing more damage than good to my soul by choosing to listen to blasphemy, but yeah, it’s an inclusive kind of place, you know?”
Jared’s not exactly sure he does know, but he nods anyway as Jensen threads his fingers through the hair at the back of his neck and pulls him down so their lips brush in the most tender kiss.
“This isn’t casual sex to me,” Jensen whispers as he pulls back. “I don’t think it is to you either.”
Jared’s hands wander like they’ve got their own agendas, sliding over the muscles of Jen’s back, pulling him closer. He feels like he’s underwater, with the way everything is so slow and fluid.
“It’s not.” They’re the two scariest words Jared’s ever said, even more than telling
The two men rest forehead to forehead for a moment; Jared’s careful not to smudge Jensen's glasses with his nose. It’s so good to be close, to feel Jensen breathing in the circle of his arms.
Then there’s a bump and rattle from the living room and the moment’s over. Jared fusses at Harley while Jen laughs that it was just a coffee cup and empty besides, can’t blame a dog for being curious.
Jared keeps the mutts out of trouble while Jensen changes into comfortable clothes. Jensen suggests the take-out place by the park and drives Jared and his canines there in his jeep.
They eat and sprawl in the sun and play “soccer” with the dogs. When Harley bites a slow leak into the ball, the game turns to tug-o-war. Jared and the dog battle for supremacy while Jensen laughs at them from a blanket on the grass. Sadie’s decided that a guarantee of getting her ears scratched is better than the slim chance she’ll get the ball, so she plasters herself to Jensen’s knee like a growth.
The whole afternoon, Jared’s wishing there was more touching, but Jen doesn’t initiate any PDAs. He wishes he was confident enough in himself and his career to start one of his own, but he keeps shying away from the risk. He’s glad to be there, glad Jensen’s there, but he knows there could be more. He wants it, and thinks maybe Jensen wants it too.
“Hey Jared?” Jensen asks in the jeep on the way back.
“Yeah?”
“This morning when you asked if I was okay with you leaving and all?” Jensen’s staring straight ahead out of the windshield, his hands steady on the wheel.
Jared feels his stomach clench a little.
“Yeah?” That broken-record thing just ain’t cool, but he can’t think of anything else to say.
“Just because I was okay with you leaving, doesn’t mean I wanted you to go.”
Jared laughs as big as
“Jensen, are you asking me to spend the night?” He tries for shock, but it comes out teasing more than anything.
Jen smiles and glances over. “Yeah. I am. We need to stop for dog food or something?”
This, being with Jensen, is so easy, it feels so natural.
“Nah, they’ve got a bucket of dry in the truck for emergencies.”
“This counts as an emergency?”
God Jared loves that smile.
“Oh yeah.”
no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 03:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
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From:no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 03:27 am (UTC)The church thing wasnt too much?
Ugh, I hate being sick, my inner critic just doesn't give a fuck and I'm left second-guessing stuff.
BTW, I am incapable of writing Jeff without thinking about your fics at this point. I feel like I'm sneaking into another writer's sandbox.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 06:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 03:47 pm (UTC)Glad you're enjoying the fic. I was so nervous about the church thing. Happy to hear it worked for you.
Yeah it's a WIP, sorry. Next part should be up pretty soon though.
Just have to re-read it when I'm not freakin' sick.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 07:03 pm (UTC)I really needed this today. Thank you so much darling for writing it!
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Date: 2007-02-28 07:54 pm (UTC)Sometimes I think they're a little too easy, too domestic or something, but really, this is my low-angst fic and I'm sorta okay with that.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-03-01 12:08 am (UTC)low-level angst and domestic is true, but looking at how they immediately hit it off when they first met IRL, I guess that the way you wrote it is just another very probable possibility for a J2 universe :)
I agree on the church bit. what is considered true is usually just a question of majority, not evidence, especially where religion is concerned. Jensen wanting to hold on to/practicing his belief and therefore finding a church that preaches the things he believes in, that's the kind of selfconfident act that I'd expect of the real Jensen.
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Date: 2007-03-01 02:40 am (UTC)I really like making things as probable as possible within an AU setting as possible. Giving reality a twist and then watching where all the parts spin off to. Figured yeah, the boys connecting in some way and super-fast wasn't a leap.
Also with the church thing. If Jensen wasnt gonna crash and burn when the scar happened and his career tanked and he realized his relationships were too shallow to have value, he'd have needed some outside help. Being in a strange city, away from friends and family, it seems like he'd have gone back to his roots.
So really, I'm thrilled that part works for people. I was all scared and stuff. :)
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Date: 2007-03-01 01:14 am (UTC)Ahem.
HI! I love this story sooooo muuuuuch. I used to not like WIPs but now I do because at least I know there's more coming. At some point. The story isn't over and I don't have to say goodbye to these awesome characters yet. :)
BTW- I've read your comments about the gay church and it totally worked for me and the line that totally made it work for me was Jensen's comment about the blasphemy. Funny and true, sadly. Anyway, good story! :)
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Date: 2007-03-01 12:59 pm (UTC)It's a WIP, but I've got a lot of small stories to tell in this verse, so I think it's pretty stable. Next part should be up when I get it back from the beta-reader.
Glad the church thing worked for you. While yes, a lot of religions are hard on gay people, I wanted to explore the opposite effect. Jensen in this 'verse has some issues with the faith of his parents, but he and God are still tight.
Thanks so much for your feedback. It's great to hear what hits people in a fic.
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Date: 2007-03-04 06:30 pm (UTC)I like that you remembered to include details about him having to get home to the dogs. The phrase describing Sadie feeling guilty about making a mess.... It's true. ANd it reminded me why I'm so glad I don't own puppies. (Even if they are wonderful.) A lot of author's wouldn't include that kind of thing.
Hope to see more soon.
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Date: 2007-03-04 07:21 pm (UTC)Cool. I worried that somebody somewhere would take it as preachiness or something.
Writing Jared with the dogs is almost like writing a single dad(except it's okay for them to be in the room while he makes hot sexxors with Jensen on the couch). They need a lot of time and attention. I found I can't write Jared at all without wondering where the dogs are. :)
Ch 6 is done and beta'ed and I just have to make my last-minute read-over before Ipost it.
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Date: 2007-03-04 07:05 pm (UTC)I'm really enjoying it. =)
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Date: 2007-03-04 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-04 07:21 pm (UTC)I like that JEnsen's trying to do things right and that he feels comfortable enough with Jared to answer his questions honestly.
Can't wait for more.
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-04 07:36 pm (UTC)i just wanna pick them up and embrace them, or watch them have sex.
either will do fine.
I sure hope Jensen will get over his no blow job thing because it's really a waste of Jared's talent and beautiful mouth.
also what's with the scar...
more!!!
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:06 pm (UTC)Mmmmm, Scar. :)
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Date: 2007-03-04 10:55 pm (UTC)Oh, man. That seems so real to me. Brutally honest and painful.
I'm happy to see another chapter to your story, and I'm excited to see where you take this.
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:08 pm (UTC)Thanks, that was what I was going for--A Jensen who's made mistakes and learned from them and isn't ashamed to admit them.
Ch 6 should be up this weekend.
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Date: 2007-03-05 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-06 07:09 pm (UTC)I don't think Jared could possibly be with somebody who didn't love his dogs, at least a little.
Glad you're enjoying.
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Date: 2007-03-05 02:34 am (UTC)OMG! i missed it
YAY! they are SOOOOO CUTE TOGETHER
*dies*
Will mem
Can't wait for more :D
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:11 pm (UTC)Ch 6 should be out friday.
Adoraboys.
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Date: 2007-03-05 03:48 am (UTC)I'm not really a religious person, but I liked the fact that you brought in Jen's religion and Jared's mixed reaction to it.
And the whole 'emergency' aspect of spending the night was fabulous by the way. I can't wait for more....
*hugs*
-C-
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:17 pm (UTC)I see Jen as somebody who's been through some trials, in a city far from home where he didn't know many people, and I couldn't see him making it through without the support of something, and faith seemed a likely candidate.
Heh. Sex/love and faith are not mutually exclusive. Jensen's pretty good at asking for what he wants.
love it.
Date: 2007-03-05 05:05 am (UTC)Re: love it.
Date: 2007-03-06 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-05 06:48 am (UTC)I am really enjoying this story thus far, the interactions between the boys are truly wonderful. I like that you've brought in the church because in most fics it gets left out and Jensen comes from a religious background. Even if it is a different Church than what he was raised with, I can see him still being devoted to some form of religion.
This chapter was all kinds of wonderful with the domesticity of taking the dogs out to play in the park. Loved that picture your writing put in my head.
Thanks for sharing this!
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:26 pm (UTC)No worries. You made up for quantity with quality feedback. :)
I was so hesitant to bring the church thing in, so I'm pleased to hear that worked for you. Jensen ending up where he is in life would have had this logic-vacuum in it without faith, I think. Like "how did he not fall apart and go to drugs and drink and lose himself in empty sex?" He needed some unconditional support.
Glad the domestic thing works. They're looking for something besides tons of great sex, and Jensen especially is making sure they get out and share experiances and date too.
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Date: 2007-03-05 10:02 am (UTC)guh I love this story cant wait for the next update
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:27 pm (UTC)Ch 6 should be up friday.
Glad you're enjoying. Thanks for commenting. :)
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Date: 2007-03-05 11:33 am (UTC)i think jensen has a few more secrets up his sleeve than church going. can't wait to find out!
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:30 pm (UTC)Aren't we all?
i think jensen has a few more secrets up his sleeve than church going
Secrets about where he was Sunday morning, or secrets in general?
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Date: 2007-03-05 02:58 pm (UTC)Anyways, you already know that I love this, all the little details that you bring in there to give this such an air of believability. I can't wait to see where you go next ( and when you finally let us in on the reason behind Jensen's scar. )
♥
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Date: 2007-03-06 07:31 pm (UTC)I've got like 3 different scenes I want to start next chapter with. It's like 3 big dogs trying to get through the doggy door at the same time. Bastards.
mmmmm, Scar.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-03-06 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-06 07:35 pm (UTC)And yeah, I have a glasses-fetish and a scar-fetish and love Jensen with the longer hair. I admit to the self-indulgence.
Ch 6 should be out on friday.
Thanks so much for commenting.
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Date: 2007-04-03 12:47 pm (UTC)I love your Jensen. How he gets on well with the dogs (I'm kind of the same: getting along with my dog is a sure way to win my heart). How he's still a christian (not every christian thinks (gay) sex is bad).
The sex was hot and the schmoop is good too. Also your 'feedback is like sex' comment from the previous part you posted is funny.
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Date: 2007-04-16 03:46 am (UTC)This chapter feels pivotal to me. There's so much here about Jensen's past, subtly laid out; he's much more uncertain inside, shyer and lacking confidence, than he seems, and it's led to bad choices in the past. I've wondered often how much of a drawback his looks are, in that so many people react to Jensen physically without considering the *person* behind the face and body. Sort of dehumanizing.
It all makes me wonder how often he's been taken advantage of in the past; and admire how far he's come in rebuilding himself.
I very much like your approach to the religious angle in this. I'm not religious myself-or I should better say not "organized" religious. But it's an important part of his life, and deserves better, more rounded treatment than just being bashed as bigotry. Relgious faith itself isn't a bad thing. It can be very supportive, if you have the right congregation; and it would have given him something to lean on during his troubles.
I like how Jensen isn't apologizing for his faith, any more than he's trying to convert Jared. I like how he deals with the drinking issue, too. He doesn't drink, for good reasons; but he's not judgemental because other people do. Maturity!
Jared's "stalkeriness" was very cute. I like that he wanted to make sure Jensen was safe, after leaving the door unlocked; I like that he didn't take anything for granted the day after; I like his appreciation and luxuriating in the tender moments they shared, and his affectionate nature. He's so sweet, revelling in just *being* with his lover...makes me wonder what would happen if anyone hassled Jensen in front of him, or tried to hit on him. Yeah, I find possessive!protective!Jared a bit of a turn on, why do you ask? *grins*
Another lovely chapter. *loves on ya*
Pesti
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Date: 2007-05-11 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:39 pm (UTC)