![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fic title: "Every Christmas With You "
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 9.822
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks toyume_odori for the beta, and to parka_girl for going over it.
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: A day before Christmas and Jared can't stand anything holiday related anymore.
Of course, it has to be him that is trapped in the store he is working at with the douchy guy he has had a crush on for almost all semester.
Notes: This was written fortinkabell007 for the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
spn_j2_xmas exchange.
tinkabell007, I took your prompt of the boys being trapped in a mall/Wall mart. I loved the idea and wanted to write this, so I tried. This sort of ran away from me and I was stuck for a while but I hope you like it anyway.
Sorry that it is a little late and that the boys didn't want to get porny but I tried to go with your 'likes' of fluffy fic.
Also huge thanks to very awesome people on my flist (you know who you are) for helping me out research-wise. Thanks guys.
Some scenes in here were inspired by the season six episode "Castaways" of "Dawson's Creek".
The last customers stroll through the aisles slowly, as if it isn't two minutes before closing. Children, trying to beg the last Christmas gifts out of their parents, cry and stomp their feet in the middle of the main aisle and stressed mothers rush their carts through it all without seeing anything left or right.
It's the last day before Christmas, and also the last day this particular shop is open before the holidays. It’s not like this is the only shop like this in this part of town, but it apparently has the best offers and no one really wants to be forced to rush through Wal-Mart or similar super-malls - or whatever they're called. They've just recently opened and are larger than anything around.
Jared just wants to be done with this shift. A shift that wasn't even his but Sandy got sick and Chad was already on the way home, so it had to be either him or Misha doing that last shift. And well, let's just say Jared wasn't exactly willing to be called in at 10pm because Misha forgot the key codes again. And knowing his luck he would have been in San Antonio by then already.
He totally regrets his decision and generosity right about now.
Jolly Christmas songs are playing, trying to get people in the mood. Jared just wants to go and rip the CD player to pieces. He's been living with this music for weeks and really, his mood is dead. Deader than dead.
He hates it because he usually loves Christmas, the decorations and all the songs. But this year's been bad and working in a store under the constant assault of all things Christmas isn't helping either.
Jared tries not to check his watch every few minutes, time does not fly around here. Not at all. He just wants to be done, go to the dorm, pack his car and drive home. He craves seeing his family again, it's been way too long. He wants to just sit down with his parents, enjoy his momma’s cooking, talk to Jeff and Megan, and then just lie there cuddling up with his babies.
Jared misses his dogs fiercely. Curses the rule of no pets in the dorms and wonders when he'll finally be able to move out. He's a junior this year and should've done so anyway. But Chad begging him to stay wasn't a pretty picture and Jared doesn't want to relive this particular performance ever again.
He wants to be done with this shift. And not running through aisles and aisles of toys, shoes, clothes, electronic equipment or camping products just to clean up the messes customers leave behind. Why can't people place the things back from where they found them? What’s so hard about that?
This Christmas really sucks.
~
Jared's in the middle of dodging customers and preparing for close-up when there is a loud crash and someone stumbles into him, sending him sprawling between giant stuffed unicorns he just stacked after a tantrum throwing five-year-old thought it be a good idea to kick the tower of sparkling toys. He looks up but only sees the back of two people he'd recognize anywhere. Just the flash of red hair, leather boots and tight jeans is enough for Jared to know who sent him to the floor.
There is a mumbled ‘sorry’ but Jared isn't really sure it's meant for him or the old lady standing at the end of the aisle. Seeing how his luck goes these days, it's the latter and those two storming toward the back of the store didn't even see him at all.
It's just his luck to be mowed down by the two people who have made this semester sort of really awkward for him since it started.
Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris, the hot 'it' couple of the campus.
Well, Jared knows the back of their heads very well. They sit in front of him in two of his senior courses. Always together, never paying attention to anybody but themselves and occasionally someone else out of their very small and very elite group of friends. Jared is too young to actually register on the radar. Knows he's the geek who jumps classes, graduated early in high school and is doing the same at college, too.
The back of their heads though are rather interesting. Varying types of hairdo and color in Danneel's case and always the same perfectly spiked dark shortcut in Jensen's. Jared can almost predict in what kind of mood they are from just looking at Danneel's hair. Not that Jensen ever turns enough toward him for Jared to see his perfectly shaped face and green eyes for more than a few seconds.
It's enough, though, to maintain a rather unhealthy crush and it's also enough to make Jared totally tongue tied whenever there might be a possible opening for conversation. Not that Jensen or Danneel would ever talk to a junior or someone almost four years younger than them. With them, it's almost like high school again. At least that's what Jared feels like when he sits silently behind them, watching the backs of their heads.
Yes, he's pathetic but he doesn't really care about that since no one really knows about this crush. Well, no one except for Chad, Sandy, Misha, Aldis and Sophia. Sometimes Jared thinks he should keep all of his secrets to himself. His friends are a rather unpredictable bunch of people.
So mostly Jared knows what campus gossip says about Jensen and Danneel. Both of them are hot, the epitome of beauty and brains. And yes, Jared actually is a little jealous because all he has got is brains and no one actually goes for that. No points for him on the social popularity scale.
Sometimes he is tempted to call them douchey or ignorant but then Jensen would turn around ask very politely for a stack of papers that have been going around, that Jared totally forgot to pass on because he was too busy staring into the air or at hair. Yeah, Jared sort of always manages to come off as the complete dick or idiot when interacting with either Jensen or Danneel. If he's interacting with them at all, which really doesn't happen all to often.
If he's honest with himself, Jared would finally admit to that he's had a crush on Jensen since the first time he stepped into the classroom and saw Jensen bent backwards, laughing with all his heart. But then again, Jared's good at denial and, well, he sort of hates rejection so he steadfastly ignores it. Instead he just tries to think of Jensen as totally unavailable or as a complete douche, which sometimes he really is. But also unavailable, judging from the way he and Danneel are acting together.
Jared's never said a single word to either Jensen or Danneel and he still feels like he's saying too much with just being there every time they stop talking to look at him when he's forgotten to pass something on, again. He sighs, trying not to think about how much his life sucks right now and goes back to ignoring everything around him.
Looking down, Jared notices for the first time, the stain of whatever pinkish stuff someone spread over the entire floor of the aisle. He groans, moves some of the stray unicorns out of the way and stomps off to get the bucket and the mop.
Yeah, this is exactly how he envisioned Christmas.
~
He is in the middle of restacking the unicorns, again, when Danneel comes storming back through the aisle. Her hair looks like a storm went by, leaving it all tousled and out of place. Her face is flushed and Jared wonders if her jacket is supposed to sit this way. Then it hits him. Of course they had to go and have sex in his shop. Right before closing. Right before he has to clean everything. Great.
He wants to say something, make a sarcastic remark, anything. But like normal, his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth and he feels a blush spreading on his cheeks. Surprise, he thinks, nothing every changes.
Danneel uses the same path out that she came into the store. This time she looks directly at him and, if he didn’t know better, he’d say she's doing so with a rather mischievous glint in her eyes and scary smirk on her lips. She nods when she passes him, even hands him one of the stray unicorns but doesn't say a single word. Jared doesn’t really know how to take that. So he just blinks, lets her pass without making a single sound.
He just sort of remains standing in the toy aisle in a Target on the day before Christmas and gapes. Well, stares really, at the rather beautiful redheaded literature student. And here he'd been thinking that his life wasn't exciting at all.
She's long gone when Jared blinks out of his stupor. God, that woman is hot and Jared would so be lusting after her if he wasn't already lusting after her boyfriend. He briefly wonders where Jensen is, but then decides that this path is not the right one to take. He doesn't want to imagine Jensen all rumbled, clothes rugged up and eyes dilated with lust, standing in the public bathroom. He so doesn't need that imagine in his head.
The other images of Jensen he has on his mind are already plenty enough.
~
For the rest of the shift, Jared studiously ignores any thought of Jensen or Danneel, or that fact that he still doesn't know how to take her look. Given that the shift is only twenty more minutes, Jared gets everything done in record time.
The second he steps into the manager's office to get the door codes, he revels in the blessed silence of the room. The first thing he does is almost stab the button of the CD player to death. The music shuts off at the first stab, but Jared needs to let loose a little and the player is a welcome object to focus his aggressions on. His shift's over and he can finally be on his way home.
Thank God his place of work isn't far from campus and the dorms, so it won’t take that long to drive there, pack and be on his way to San Antonio. Austin is rather empty during holidays, or rather the area surrounding the main campus and his dorms is.
The aisles are clean, the last customers have left, the cashiers are already leaving through the ‘personnel only’ entrance and the shop manager has been gone for about an hour already. Jared's checked the lockers and all three bathroom, the delivery entrance and, last, the front entrance. Everything's closed up and he's ready to go, just needs to type in the codes for the alarm system and lock the employee entrance.
Jared makes his last round, checks everything again and when he's at the side exit, close to the manager's office, he glances outside. Jared actually stops and gapes for a good long minute. Or maybe even more. Because it's snowing and already there's a fine layer of fluffy white snow on the ground. It also looks like it'll storm soon, which might make getting home a bit of a challenge. He glances at his car, the only one left in the lot, and sighs. He isn't exactly used to driving in weather like this.
Jared wonders when his joy about snow died a silent death, probably around the same time his holiday fun decided to fuck off to a place unknown. A year ago he would've been grinning like a loon and wouldn't have been able to wait to go outside and dance in the snow. Those times are long gone. Jared grew up. At least thinks he did, the other options for his lack of fun are rather depressing and he doesn't really need anymore of that.
He's punching in the last key code for the system when everything goes dark. Completely and thoroughly dark.
It's so dark so suddenly that he actually slams against the glass of the exit door and smacks his head painfully against the steel frame. He is confused, disoriented and it takes some time for his head to clear. He feels dizzy and has to blink to clear it a little.
There are no lights at all.
No blinking Christmas decoration that has been driving him mad for weeks, no lights in the apartments across the street, not streetlights or lights in the parking lot. Not even the ‘Exit’ above the door is on. Nothing.
“Oh great. This is so fucking awesome.”
He hears the emergency generator in the back kick on a minute later though and sighs in relief when the small emergency lights flicker and then stay on. His eyes slowly adjust to the dim light and he can actually see the place on the glass where he smacked against it. At least there is no blood.
Then he looks at the system panel and groans out loud.
~
His head throbs, he is rather cold and he is stuck in a Target a day before Christmas, or rather a few hours before Christmas because it's already 10.30pm. Jared wonders what he did wrong this year to deserve it all.
Sometimes he wishes he'd accepted the barista job at the coffee house on campus. It certainly so much easier to do when Sophia talks about it. At least she never has to fear to be locked in when a power outage causes a system failure and locks down the whole damns security system itself. And he can’t even call help because emergency phone is hooked up to the system which is dead and the real phone is in the office which is locked down. The payphone has been gone for two months, which is really fucking convenient now and his cell is in his locker which he can’t reach because the code panel for the employee’s area is probably dead, too.
Must have been a fucking genius who hooked up all the doors to one system. Jared wonders why this was even allowed. It's all really awesome and Jared has absolutely no idea what to do. He tries to go through every option he has, but comes up blank.
Suddenly it really looks like he'll have to spend the night right where he is, with no means to call for help or his family. Jared has to fight hard not to scream, trash the place or just sit down right where he is and cry. He feels even more pathetic than before.That's just so like him. Getting locked up in a Target at Christmas.
It's still black outside and he tries not to shiver. It's a rather claustrophobic feeling, even though this place is sort of huge.
The crash comes when he's in the middle of deciding what to do. Fortunately, he's also in the middle of the sports department and therefore can grab a baseball bat at the first sound. And so he stands there, frozen, baseball bat grasped tightly in his hands and heart in his throat. He can't hear anything but his own heart beat and wonders if it's echoing through the aisles.
Another crash and Jared jumps, silently curses as he tries not to acknowledge that he's actually shaking. Of course it had to be him locked into a Target on Christmas with a freaking thief, who somehow got into the store without Jared noticing. Yes, his thoughts lack logic but who can blame him?
He takes a deep breath and shuffles towards the noise. It's not the best idea he's ever had but he doesn't really know what else to do. The only other options sound even more ridiculous than just going and confronting the noise, whatever it might be. Jared actually doubts he'd fit into the fridge or the kiddie castle, so hiding places are kind of limited anyway.
He is at the end of the iPod station when he hears cursing in addition to the noises. And suddenly Jared knows where it's all coming from. He doesn't know how it is possible since he checked the room earlier but at least he knows the robber in there can't see a single thing due to the outage, which turns the situation to his advantage.
Jared slowly takes a step forward, takes another deep breath and actually yanks the bathroom door open, jumps back when someone comes flying out of the darkness.
The heap on the floor turns and Jared can't do anything but gape… again.
~
“What the f… You?”
“Holy Hell!”
Jared drops the bat.. right next to the head of Jensen fucking Ackles.
Jensen Ackles who lies sprawled out on the floor at Jared's feet and is sort of staring confusedly up at him. This is really how he'd pictured having Jensen at his feet. but then he never actually believed it would happen, so he takes what he can get.
Jensen struggles to get up and only then does Jared move. He grabs Jensen by the elbow, almost hauling him to his feet. He has to grab onto his shoulders to stop him from sliding down again.
For the first time, Jared notices the pinkish stains on Jensen's white shirt and the soap residue on his hands. The slight flair of hope is squashed very fast because this really isn't the situation to be triumphant about Jensen and Danneel not having sex in the customer's bathroom.
Jensen is still sort of in his arms, clinging actually and looking at him in a way Jared has never seen before. Eyes all open and trusting, and so incredibly green that Jared swallows and draws back a little. Jared wants to ask him if he's okay, if he's hurt. He can see spilled paper towels on the floor through the still slightly open door and knows that Jensen must have crashed into the dispenser in the dark.
He really just wants to hug Jensen close and never let go. He's so damn happy that it's Jensen and not some thief, armed robber or murderer. Also, Jared's still on an adrenaline high so the first thing he ever says to Jensen doesn't come out very nice.
“The fuck man? What the hell are you doing in here? It's way past closing time and I checked the stalls. Where the hell have you been?”
Jensen blinks, takes a step back and Jared can see the walls slamming up. The confusion is still there but the openness in those green eyes is gone. Jared misses it the instant it's not there anymore. Jensen's eyes are as blank as they have always been towards Jared.
“Not that it is any of your business but I sat down in one of the stalls to try and clean my shirt which my friend managed to ruin. Guess I didn't watch the time. I was just so close to being done when everything went dark. So if you would be so nice to explain to me what's going on, it would be very much appreciated. And this time maybe refrain from shouting? I'm not deaf.”
It comes out as snotty and pretentious, just as Jared expected Jensen to be. It makes him a little sad to be right about Jensen being a douche. He'd hoped he was wrong. But then Jensen looks down, a small flush on his cheeks and tries to smooth his ruined shirt. Maybe everything's not like it seems and Jared decides to reserve judgment for a while.
Jensen also looks really kind of awesome in the tight jeans, the white shirt and a very comfy looking black coat. Jared just thinks he shouldn’t be so focused on that in a situation like this.
“Yeah, right.” He says. “Looks like a power outage in this part of the city and the security system locked down because the emergency generator kicked in too late. Code panels are blocked and well, we're locked in. Do you maybe have a cell phone on you?”
Jensen shuffles a little, runs a hand through his artfully messy hair and shrugs. “Battery's dead. Tried to use it as a flash light in there.”
So much for having a chance to call help. Luck really isn't on their side and as much as Jared appreciates not being alone anymore, he doesn't know if spending a night locked up with Jensen is his idea of a perfect night.
Okay, who is he kidding? Of course it is. He's still taking everything he can get.
Jensen turns towards the bathroom again, tugs his coat from where it is trapped between the door and the frame and actually huffs a little. When he turns back to Jared, he's again a little flushed and looking anywhere but Jared.
“I ... I'm Jensen.” He mumbles.
It makes Jared’s heart melt a little. Shy is definitely a trait he likes on Jensen. He is about to say ‘I know’ but realises in the last second that this would sound really stupid and kind of stalkerish.
But the look in Jensen’s eyes tells him this is just as embarrassing for him as it is for Jared, so they sort of both acknowledge they know each other without really saying anything out loud.
So he holds his hand out, nothing ever goes against his manners, and says “Jared. Sorry for the shouting. You just really scared the crap out of me.”
Jensen nods, shakes his hand and sort of withdraws into himself again. Jared thinks him and Danneel really fit together. He doesn’t know what to make of either of them.
~
Jensen's been pacing for more then 15 minutes before Jared snaps and tells him to park his ass on the camping bench. They've been through the entire store twice because Jensen wanted to see everything for himself, not really believing Jared when he said they're locked in and off from everything.
So now they're sort of settled among the camping equipment for several reasons. First of all, they have a lot of the entries and some of the store front windows in view and secondly they have a lot of things they can use to make the time here more comfortable.
Except Jensen seems to be getting closer and closer to a panic attack or, if he was a five-year-old, a tantrum of epic proportions. Jared can't do anything but sit there and watch. He wishes he knew the other man well enough so he could say or do something to calm him down. Of course, he doesn't know Jensen at all. Maybe this is his chance to change it. First though, he thinks, he has to calm him down.
But at the same time, Jared thinks he shouldn't be turned on by the way Jensen is working himself into some sort of nervous breakdown. But damn, the man is handsome like this. Very handsome.
“Settle down, Jensen. There isn't anything we can do right now. Just sit and wait. I know it sucks and it sucks even more that we can't charge your cell.” Jared is silently amused that Jensen has a cell phone that doesn't fit with any of the chargers they sell. But on the other hand, that would have been their chance to try and call help.
Not his fault that the cells on display aren't charged at all. He has to talk to Misha about that. Not that any of the cells would have service but they could have at least tried to use Jensen’s card or whatever. Jared isn’t really sure what he is thinking anymore.
“I just want to get the fuck out of here. I have to be home for Christmas. I just.. Can't you do anything? Nothing? I just want to go home.” Jensen's close to shouting. He looks all panicked and really red. Jared's close to asking if he is feeling okay but holds back.
“And what? I don't? Thanks a lot. And how exactly am I supposed to get us out? I told you, everything's locked. Should I bash the windows in?” Jared knows he sounds exasperated but really what is Jensen expecting?
“Yeah. Why not?” Jensen growls.
“’Cause they are made of freaking safety glass, Jensen.”
Jensen deflates, really just sits there and lets his shoulders sag. Jared curses himself for feeling bad about it. Jensen's an adult after all and Jared isn't there to make him feel better. Even though he has to admit, not being alone is actually a lot better in this situation.
“Listen.” Jared says slowly, gentle even, because he does feel bad for shouting, which makes Jensen look up again. “I'm supposed to drive down to San Antonio tonight. If I don't make it I am pretty sure my parents will do everything to find out where I am. We probably won't have to spent the whole night in here. Let's just sit tight and wait okay?”
Jensen nods then. Slow but deliberate. “My parents … they probably won't even know that I'm not home until the morning. They go to bed early. But my sister. She… she is waiting, too. She always worries and I wanted to be home on time this year.” It sounds sad in a way so Jared just smiles a little, feels warm all over when Jensen smiles back and settles in to stare at his shoes for the next few hours.
The silence between them is awkward.
They sit there for a while, on rather cold and hard camping benches, inches apart and not talking. Neither of them know what to do or say or how to act. They don't really know each other and sitting there with practically a complete stranger, even one you have a crush on, can't be anything but awkward.
Jared sighs, runs his hands through his hair and then rubs his shoulders to get a little warmer. It is cold in the store and he's so close to say fuck it and grabbing one of the hoodies from the clothing department. It's not like he wants to use the stuff in the store, but when it becomes a necessarily he has not qualms about it either. He wonders how much money will be missing from his pay check once this is over or if the company will be nice enough to pay for it once they realise their freaking security system malfunctioned.
He might even be able to ask for compensation for being locked in. It isn't his fault after all.
Jared has no idea why he is thinking about that but the silence is closing in on him and he has to think about something. He glances at Jensen from time to time, but the other man doesn't seem to have moved at all in the last half hour. He's staring out one of the windows and into the dark. It's sort of creepy.
Jared is about the say something, just for the purpose of saying something when Jensen looks up. The rather sheepish look on his face doesn't bode well for Jared. He just knows it doesn't
“I'm hungry.” Jensen says quietly. It sounds so incredibly young and petulant that Jared can't do anything but stare for a second.
Okay, when did he ever think Jensen wasn't a five-year-old? What exactly makes Jensen Ackles so fucking sexy and cool that Jared still thinks he has a major crush on him? Right now, he doesn't know anymore.
What did he do to deserve all that?
~
Jensen sits on a sleeping bag in front of a huge tent, munching on one of the half frozen donuts Jared took out of the freezer in the baked goods area. Jensen looks rather happy while doing so, even though he grumbled again when Jared pressed the frozen bag into his hands.
Jared had steadfastly refused to light a fire to heat something up. The sprinkler system still works and Jared so isn't in the mood to sit there locked up and soaked. Jensen had grudgingly admitted that Jared was sort of right.
Jensen's pouting a little and Jared doesn't find that cute at all. He's glad that they abandoned the camping bench in favour of the sleeping bags on display. They're way more comfortable and a lot warmer, too.
Jared isn't exactly freezing, but his jacket and hoodie are still in his locker and he has only got on his thin long-sleeved shirt and his work shirt over it. Jensen looks way warmer than Jared feels. It's completely of unfair.
Suddenly something dark and looking very hoodie-like appears in his field of vision. Jared’s eyes follow the path along the hand holding it up until he sees Jensen’s face. Jensen’s very red face. Jared, even in the dim light of the emergency lamps, can see the blush, and Jensen’s freckles standing out.
Jensen has incredibly cute freckles, Jared thinks. When the moment goes on for too long, Jared caught up in staring and Jensen just standing there, Jensen’s small smile falters a little. It manages to shake Jared out of his trance and he reaches out for the hoodie. He raises his eyebrows at Jensen, who just shrugs and settles down right next to Jared.
“You looked cold.” He says in this low voice Jared's come to associate with Jensen’s ‘Danneel voice’ because Jensen only ever used it to speak to Danneel during class. “You can ... uhm, add it to the list.”
If Jared’s eyebrows could rise up any more, they totally would right about now.
“I saw you writing down everything we took. To pay back later, I guess. Uhm, I’ll pay half of it.” This shy and nice Jensen is way more interesting than the cold and shut down one Jared had to deal with earlier.
“Thank you. For the clothes ... and yeah, let’s see if we’ll even have to pay for anything. Not our fault we're trapped in here.”
The feeling of the hoodie is heavenly. Jared knows it's a bit of a placebo effect, but the second he pulls it on he feels warmer already. He smiles gratefully at Jensen and for a second they just look at each other. Jared's careful not to interpret anything from that look, but even so, it seems like there's something in Jensen’s gaze. Something close to warmth and wonder.
Outside, the snow's coming down harder and it looks like the storm's finally moving in. It's Texas and so Jared finds the strangeness of it all close to beautiful. He suddenly feels less pathetic and instead calmer than he has in weeks. It’s not ideal, but maybe Christmas doesn’t suck as much after all.
Jared wonders if Jensen being there with him is a wink from Fate. He'd believe it if he was someone who actually took that kind of crap seriously. And yet, while sitting and watching the snow, the empty road outside, he wonders all the same. And that gives him an idea.
He isn’t sure where it’s coming from, but a quick glance at his watch and a look around the store makes up his mind.
“Jensen?”
And Jensen turns his head, which means Jared can see all those cute freckles again. Eyebrows raised and lips quirked in a small smile, Jensen waits for Jared to say more.
“You know what? Let’s have our own Christmas here. We can’t be home tonight and well … it’s after midnight so it's Christmas already. We've got all the stuff we need right in here. What do you say?”
For a moment, Jared thinks he crossed a line he shouldn’t have. Jensen’s face is blank and expressionless, and Jared thinks that maybe it wasn't such a great idea after all. Asking a stranger to celebrate Christmas with him just because they are trapped together, yeah maybe not so brilliant.
Jared feels his smile fade and he's just about to shrug it away, maybe try passing it off as a joke when Jensen stands up. He rubs the back of his neck, a gesture Jared has come to identify as Jensen being nervous.
But then he smiles and it takes Jared's his breath away. It’s wide and happy, showing off teeth and seems to light up Jensen’s whole face. Jared's pretty sure he hasn’t seen anything more beautiful in … well, ever. Jensen’s eyes are almost sparkling, vibrant green in the dim light.
There's more life in Jensen than Jared's ever seen. It makes his heart beat faster, takes down all his walls and Jared knows his answering smile is just as wide as Jensen’s is.
“I’ll get the tree. Saw one standing when we walked through.” And with that, Jensen's gone, leaving Jared sitting there not really able to process what just happened.
Jared finds yet another reason why he just doesn't know how to take Jensen. Or, really, how to be around the man. Jensen's just so unpredictable. But he can't help admitting that's kind of exciting, though in a very strange way.
~
The place looks like something out of those cheesy Christmas movies Jared’s sister loves to watch. There's a tree all decked out with baubles and glitter standing between the display of camping equipment. Other Christmas decoration is draped over every available surface of their temporary shelter and Jared starts to think that this Christmas definitely might not suck as much as he'd thought.
Jensen's smiling, sometimes even humming, which makes Jared feel like he stepped into some sort of dreamland the second he mentioned his idea to Jensen.
When setting up, they made sure only to take things that were already used as decorations, so Jared kept his list tucked into his jeans. He isn’t all too worried about what his boss will say. Mike tends to be understanding and mostly turns a blind eye to the things his employees do.
They've been sitting there for a while now, eating cookies Jared snagged from one of the holiday displays and talking. Jared stops from time to time, just to look around and then marvel at the fact that it's snowing,. He's a little surprised that he actually feels the holiday spirit, especially since he's still at work, where his spirit was sort of destroyed it in the first place. And, of course, he can't quite believe that it's really Jensen is sitting right next to him.
Jared's learned a few things about the other man, too. Jensen's painfully shy and doesn’t really meet new people without the help of his friends. Jensen's also rather embarrassed by the image he has on campus. Jared also realized that Jensen never really has said more than ‘thank you’ to him, not because he was being a douche, but because Jensen was actually too shy to say more. And it's this knowledge that makes makes something flutter in Jared's stomach.
They talk about their families, their Christmas traditions and Jared explains how it feels like he'd lost all of his holiday cheer by just simply through working here. Jensen simply says it would probably be the same for him, considering the awful music he had to endure in the bathroom. Jensen blushes a rather interesting shade of red at the mention of the bathroom and even though Jared wants to know what exactly happened, he takes pity on Jensen and doesn’t say a word.
He really hopes he's not imagining the grateful look Jensen sends him.
They talk about how both of them just wanted to go home and forget about the stress that was finals. It turns out that they're both family guys and Jared's amazed by the similarities they share. He never would've guessed, judging from the little contact he'd had with Jensen so far.
Jensen also lets it slip that Danneel isn’t actually his girlfriend. Jared finds it incredibly hard not to get up and jump around with joy. He thinks it wouldn’t be all that nice to Danneel and would probably scare Jensen to death, not to mention embarrass himself.
For the first time in months, Jared feels calm and happy. He feels like sitting and talking was exactly what he needed, even though he didn't know it until now. When he looks over at Jensen, it seems to be the same for him. Especially since he's finally started to open up a little and actually appears to enjoy talking to Jared.
Jensen’s deep and melodious voice is soothing, almost calming. Listening to Jensen makes it hard to be annoyed at their situation. At one point, Jensen even grabs one of the books they found under the fake tree and starts to read. It’s a Christmas story and the only thing Jared can do is lean back and listen.
Jared thinks he might be falling in love. Not only with a voice, but also with the man it belongs to. He isn’t sure if it's a good idea, especially since they've technically just met a few hours earlier. But he's too content, just now, to make himself fight it.
He settles down on the sleeping bag and lets Jensen’s voice glide over him.
~
Somehow the reading of Christmas books turns into checking out all the stuff on display in the various store departments. They wander through each aisle in lieu of anything better to do and grab things lying around and are free to try out. It’s a little like opening presents, Jared thinks, and when he mentions it to Jensen, he gets one of those rare brilliant smiles and a pat on the back.
They're in the home improvement aisle when Jared grabs one of the glitter spray cans he used to decorate the display and had forgotten to take back with him when he was done. The can is still half full, open and ready to be used. Jared fiddles with it when Jensen accidentally bumps into him. Jared’s finger slips from the rim to the pressure point and he's a second too late to stop it from pressing down.
Jensen’s squeak of surprise has Jared frozen in place.
The glitter spray is still dripping from Jensen’s hair when Jared loses it. He's laughing tears when Jensen simply shakes his head and lets glitter fly all over the place. It takes a while, but then Jensen's laughing as well and Jared doesn’t feel too bad about letting tears run down his face and hiccuping with laughter.
He is, however, rather shocked when Jensen just grabs the spray can and repays the favour.
Before either of them can actually say stop, they'er are both armed with cans and chasing each other through aisles and home improvement and toys aisles. Glitter flutters everywhere and for a brief second Jared mourns the time he’ll have to spend cleaning it up. But then he's back to being five and chasing Jensen through the store.
They're laughing hard, talking smack and cursing every time they miss the other. Jared’s heart is beating wildly in his chest, elation and happiness run through his body and he knows he hasn’t had this much fun in ages.
Jared’s can is almost empty, he's out of breath and has lost sight of Jensen at the last corner, but he's smiling like a loon, and giggling, something which he'll deny vehemently when asked. He slithers around another display shelf when strong arms wind around his waist and pull him off his feet. He yells, clutches at the arms and comes crashing down against a very muscular chest.
The momentum has them both going down, tangled up in each other and still laughing hard. Jared’s side connects with the floor first, but his back his shielded by Jensen and Jensen seems to crash into something rather soft judging from the way their fall is muted and cushioned.
It takes the breath out Jared for a second and he just lets himself lie there, cradled in Jensen’s arms and breathing heavily still trying to get the giggles under control.
In the second a giant pink unicorn hits him over the head, he loses it again.
He lies there, within the circle of Jensen's arms, laughing and long and doesn’t have a care in the world. When he turns around, he's met by Jensen, looking down at him with bemusement. And when Jared moves, Jensen doesn’t let go. He's confused and when he looks at Jensen, he knows the feeling's mutual.
It takes him a while to calm down enough to be able to speak and if he's honest, he doesn’t mind that at all because Jensen is still not letting go of him.
“This is the fourth time today that something happened to this tower of giant unicorns. I think they're stalking me.”
Jensen just lets his head drop against the rest of the pile of unicorns and laughs out loud. Then he lets go and Jared misses the contact and closeness instantly. He wants Jensen’s arms back around him and he flushes at the thought of what he wants Jensen to do to him. These kinds of thoughts aren’t really appropriate in this situation. Not at all. But Jared doesn’t care, because, really, he was just laying in the arms of his crush, so it's not like anyone can blame him for wanting more of that.
He distracts himself by punching Jensen lightly in the arm. “It’s not funny, man. How’d you feel being stalked by giant pink unicorns?”
Jensen's close. So close that Jared has to resist the urge to reach out and count the freckles with his fingers tips. Jensen's so close that Jared can actually see the moment Jensen cracks up again. The corners of his eyes start to crinkle at the exact same moment the first cackles leaves his mouth. The Jensen shuts his eyes completely, lets his head drop back against the unicorns again and laughs wholeheartedly.
Jared's fascinated and watches. He can’t stop staring at Jensen because this is a sight he'll never get tired of, even if he won’t ever see it again. This is Jensen all carefree, maybe even happy, and Jared really kind of loves being able to see it.
“Dude …” Jensen hiccups.
Jared grins. “And two of those stalking incidents are your fault, by the way.”
Jensen blinks, swallows and blinks again. “My fault? How so?”
“Well, the first time you and Danneel crashed into me and send me flying right into the stack of unicorns and just now you did it again. So, all your fault.” Jared's rather proud of himself that he doesn’t pout at the end of his speech, because he's sort of sure that he sounds like five all over again.
And then Jensen does something Jared isn’t prepared for. He blushes and actually buries his face in one of the fluffy pink toys. The ‘oh God’ is mumbled against the unicorn and Jared doesn’t really know what’s going on. He reaches out, touches Jensen’s shoulder and is pleased when Jensen doesn’t flinch away.
Jensen sits up then, drags the unicorn into his lap and looks for all the world like a little boy who is clinging to his safety blanket. It’s beyond cute and Jared can’t help but smile at it.
“This is so embarrassing.” Jensen says without looking up from where his eyes are fixed on the little pink bow at the tail of the unicorn. It's all ridiculously hilarious, but Jared's focused solely on Jensen, otherwise he probably would again be rolling around the floor laughing.
“What is?”
“Uhm, you know Danneel. She sort of knows something about me and kind of made me go in here today.” Jensen says, still not looking at Jared. But Jared can see the blush spreading, even if the light isn’t enough to see everything clearly. Jared thinks Jensen's probably grateful for that fact.
“She made you go in here. Okay. What for?” Jared's really curious now.
Jensen fidgets a little, fingers twisted in the soft pink mane of the unicorn, eyes still trained on anything and anywhere that isn’t Jared.
“Wanted me to finally talk to you and said it was her Christmas present to me. She said she knew you were single and that I should just go ask you out. ‘Cause she said Sophia told her that you'd actually like to go out with me. And God, this sounds so much like high school. It’s embarrassing. Really, really embarrassing. I thought you didn’t like me much, you never said a word to me during class. But you're actually one of the hottest men I've ever seen. So … uhm …” Jensen trails off rather awkwardly.
Jared is sort of stunned to say the least. “Huh?”
Jensen looks up and then directly at Jared, as if it took all of his heart to do just that. “And then I go and knock the soap thingy over, spill it over both of us just because you were suddenly there and I got nervous as hell. I couldn’t stay there, had to get away and dragged Danneel with me. I'm sorry I knocked you over. Didn’t do much for the image you had of me, huh? I was just so … nervous.” Jensen's rambling, saying more than he ever has in Jared’s presence.
Jared’s still too stunned to notice. Jensen was nervous because of him? Danneel wanted to set them up? Suddenly Jared gets the look she shot in earlier, when she came back from the bathroom. It’s a little much to comprehend and Jared just sits there and sort of gapes at Jensen. Probably too long because Jensen looks crestfallen at the lack of response and actually clutches the unicorn even tighter. Jared’s heart breaks a little at that and feels bad that it's because of him.
“Wow. Just … I always thought you couldn’t stand me. You know, with me being all super-dork and not being able to utter a single word in your presence. And I actually thought Danneel was your girlfriend. So … I … Man, what a mess.” Jared moves closer to Jensen and hopes that Jensen will stay were he is.
His mind's whirling with thousands of thoughts and possibilities. He knows he definitely needs time to sort them out. But Jensen's right here, in front of him and Jared will be dammed if he passes up that chance.
“So, let me get this straight. We both were too damn shy to actually talk to each other?”
Jensen nods in reply.
“And it took your friend, who definitely isn't your girlfriend, and a power outage that locked us both in here to make us talk?”
Jensen nods again, but he's smiling now. Shy and small, but a smile nonetheless. Jared feels proud of himself.
“And we both think the other is rather cute, hot, intelligent and would make a good date, right?”
Jensen’s blush is back full force but he nods again. This time Jared actually pumps his fist and says “Yes.” Rather triumphantly, to be honest, but it makes Jensen bark out a laugh.
Which leaves Jared doing the only thing think of to do. He leans forward and kisses Jensen. It’s slow and soft, nothing like in his fantasies. When he thought about kissing Jensen, it was always passionate, filled with lust and desire. But this, this was so much better.
Jensen opens up to him after a little teasing, lets Jared in and brings his hands up to tangle in Jared’s hair. Jared pulls Jensen closer, fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater. Jensen’s lips are soft and pliant under his, answering every move and quest Jared seeks from him. They kiss like they've been doing it for ages, like they've known each other for years. They fit. They simply fit.
They kiss for a while, slow and exploring. They just exist in the moment, together, kissing without anything really sexual behind it. They lie there in a pile of stuffed toys, tangled together and kissing.
Jared thinks this might be his new favourite way of spending Christmas.
~
Jared's happy. Feels the holiday spirit again and finds he actually misses the cheesy music that's haunted him for weeks. If it wasn’t way too girly for him, he’d say he gotten the best gift ever. But it seems like just thinking it has Jensen grinning at him and calling him a girl. Or maybe it’s just the silly little smile he sports and can’t seem to get rid off.
They're back on the sleeping bags under the fake tree, safely wrapped into a cocoon of warmth and each other. One unicorn, the one Jensen had been clutching the whole time they kissed, sits on the camping bench watching them. Jared actually feels a little creeped out by it, but Jensen only laughed at him and said that it was cute. So Jared let him take it and adds it to the list of things they took from the store.
“I … I'm sorry that I came off ass. And that you thought I was ignoring you or being a douche. I wasn’t. It’s just that. .. actually you….” Jensen mumbles, trailing off, and Jared has to lean close to hear him.
“Actually what?”
“You … well, you sort of intimidate me.” Despite his words, Jensen moves closer within their pile of sleeping bags. Jared just drapes his arms around his waist and lets his head rest against Jensen’s shoulder. He smiles against Jensen’s neck when Jensen threads his fingers through Jared’s hair, scratching his head. Jared starts to get addicted to that action, liked it ever since Jensen buried his hands in Jared’s hair during their first kiss.
Jared still can’t believe that they kissed, that they're lying there together, all curled up and warm. He doesn’t really know how they ended up like that, but he's not going to complain. Extreme situations and all. He does hope that whatever it is between them will last beyond the store and this night.
“I do? Never though you’d judge size so much.”
“Dude, not that. It’s just that you're so fucking smart. I can’t compare and I never knew how to talk to you. Danneel always tried to set me up, made you pass the papers to us even though it wasn’t our turn. But then you never said anything back so I thought I was below your level or something.”
Jared snorts at that, kissing Jensen’s neck, then waits until Jensen turns his head to claim his lips.
“We're quite a pair then, huh?”
“Yeah. Should thank the storm and Danneel for actually catching on, don’t you think?” There's laughter in Jensen’s voice when he says it and Jared can only agree.
“Will you go out with me once this is over and we're free?”
“Like on a date?” Jensen sounds so very hopeful.
“Yes. On a date.”
“I’ll be honoured to do so.”
Jared laughs out loud, jostles them both and has to hide his face in Jensen’s neck in order to avoid another round of giggles. “Dude, where'd you learn to speak like that? Thought you were from Dallas, not London.”
“Manners course in church when I was ten. My parents insisted. My sister thinks it just makes me sound all snotty and ignorant. Guess now I know what she means. I really didn’t want to come across like that. But language has always been some kind to wall to hide behind.”
Jared gets it. He really does. Being the geek everywhere he goes has taught him some things and he actually understands where Jensen's coming from. He moves in again, kisses Jensen just because he can, but also because he just wants to feel it again. It’s reassuring to know that Jensen's actually on the same page as he is.
Jared curls closer even and doesn’t mind when Jensen starts to hum “O Holy Night” under his breath. It’s soothing. He falls asleep with Jensen in his arms, his low voice in his ear.
~
When Jared blinks his eyes open, there's a sharp light directed at him. He hisses at the pain of it and is very grateful when it’s pointed away from his eyes. He hears someone mumble and realises that it’s Jensen who is still fast asleep and curled around him.
“Come on boys, power's back and you need to get out of here. Your families are waiting outside.” A bodiless voice comes from right behind the light and that's when Jared realises it's a flashlight.
It’s Jensen who sits up then, rubs the grime out of his eyes and blinks at the police officer standing in front of them. The man in uniform looks amused at the sight of them and not at all pissed like Jared had imagined when he had woken up.
“Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, I assume?”
Jared struggles out of the sleeping bag and smiles at Jensen when he offers his hand as help. They both look at the officer and nod. Jared looks out of the side window and sees that it has stopped snowing but that it’s still dark outside. But the streetlights are back on, so the power is back, which makes sense because the officer somehow managed to get into the store. Before Jared can ask though the man is talking again.
“Good. Your parents, Mr. Padalecki, called us when you didn’t show up at home, and due to the power outage in this part of the city they thought you might still be at work. We had to call your boss to restart the security system so we could get in here. I'm glad you're both here instead wondering around somewhere out in the dark.”
They confirm what happened when they're asked and the officer takes it all down. They tell him about the security system and that Jensen forgot the time while trying to clean his shirt. It’s short and Jared's glad that no one thinks they tried to rob this place or something.
They follow the officer through the store before Jared actually realizes what’s going on. He has time to grab the unicorn and sees Jensen smiling out of the corner of his eye.
Mike is there, waiting for them at the side entrance. In his arms are Jared’s things from his locker and a very apologetic look on his face. The first thing out of Mike’s mouth has Jared smiling widely. Everything they needed to stay warm will be on the store. Mike doesn’t even blink when Jared tugs the unicorn closer and hands over the list of things they took.
Jensen's strangely quiet the whole time but still smiling, so Jared isn’t too scared of everything being just a dream and Jensen not really being interested in him. So Jared grabs his things, pulls on his coat and scarf and sort of storms outside with Jensen’s hand clutched tightly in his.
He only has eyes for his parents who are waiting for him in the parking lot. Doesn’t even care that he is dragging Jensen along, he's not letting him go now that he has him. His mother smiles all happy and bright and Jared can’t wait to just hug her.
But then Jensen stops dead in his tracks when they are outside though, making Jared stumbled back and actually land on his ass due the force he used to drag Jensen along. At the very confused look his must have crossed his face because Jensen actually snickers. Then he helps Jared up and shrugs.
“Didn’t think my family would be here as well.” It’s the first time Jared realises the other group of people standing in the lot, looking at them rather curiously. And there is Danneel, looking relieved and very smug.
“Your friend was worried about you. She called us and said the last time she saw you was here, close to closing time. It was a chance and I must say that it makes my Christmas quite happy.” The officer smiles at them and then walks off to join his partner.
Jared reluctantly lets go of Jensen’s hand. He immediately feels the loss. But Jensen smiles all wide and happy.
“Go. Say hi to your family. We’ll talk later.”
So Jared does, but not before drawing Jensen back in and pressing a soft kiss onto his smiling lips.
~
Epilogue: One Year Later
The unicorn, Jensen named it Jaredina for some reason, sits innocently on the back of the couch in Jensen’s room. It’s the perfect place or at least Jared said so at some point and Jensen didn’t protest. Therefore it’s sitting there now, looking at them every time they sit on the couch.
The room is still all decked out in Christmas decorations, which also happens to be Jared's fault, if only because he insisted on going all out this year. But Jensen doesn’t seem to mind at all. They spend their second Christmas Eve together with a real tree, fresh cookies, lights that work and decoration all over the place. And, of course, with each other. It’s not so different from the Christmas Eve the year before, only this time they have power -- and been together for a year, thus know how to make each other happy.
They're not locked in at Target and can get up early the next day to drive to San Antonio to spend Christmas with the families. Sometimes Jared thinks introducing their families to each other was a mistake, but then he sees how happy they are to know each other and just feels his heart melt a little.
Jared still doesn’t know quite how they ended up like this, but he is grateful. For the winter storm that brought snow to Texas and even the power outage to Austin, because both bought Jensen to him.
They sit on the couch, watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate. Jensen moves closer cuddling up to Jared. It’s sort of too warm for it, since Texas is actually having a normal winter this year, but Jared doesn’t mind. He likes being warm with Jensen.
Looking at the Muppets on TV, Jared snorts. “You know, this is probably the cheesiest Christmas I've ever had. I'm not home or locked in Target store finding the love of my life.”
Jensen laughs, then smiles softly at him. He tugs Jared close and kisses him slowly.
Jared thinks every Christmas with Jensen will be his favourite one from now on, no matter how cheesy it sounds. And really, he's just thinking it, so it's not like anyone will hear it anyway. But it’s still kind of true.
The end.
Author:
the_milky_wayGenre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 9.822
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks to
yume_odori for the beta, and to parka_girl for going over it.Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: A day before Christmas and Jared can't stand anything holiday related anymore.
Of course, it has to be him that is trapped in the store he is working at with the douchy guy he has had a crush on for almost all semester.
Notes: This was written for
tinkabell007 for the spn_j2_xmas exchange. tinkabell007, I took your prompt of the boys being trapped in a mall/Wall mart. I loved the idea and wanted to write this, so I tried. This sort of ran away from me and I was stuck for a while but I hope you like it anyway.Sorry that it is a little late and that the boys didn't want to get porny but I tried to go with your 'likes' of fluffy fic.
Also huge thanks to very awesome people on my flist (you know who you are) for helping me out research-wise. Thanks guys.
Some scenes in here were inspired by the season six episode "Castaways" of "Dawson's Creek".
The last customers stroll through the aisles slowly, as if it isn't two minutes before closing. Children, trying to beg the last Christmas gifts out of their parents, cry and stomp their feet in the middle of the main aisle and stressed mothers rush their carts through it all without seeing anything left or right.
It's the last day before Christmas, and also the last day this particular shop is open before the holidays. It’s not like this is the only shop like this in this part of town, but it apparently has the best offers and no one really wants to be forced to rush through Wal-Mart or similar super-malls - or whatever they're called. They've just recently opened and are larger than anything around.
Jared just wants to be done with this shift. A shift that wasn't even his but Sandy got sick and Chad was already on the way home, so it had to be either him or Misha doing that last shift. And well, let's just say Jared wasn't exactly willing to be called in at 10pm because Misha forgot the key codes again. And knowing his luck he would have been in San Antonio by then already.
He totally regrets his decision and generosity right about now.
Jolly Christmas songs are playing, trying to get people in the mood. Jared just wants to go and rip the CD player to pieces. He's been living with this music for weeks and really, his mood is dead. Deader than dead.
He hates it because he usually loves Christmas, the decorations and all the songs. But this year's been bad and working in a store under the constant assault of all things Christmas isn't helping either.
Jared tries not to check his watch every few minutes, time does not fly around here. Not at all. He just wants to be done, go to the dorm, pack his car and drive home. He craves seeing his family again, it's been way too long. He wants to just sit down with his parents, enjoy his momma’s cooking, talk to Jeff and Megan, and then just lie there cuddling up with his babies.
Jared misses his dogs fiercely. Curses the rule of no pets in the dorms and wonders when he'll finally be able to move out. He's a junior this year and should've done so anyway. But Chad begging him to stay wasn't a pretty picture and Jared doesn't want to relive this particular performance ever again.
He wants to be done with this shift. And not running through aisles and aisles of toys, shoes, clothes, electronic equipment or camping products just to clean up the messes customers leave behind. Why can't people place the things back from where they found them? What’s so hard about that?
This Christmas really sucks.
Jared's in the middle of dodging customers and preparing for close-up when there is a loud crash and someone stumbles into him, sending him sprawling between giant stuffed unicorns he just stacked after a tantrum throwing five-year-old thought it be a good idea to kick the tower of sparkling toys. He looks up but only sees the back of two people he'd recognize anywhere. Just the flash of red hair, leather boots and tight jeans is enough for Jared to know who sent him to the floor.
There is a mumbled ‘sorry’ but Jared isn't really sure it's meant for him or the old lady standing at the end of the aisle. Seeing how his luck goes these days, it's the latter and those two storming toward the back of the store didn't even see him at all.
It's just his luck to be mowed down by the two people who have made this semester sort of really awkward for him since it started.
Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris, the hot 'it' couple of the campus.
Well, Jared knows the back of their heads very well. They sit in front of him in two of his senior courses. Always together, never paying attention to anybody but themselves and occasionally someone else out of their very small and very elite group of friends. Jared is too young to actually register on the radar. Knows he's the geek who jumps classes, graduated early in high school and is doing the same at college, too.
The back of their heads though are rather interesting. Varying types of hairdo and color in Danneel's case and always the same perfectly spiked dark shortcut in Jensen's. Jared can almost predict in what kind of mood they are from just looking at Danneel's hair. Not that Jensen ever turns enough toward him for Jared to see his perfectly shaped face and green eyes for more than a few seconds.
It's enough, though, to maintain a rather unhealthy crush and it's also enough to make Jared totally tongue tied whenever there might be a possible opening for conversation. Not that Jensen or Danneel would ever talk to a junior or someone almost four years younger than them. With them, it's almost like high school again. At least that's what Jared feels like when he sits silently behind them, watching the backs of their heads.
Yes, he's pathetic but he doesn't really care about that since no one really knows about this crush. Well, no one except for Chad, Sandy, Misha, Aldis and Sophia. Sometimes Jared thinks he should keep all of his secrets to himself. His friends are a rather unpredictable bunch of people.
So mostly Jared knows what campus gossip says about Jensen and Danneel. Both of them are hot, the epitome of beauty and brains. And yes, Jared actually is a little jealous because all he has got is brains and no one actually goes for that. No points for him on the social popularity scale.
Sometimes he is tempted to call them douchey or ignorant but then Jensen would turn around ask very politely for a stack of papers that have been going around, that Jared totally forgot to pass on because he was too busy staring into the air or at hair. Yeah, Jared sort of always manages to come off as the complete dick or idiot when interacting with either Jensen or Danneel. If he's interacting with them at all, which really doesn't happen all to often.
If he's honest with himself, Jared would finally admit to that he's had a crush on Jensen since the first time he stepped into the classroom and saw Jensen bent backwards, laughing with all his heart. But then again, Jared's good at denial and, well, he sort of hates rejection so he steadfastly ignores it. Instead he just tries to think of Jensen as totally unavailable or as a complete douche, which sometimes he really is. But also unavailable, judging from the way he and Danneel are acting together.
Jared's never said a single word to either Jensen or Danneel and he still feels like he's saying too much with just being there every time they stop talking to look at him when he's forgotten to pass something on, again. He sighs, trying not to think about how much his life sucks right now and goes back to ignoring everything around him.
Looking down, Jared notices for the first time, the stain of whatever pinkish stuff someone spread over the entire floor of the aisle. He groans, moves some of the stray unicorns out of the way and stomps off to get the bucket and the mop.
Yeah, this is exactly how he envisioned Christmas.
He is in the middle of restacking the unicorns, again, when Danneel comes storming back through the aisle. Her hair looks like a storm went by, leaving it all tousled and out of place. Her face is flushed and Jared wonders if her jacket is supposed to sit this way. Then it hits him. Of course they had to go and have sex in his shop. Right before closing. Right before he has to clean everything. Great.
He wants to say something, make a sarcastic remark, anything. But like normal, his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth and he feels a blush spreading on his cheeks. Surprise, he thinks, nothing every changes.
Danneel uses the same path out that she came into the store. This time she looks directly at him and, if he didn’t know better, he’d say she's doing so with a rather mischievous glint in her eyes and scary smirk on her lips. She nods when she passes him, even hands him one of the stray unicorns but doesn't say a single word. Jared doesn’t really know how to take that. So he just blinks, lets her pass without making a single sound.
He just sort of remains standing in the toy aisle in a Target on the day before Christmas and gapes. Well, stares really, at the rather beautiful redheaded literature student. And here he'd been thinking that his life wasn't exciting at all.
She's long gone when Jared blinks out of his stupor. God, that woman is hot and Jared would so be lusting after her if he wasn't already lusting after her boyfriend. He briefly wonders where Jensen is, but then decides that this path is not the right one to take. He doesn't want to imagine Jensen all rumbled, clothes rugged up and eyes dilated with lust, standing in the public bathroom. He so doesn't need that imagine in his head.
The other images of Jensen he has on his mind are already plenty enough.
For the rest of the shift, Jared studiously ignores any thought of Jensen or Danneel, or that fact that he still doesn't know how to take her look. Given that the shift is only twenty more minutes, Jared gets everything done in record time.
The second he steps into the manager's office to get the door codes, he revels in the blessed silence of the room. The first thing he does is almost stab the button of the CD player to death. The music shuts off at the first stab, but Jared needs to let loose a little and the player is a welcome object to focus his aggressions on. His shift's over and he can finally be on his way home.
Thank God his place of work isn't far from campus and the dorms, so it won’t take that long to drive there, pack and be on his way to San Antonio. Austin is rather empty during holidays, or rather the area surrounding the main campus and his dorms is.
The aisles are clean, the last customers have left, the cashiers are already leaving through the ‘personnel only’ entrance and the shop manager has been gone for about an hour already. Jared's checked the lockers and all three bathroom, the delivery entrance and, last, the front entrance. Everything's closed up and he's ready to go, just needs to type in the codes for the alarm system and lock the employee entrance.
Jared makes his last round, checks everything again and when he's at the side exit, close to the manager's office, he glances outside. Jared actually stops and gapes for a good long minute. Or maybe even more. Because it's snowing and already there's a fine layer of fluffy white snow on the ground. It also looks like it'll storm soon, which might make getting home a bit of a challenge. He glances at his car, the only one left in the lot, and sighs. He isn't exactly used to driving in weather like this.
Jared wonders when his joy about snow died a silent death, probably around the same time his holiday fun decided to fuck off to a place unknown. A year ago he would've been grinning like a loon and wouldn't have been able to wait to go outside and dance in the snow. Those times are long gone. Jared grew up. At least thinks he did, the other options for his lack of fun are rather depressing and he doesn't really need anymore of that.
He's punching in the last key code for the system when everything goes dark. Completely and thoroughly dark.
It's so dark so suddenly that he actually slams against the glass of the exit door and smacks his head painfully against the steel frame. He is confused, disoriented and it takes some time for his head to clear. He feels dizzy and has to blink to clear it a little.
There are no lights at all.
No blinking Christmas decoration that has been driving him mad for weeks, no lights in the apartments across the street, not streetlights or lights in the parking lot. Not even the ‘Exit’ above the door is on. Nothing.
“Oh great. This is so fucking awesome.”
He hears the emergency generator in the back kick on a minute later though and sighs in relief when the small emergency lights flicker and then stay on. His eyes slowly adjust to the dim light and he can actually see the place on the glass where he smacked against it. At least there is no blood.
Then he looks at the system panel and groans out loud.
His head throbs, he is rather cold and he is stuck in a Target a day before Christmas, or rather a few hours before Christmas because it's already 10.30pm. Jared wonders what he did wrong this year to deserve it all.
Sometimes he wishes he'd accepted the barista job at the coffee house on campus. It certainly so much easier to do when Sophia talks about it. At least she never has to fear to be locked in when a power outage causes a system failure and locks down the whole damns security system itself. And he can’t even call help because emergency phone is hooked up to the system which is dead and the real phone is in the office which is locked down. The payphone has been gone for two months, which is really fucking convenient now and his cell is in his locker which he can’t reach because the code panel for the employee’s area is probably dead, too.
Must have been a fucking genius who hooked up all the doors to one system. Jared wonders why this was even allowed. It's all really awesome and Jared has absolutely no idea what to do. He tries to go through every option he has, but comes up blank.
Suddenly it really looks like he'll have to spend the night right where he is, with no means to call for help or his family. Jared has to fight hard not to scream, trash the place or just sit down right where he is and cry. He feels even more pathetic than before.That's just so like him. Getting locked up in a Target at Christmas.
It's still black outside and he tries not to shiver. It's a rather claustrophobic feeling, even though this place is sort of huge.
The crash comes when he's in the middle of deciding what to do. Fortunately, he's also in the middle of the sports department and therefore can grab a baseball bat at the first sound. And so he stands there, frozen, baseball bat grasped tightly in his hands and heart in his throat. He can't hear anything but his own heart beat and wonders if it's echoing through the aisles.
Another crash and Jared jumps, silently curses as he tries not to acknowledge that he's actually shaking. Of course it had to be him locked into a Target on Christmas with a freaking thief, who somehow got into the store without Jared noticing. Yes, his thoughts lack logic but who can blame him?
He takes a deep breath and shuffles towards the noise. It's not the best idea he's ever had but he doesn't really know what else to do. The only other options sound even more ridiculous than just going and confronting the noise, whatever it might be. Jared actually doubts he'd fit into the fridge or the kiddie castle, so hiding places are kind of limited anyway.
He is at the end of the iPod station when he hears cursing in addition to the noises. And suddenly Jared knows where it's all coming from. He doesn't know how it is possible since he checked the room earlier but at least he knows the robber in there can't see a single thing due to the outage, which turns the situation to his advantage.
Jared slowly takes a step forward, takes another deep breath and actually yanks the bathroom door open, jumps back when someone comes flying out of the darkness.
The heap on the floor turns and Jared can't do anything but gape… again.
“What the f… You?”
“Holy Hell!”
Jared drops the bat.. right next to the head of Jensen fucking Ackles.
Jensen Ackles who lies sprawled out on the floor at Jared's feet and is sort of staring confusedly up at him. This is really how he'd pictured having Jensen at his feet. but then he never actually believed it would happen, so he takes what he can get.
Jensen struggles to get up and only then does Jared move. He grabs Jensen by the elbow, almost hauling him to his feet. He has to grab onto his shoulders to stop him from sliding down again.
For the first time, Jared notices the pinkish stains on Jensen's white shirt and the soap residue on his hands. The slight flair of hope is squashed very fast because this really isn't the situation to be triumphant about Jensen and Danneel not having sex in the customer's bathroom.
Jensen is still sort of in his arms, clinging actually and looking at him in a way Jared has never seen before. Eyes all open and trusting, and so incredibly green that Jared swallows and draws back a little. Jared wants to ask him if he's okay, if he's hurt. He can see spilled paper towels on the floor through the still slightly open door and knows that Jensen must have crashed into the dispenser in the dark.
He really just wants to hug Jensen close and never let go. He's so damn happy that it's Jensen and not some thief, armed robber or murderer. Also, Jared's still on an adrenaline high so the first thing he ever says to Jensen doesn't come out very nice.
“The fuck man? What the hell are you doing in here? It's way past closing time and I checked the stalls. Where the hell have you been?”
Jensen blinks, takes a step back and Jared can see the walls slamming up. The confusion is still there but the openness in those green eyes is gone. Jared misses it the instant it's not there anymore. Jensen's eyes are as blank as they have always been towards Jared.
“Not that it is any of your business but I sat down in one of the stalls to try and clean my shirt which my friend managed to ruin. Guess I didn't watch the time. I was just so close to being done when everything went dark. So if you would be so nice to explain to me what's going on, it would be very much appreciated. And this time maybe refrain from shouting? I'm not deaf.”
It comes out as snotty and pretentious, just as Jared expected Jensen to be. It makes him a little sad to be right about Jensen being a douche. He'd hoped he was wrong. But then Jensen looks down, a small flush on his cheeks and tries to smooth his ruined shirt. Maybe everything's not like it seems and Jared decides to reserve judgment for a while.
Jensen also looks really kind of awesome in the tight jeans, the white shirt and a very comfy looking black coat. Jared just thinks he shouldn’t be so focused on that in a situation like this.
“Yeah, right.” He says. “Looks like a power outage in this part of the city and the security system locked down because the emergency generator kicked in too late. Code panels are blocked and well, we're locked in. Do you maybe have a cell phone on you?”
Jensen shuffles a little, runs a hand through his artfully messy hair and shrugs. “Battery's dead. Tried to use it as a flash light in there.”
So much for having a chance to call help. Luck really isn't on their side and as much as Jared appreciates not being alone anymore, he doesn't know if spending a night locked up with Jensen is his idea of a perfect night.
Okay, who is he kidding? Of course it is. He's still taking everything he can get.
Jensen turns towards the bathroom again, tugs his coat from where it is trapped between the door and the frame and actually huffs a little. When he turns back to Jared, he's again a little flushed and looking anywhere but Jared.
“I ... I'm Jensen.” He mumbles.
It makes Jared’s heart melt a little. Shy is definitely a trait he likes on Jensen. He is about to say ‘I know’ but realises in the last second that this would sound really stupid and kind of stalkerish.
But the look in Jensen’s eyes tells him this is just as embarrassing for him as it is for Jared, so they sort of both acknowledge they know each other without really saying anything out loud.
So he holds his hand out, nothing ever goes against his manners, and says “Jared. Sorry for the shouting. You just really scared the crap out of me.”
Jensen nods, shakes his hand and sort of withdraws into himself again. Jared thinks him and Danneel really fit together. He doesn’t know what to make of either of them.
Jensen's been pacing for more then 15 minutes before Jared snaps and tells him to park his ass on the camping bench. They've been through the entire store twice because Jensen wanted to see everything for himself, not really believing Jared when he said they're locked in and off from everything.
So now they're sort of settled among the camping equipment for several reasons. First of all, they have a lot of the entries and some of the store front windows in view and secondly they have a lot of things they can use to make the time here more comfortable.
Except Jensen seems to be getting closer and closer to a panic attack or, if he was a five-year-old, a tantrum of epic proportions. Jared can't do anything but sit there and watch. He wishes he knew the other man well enough so he could say or do something to calm him down. Of course, he doesn't know Jensen at all. Maybe this is his chance to change it. First though, he thinks, he has to calm him down.
But at the same time, Jared thinks he shouldn't be turned on by the way Jensen is working himself into some sort of nervous breakdown. But damn, the man is handsome like this. Very handsome.
“Settle down, Jensen. There isn't anything we can do right now. Just sit and wait. I know it sucks and it sucks even more that we can't charge your cell.” Jared is silently amused that Jensen has a cell phone that doesn't fit with any of the chargers they sell. But on the other hand, that would have been their chance to try and call help.
Not his fault that the cells on display aren't charged at all. He has to talk to Misha about that. Not that any of the cells would have service but they could have at least tried to use Jensen’s card or whatever. Jared isn’t really sure what he is thinking anymore.
“I just want to get the fuck out of here. I have to be home for Christmas. I just.. Can't you do anything? Nothing? I just want to go home.” Jensen's close to shouting. He looks all panicked and really red. Jared's close to asking if he is feeling okay but holds back.
“And what? I don't? Thanks a lot. And how exactly am I supposed to get us out? I told you, everything's locked. Should I bash the windows in?” Jared knows he sounds exasperated but really what is Jensen expecting?
“Yeah. Why not?” Jensen growls.
“’Cause they are made of freaking safety glass, Jensen.”
Jensen deflates, really just sits there and lets his shoulders sag. Jared curses himself for feeling bad about it. Jensen's an adult after all and Jared isn't there to make him feel better. Even though he has to admit, not being alone is actually a lot better in this situation.
“Listen.” Jared says slowly, gentle even, because he does feel bad for shouting, which makes Jensen look up again. “I'm supposed to drive down to San Antonio tonight. If I don't make it I am pretty sure my parents will do everything to find out where I am. We probably won't have to spent the whole night in here. Let's just sit tight and wait okay?”
Jensen nods then. Slow but deliberate. “My parents … they probably won't even know that I'm not home until the morning. They go to bed early. But my sister. She… she is waiting, too. She always worries and I wanted to be home on time this year.” It sounds sad in a way so Jared just smiles a little, feels warm all over when Jensen smiles back and settles in to stare at his shoes for the next few hours.
The silence between them is awkward.
They sit there for a while, on rather cold and hard camping benches, inches apart and not talking. Neither of them know what to do or say or how to act. They don't really know each other and sitting there with practically a complete stranger, even one you have a crush on, can't be anything but awkward.
Jared sighs, runs his hands through his hair and then rubs his shoulders to get a little warmer. It is cold in the store and he's so close to say fuck it and grabbing one of the hoodies from the clothing department. It's not like he wants to use the stuff in the store, but when it becomes a necessarily he has not qualms about it either. He wonders how much money will be missing from his pay check once this is over or if the company will be nice enough to pay for it once they realise their freaking security system malfunctioned.
He might even be able to ask for compensation for being locked in. It isn't his fault after all.
Jared has no idea why he is thinking about that but the silence is closing in on him and he has to think about something. He glances at Jensen from time to time, but the other man doesn't seem to have moved at all in the last half hour. He's staring out one of the windows and into the dark. It's sort of creepy.
Jared is about the say something, just for the purpose of saying something when Jensen looks up. The rather sheepish look on his face doesn't bode well for Jared. He just knows it doesn't
“I'm hungry.” Jensen says quietly. It sounds so incredibly young and petulant that Jared can't do anything but stare for a second.
Okay, when did he ever think Jensen wasn't a five-year-old? What exactly makes Jensen Ackles so fucking sexy and cool that Jared still thinks he has a major crush on him? Right now, he doesn't know anymore.
What did he do to deserve all that?
Jensen sits on a sleeping bag in front of a huge tent, munching on one of the half frozen donuts Jared took out of the freezer in the baked goods area. Jensen looks rather happy while doing so, even though he grumbled again when Jared pressed the frozen bag into his hands.
Jared had steadfastly refused to light a fire to heat something up. The sprinkler system still works and Jared so isn't in the mood to sit there locked up and soaked. Jensen had grudgingly admitted that Jared was sort of right.
Jensen's pouting a little and Jared doesn't find that cute at all. He's glad that they abandoned the camping bench in favour of the sleeping bags on display. They're way more comfortable and a lot warmer, too.
Jared isn't exactly freezing, but his jacket and hoodie are still in his locker and he has only got on his thin long-sleeved shirt and his work shirt over it. Jensen looks way warmer than Jared feels. It's completely of unfair.
Suddenly something dark and looking very hoodie-like appears in his field of vision. Jared’s eyes follow the path along the hand holding it up until he sees Jensen’s face. Jensen’s very red face. Jared, even in the dim light of the emergency lamps, can see the blush, and Jensen’s freckles standing out.
Jensen has incredibly cute freckles, Jared thinks. When the moment goes on for too long, Jared caught up in staring and Jensen just standing there, Jensen’s small smile falters a little. It manages to shake Jared out of his trance and he reaches out for the hoodie. He raises his eyebrows at Jensen, who just shrugs and settles down right next to Jared.
“You looked cold.” He says in this low voice Jared's come to associate with Jensen’s ‘Danneel voice’ because Jensen only ever used it to speak to Danneel during class. “You can ... uhm, add it to the list.”
If Jared’s eyebrows could rise up any more, they totally would right about now.
“I saw you writing down everything we took. To pay back later, I guess. Uhm, I’ll pay half of it.” This shy and nice Jensen is way more interesting than the cold and shut down one Jared had to deal with earlier.
“Thank you. For the clothes ... and yeah, let’s see if we’ll even have to pay for anything. Not our fault we're trapped in here.”
The feeling of the hoodie is heavenly. Jared knows it's a bit of a placebo effect, but the second he pulls it on he feels warmer already. He smiles gratefully at Jensen and for a second they just look at each other. Jared's careful not to interpret anything from that look, but even so, it seems like there's something in Jensen’s gaze. Something close to warmth and wonder.
Outside, the snow's coming down harder and it looks like the storm's finally moving in. It's Texas and so Jared finds the strangeness of it all close to beautiful. He suddenly feels less pathetic and instead calmer than he has in weeks. It’s not ideal, but maybe Christmas doesn’t suck as much after all.
Jared wonders if Jensen being there with him is a wink from Fate. He'd believe it if he was someone who actually took that kind of crap seriously. And yet, while sitting and watching the snow, the empty road outside, he wonders all the same. And that gives him an idea.
He isn’t sure where it’s coming from, but a quick glance at his watch and a look around the store makes up his mind.
“Jensen?”
And Jensen turns his head, which means Jared can see all those cute freckles again. Eyebrows raised and lips quirked in a small smile, Jensen waits for Jared to say more.
“You know what? Let’s have our own Christmas here. We can’t be home tonight and well … it’s after midnight so it's Christmas already. We've got all the stuff we need right in here. What do you say?”
For a moment, Jared thinks he crossed a line he shouldn’t have. Jensen’s face is blank and expressionless, and Jared thinks that maybe it wasn't such a great idea after all. Asking a stranger to celebrate Christmas with him just because they are trapped together, yeah maybe not so brilliant.
Jared feels his smile fade and he's just about to shrug it away, maybe try passing it off as a joke when Jensen stands up. He rubs the back of his neck, a gesture Jared has come to identify as Jensen being nervous.
But then he smiles and it takes Jared's his breath away. It’s wide and happy, showing off teeth and seems to light up Jensen’s whole face. Jared's pretty sure he hasn’t seen anything more beautiful in … well, ever. Jensen’s eyes are almost sparkling, vibrant green in the dim light.
There's more life in Jensen than Jared's ever seen. It makes his heart beat faster, takes down all his walls and Jared knows his answering smile is just as wide as Jensen’s is.
“I’ll get the tree. Saw one standing when we walked through.” And with that, Jensen's gone, leaving Jared sitting there not really able to process what just happened.
Jared finds yet another reason why he just doesn't know how to take Jensen. Or, really, how to be around the man. Jensen's just so unpredictable. But he can't help admitting that's kind of exciting, though in a very strange way.
The place looks like something out of those cheesy Christmas movies Jared’s sister loves to watch. There's a tree all decked out with baubles and glitter standing between the display of camping equipment. Other Christmas decoration is draped over every available surface of their temporary shelter and Jared starts to think that this Christmas definitely might not suck as much as he'd thought.
Jensen's smiling, sometimes even humming, which makes Jared feel like he stepped into some sort of dreamland the second he mentioned his idea to Jensen.
When setting up, they made sure only to take things that were already used as decorations, so Jared kept his list tucked into his jeans. He isn’t all too worried about what his boss will say. Mike tends to be understanding and mostly turns a blind eye to the things his employees do.
They've been sitting there for a while now, eating cookies Jared snagged from one of the holiday displays and talking. Jared stops from time to time, just to look around and then marvel at the fact that it's snowing,. He's a little surprised that he actually feels the holiday spirit, especially since he's still at work, where his spirit was sort of destroyed it in the first place. And, of course, he can't quite believe that it's really Jensen is sitting right next to him.
Jared's learned a few things about the other man, too. Jensen's painfully shy and doesn’t really meet new people without the help of his friends. Jensen's also rather embarrassed by the image he has on campus. Jared also realized that Jensen never really has said more than ‘thank you’ to him, not because he was being a douche, but because Jensen was actually too shy to say more. And it's this knowledge that makes makes something flutter in Jared's stomach.
They talk about their families, their Christmas traditions and Jared explains how it feels like he'd lost all of his holiday cheer by just simply through working here. Jensen simply says it would probably be the same for him, considering the awful music he had to endure in the bathroom. Jensen blushes a rather interesting shade of red at the mention of the bathroom and even though Jared wants to know what exactly happened, he takes pity on Jensen and doesn’t say a word.
He really hopes he's not imagining the grateful look Jensen sends him.
They talk about how both of them just wanted to go home and forget about the stress that was finals. It turns out that they're both family guys and Jared's amazed by the similarities they share. He never would've guessed, judging from the little contact he'd had with Jensen so far.
Jensen also lets it slip that Danneel isn’t actually his girlfriend. Jared finds it incredibly hard not to get up and jump around with joy. He thinks it wouldn’t be all that nice to Danneel and would probably scare Jensen to death, not to mention embarrass himself.
For the first time in months, Jared feels calm and happy. He feels like sitting and talking was exactly what he needed, even though he didn't know it until now. When he looks over at Jensen, it seems to be the same for him. Especially since he's finally started to open up a little and actually appears to enjoy talking to Jared.
Jensen’s deep and melodious voice is soothing, almost calming. Listening to Jensen makes it hard to be annoyed at their situation. At one point, Jensen even grabs one of the books they found under the fake tree and starts to read. It’s a Christmas story and the only thing Jared can do is lean back and listen.
Jared thinks he might be falling in love. Not only with a voice, but also with the man it belongs to. He isn’t sure if it's a good idea, especially since they've technically just met a few hours earlier. But he's too content, just now, to make himself fight it.
He settles down on the sleeping bag and lets Jensen’s voice glide over him.
Somehow the reading of Christmas books turns into checking out all the stuff on display in the various store departments. They wander through each aisle in lieu of anything better to do and grab things lying around and are free to try out. It’s a little like opening presents, Jared thinks, and when he mentions it to Jensen, he gets one of those rare brilliant smiles and a pat on the back.
They're in the home improvement aisle when Jared grabs one of the glitter spray cans he used to decorate the display and had forgotten to take back with him when he was done. The can is still half full, open and ready to be used. Jared fiddles with it when Jensen accidentally bumps into him. Jared’s finger slips from the rim to the pressure point and he's a second too late to stop it from pressing down.
Jensen’s squeak of surprise has Jared frozen in place.
The glitter spray is still dripping from Jensen’s hair when Jared loses it. He's laughing tears when Jensen simply shakes his head and lets glitter fly all over the place. It takes a while, but then Jensen's laughing as well and Jared doesn’t feel too bad about letting tears run down his face and hiccuping with laughter.
He is, however, rather shocked when Jensen just grabs the spray can and repays the favour.
Before either of them can actually say stop, they'er are both armed with cans and chasing each other through aisles and home improvement and toys aisles. Glitter flutters everywhere and for a brief second Jared mourns the time he’ll have to spend cleaning it up. But then he's back to being five and chasing Jensen through the store.
They're laughing hard, talking smack and cursing every time they miss the other. Jared’s heart is beating wildly in his chest, elation and happiness run through his body and he knows he hasn’t had this much fun in ages.
Jared’s can is almost empty, he's out of breath and has lost sight of Jensen at the last corner, but he's smiling like a loon, and giggling, something which he'll deny vehemently when asked. He slithers around another display shelf when strong arms wind around his waist and pull him off his feet. He yells, clutches at the arms and comes crashing down against a very muscular chest.
The momentum has them both going down, tangled up in each other and still laughing hard. Jared’s side connects with the floor first, but his back his shielded by Jensen and Jensen seems to crash into something rather soft judging from the way their fall is muted and cushioned.
It takes the breath out Jared for a second and he just lets himself lie there, cradled in Jensen’s arms and breathing heavily still trying to get the giggles under control.
In the second a giant pink unicorn hits him over the head, he loses it again.
He lies there, within the circle of Jensen's arms, laughing and long and doesn’t have a care in the world. When he turns around, he's met by Jensen, looking down at him with bemusement. And when Jared moves, Jensen doesn’t let go. He's confused and when he looks at Jensen, he knows the feeling's mutual.
It takes him a while to calm down enough to be able to speak and if he's honest, he doesn’t mind that at all because Jensen is still not letting go of him.
“This is the fourth time today that something happened to this tower of giant unicorns. I think they're stalking me.”
Jensen just lets his head drop against the rest of the pile of unicorns and laughs out loud. Then he lets go and Jared misses the contact and closeness instantly. He wants Jensen’s arms back around him and he flushes at the thought of what he wants Jensen to do to him. These kinds of thoughts aren’t really appropriate in this situation. Not at all. But Jared doesn’t care, because, really, he was just laying in the arms of his crush, so it's not like anyone can blame him for wanting more of that.
He distracts himself by punching Jensen lightly in the arm. “It’s not funny, man. How’d you feel being stalked by giant pink unicorns?”
Jensen's close. So close that Jared has to resist the urge to reach out and count the freckles with his fingers tips. Jensen's so close that Jared can actually see the moment Jensen cracks up again. The corners of his eyes start to crinkle at the exact same moment the first cackles leaves his mouth. The Jensen shuts his eyes completely, lets his head drop back against the unicorns again and laughs wholeheartedly.
Jared's fascinated and watches. He can’t stop staring at Jensen because this is a sight he'll never get tired of, even if he won’t ever see it again. This is Jensen all carefree, maybe even happy, and Jared really kind of loves being able to see it.
“Dude …” Jensen hiccups.
Jared grins. “And two of those stalking incidents are your fault, by the way.”
Jensen blinks, swallows and blinks again. “My fault? How so?”
“Well, the first time you and Danneel crashed into me and send me flying right into the stack of unicorns and just now you did it again. So, all your fault.” Jared's rather proud of himself that he doesn’t pout at the end of his speech, because he's sort of sure that he sounds like five all over again.
And then Jensen does something Jared isn’t prepared for. He blushes and actually buries his face in one of the fluffy pink toys. The ‘oh God’ is mumbled against the unicorn and Jared doesn’t really know what’s going on. He reaches out, touches Jensen’s shoulder and is pleased when Jensen doesn’t flinch away.
Jensen sits up then, drags the unicorn into his lap and looks for all the world like a little boy who is clinging to his safety blanket. It’s beyond cute and Jared can’t help but smile at it.
“This is so embarrassing.” Jensen says without looking up from where his eyes are fixed on the little pink bow at the tail of the unicorn. It's all ridiculously hilarious, but Jared's focused solely on Jensen, otherwise he probably would again be rolling around the floor laughing.
“What is?”
“Uhm, you know Danneel. She sort of knows something about me and kind of made me go in here today.” Jensen says, still not looking at Jared. But Jared can see the blush spreading, even if the light isn’t enough to see everything clearly. Jared thinks Jensen's probably grateful for that fact.
“She made you go in here. Okay. What for?” Jared's really curious now.
Jensen fidgets a little, fingers twisted in the soft pink mane of the unicorn, eyes still trained on anything and anywhere that isn’t Jared.
“Wanted me to finally talk to you and said it was her Christmas present to me. She said she knew you were single and that I should just go ask you out. ‘Cause she said Sophia told her that you'd actually like to go out with me. And God, this sounds so much like high school. It’s embarrassing. Really, really embarrassing. I thought you didn’t like me much, you never said a word to me during class. But you're actually one of the hottest men I've ever seen. So … uhm …” Jensen trails off rather awkwardly.
Jared is sort of stunned to say the least. “Huh?”
Jensen looks up and then directly at Jared, as if it took all of his heart to do just that. “And then I go and knock the soap thingy over, spill it over both of us just because you were suddenly there and I got nervous as hell. I couldn’t stay there, had to get away and dragged Danneel with me. I'm sorry I knocked you over. Didn’t do much for the image you had of me, huh? I was just so … nervous.” Jensen's rambling, saying more than he ever has in Jared’s presence.
Jared’s still too stunned to notice. Jensen was nervous because of him? Danneel wanted to set them up? Suddenly Jared gets the look she shot in earlier, when she came back from the bathroom. It’s a little much to comprehend and Jared just sits there and sort of gapes at Jensen. Probably too long because Jensen looks crestfallen at the lack of response and actually clutches the unicorn even tighter. Jared’s heart breaks a little at that and feels bad that it's because of him.
“Wow. Just … I always thought you couldn’t stand me. You know, with me being all super-dork and not being able to utter a single word in your presence. And I actually thought Danneel was your girlfriend. So … I … Man, what a mess.” Jared moves closer to Jensen and hopes that Jensen will stay were he is.
His mind's whirling with thousands of thoughts and possibilities. He knows he definitely needs time to sort them out. But Jensen's right here, in front of him and Jared will be dammed if he passes up that chance.
“So, let me get this straight. We both were too damn shy to actually talk to each other?”
Jensen nods in reply.
“And it took your friend, who definitely isn't your girlfriend, and a power outage that locked us both in here to make us talk?”
Jensen nods again, but he's smiling now. Shy and small, but a smile nonetheless. Jared feels proud of himself.
“And we both think the other is rather cute, hot, intelligent and would make a good date, right?”
Jensen’s blush is back full force but he nods again. This time Jared actually pumps his fist and says “Yes.” Rather triumphantly, to be honest, but it makes Jensen bark out a laugh.
Which leaves Jared doing the only thing think of to do. He leans forward and kisses Jensen. It’s slow and soft, nothing like in his fantasies. When he thought about kissing Jensen, it was always passionate, filled with lust and desire. But this, this was so much better.
Jensen opens up to him after a little teasing, lets Jared in and brings his hands up to tangle in Jared’s hair. Jared pulls Jensen closer, fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater. Jensen’s lips are soft and pliant under his, answering every move and quest Jared seeks from him. They kiss like they've been doing it for ages, like they've known each other for years. They fit. They simply fit.
They kiss for a while, slow and exploring. They just exist in the moment, together, kissing without anything really sexual behind it. They lie there in a pile of stuffed toys, tangled together and kissing.
Jared thinks this might be his new favourite way of spending Christmas.
Jared's happy. Feels the holiday spirit again and finds he actually misses the cheesy music that's haunted him for weeks. If it wasn’t way too girly for him, he’d say he gotten the best gift ever. But it seems like just thinking it has Jensen grinning at him and calling him a girl. Or maybe it’s just the silly little smile he sports and can’t seem to get rid off.
They're back on the sleeping bags under the fake tree, safely wrapped into a cocoon of warmth and each other. One unicorn, the one Jensen had been clutching the whole time they kissed, sits on the camping bench watching them. Jared actually feels a little creeped out by it, but Jensen only laughed at him and said that it was cute. So Jared let him take it and adds it to the list of things they took from the store.
“I … I'm sorry that I came off ass. And that you thought I was ignoring you or being a douche. I wasn’t. It’s just that. .. actually you….” Jensen mumbles, trailing off, and Jared has to lean close to hear him.
“Actually what?”
“You … well, you sort of intimidate me.” Despite his words, Jensen moves closer within their pile of sleeping bags. Jared just drapes his arms around his waist and lets his head rest against Jensen’s shoulder. He smiles against Jensen’s neck when Jensen threads his fingers through Jared’s hair, scratching his head. Jared starts to get addicted to that action, liked it ever since Jensen buried his hands in Jared’s hair during their first kiss.
Jared still can’t believe that they kissed, that they're lying there together, all curled up and warm. He doesn’t really know how they ended up like that, but he's not going to complain. Extreme situations and all. He does hope that whatever it is between them will last beyond the store and this night.
“I do? Never though you’d judge size so much.”
“Dude, not that. It’s just that you're so fucking smart. I can’t compare and I never knew how to talk to you. Danneel always tried to set me up, made you pass the papers to us even though it wasn’t our turn. But then you never said anything back so I thought I was below your level or something.”
Jared snorts at that, kissing Jensen’s neck, then waits until Jensen turns his head to claim his lips.
“We're quite a pair then, huh?”
“Yeah. Should thank the storm and Danneel for actually catching on, don’t you think?” There's laughter in Jensen’s voice when he says it and Jared can only agree.
“Will you go out with me once this is over and we're free?”
“Like on a date?” Jensen sounds so very hopeful.
“Yes. On a date.”
“I’ll be honoured to do so.”
Jared laughs out loud, jostles them both and has to hide his face in Jensen’s neck in order to avoid another round of giggles. “Dude, where'd you learn to speak like that? Thought you were from Dallas, not London.”
“Manners course in church when I was ten. My parents insisted. My sister thinks it just makes me sound all snotty and ignorant. Guess now I know what she means. I really didn’t want to come across like that. But language has always been some kind to wall to hide behind.”
Jared gets it. He really does. Being the geek everywhere he goes has taught him some things and he actually understands where Jensen's coming from. He moves in again, kisses Jensen just because he can, but also because he just wants to feel it again. It’s reassuring to know that Jensen's actually on the same page as he is.
Jared curls closer even and doesn’t mind when Jensen starts to hum “O Holy Night” under his breath. It’s soothing. He falls asleep with Jensen in his arms, his low voice in his ear.
When Jared blinks his eyes open, there's a sharp light directed at him. He hisses at the pain of it and is very grateful when it’s pointed away from his eyes. He hears someone mumble and realises that it’s Jensen who is still fast asleep and curled around him.
“Come on boys, power's back and you need to get out of here. Your families are waiting outside.” A bodiless voice comes from right behind the light and that's when Jared realises it's a flashlight.
It’s Jensen who sits up then, rubs the grime out of his eyes and blinks at the police officer standing in front of them. The man in uniform looks amused at the sight of them and not at all pissed like Jared had imagined when he had woken up.
“Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, I assume?”
Jared struggles out of the sleeping bag and smiles at Jensen when he offers his hand as help. They both look at the officer and nod. Jared looks out of the side window and sees that it has stopped snowing but that it’s still dark outside. But the streetlights are back on, so the power is back, which makes sense because the officer somehow managed to get into the store. Before Jared can ask though the man is talking again.
“Good. Your parents, Mr. Padalecki, called us when you didn’t show up at home, and due to the power outage in this part of the city they thought you might still be at work. We had to call your boss to restart the security system so we could get in here. I'm glad you're both here instead wondering around somewhere out in the dark.”
They confirm what happened when they're asked and the officer takes it all down. They tell him about the security system and that Jensen forgot the time while trying to clean his shirt. It’s short and Jared's glad that no one thinks they tried to rob this place or something.
They follow the officer through the store before Jared actually realizes what’s going on. He has time to grab the unicorn and sees Jensen smiling out of the corner of his eye.
Mike is there, waiting for them at the side entrance. In his arms are Jared’s things from his locker and a very apologetic look on his face. The first thing out of Mike’s mouth has Jared smiling widely. Everything they needed to stay warm will be on the store. Mike doesn’t even blink when Jared tugs the unicorn closer and hands over the list of things they took.
Jensen's strangely quiet the whole time but still smiling, so Jared isn’t too scared of everything being just a dream and Jensen not really being interested in him. So Jared grabs his things, pulls on his coat and scarf and sort of storms outside with Jensen’s hand clutched tightly in his.
He only has eyes for his parents who are waiting for him in the parking lot. Doesn’t even care that he is dragging Jensen along, he's not letting him go now that he has him. His mother smiles all happy and bright and Jared can’t wait to just hug her.
But then Jensen stops dead in his tracks when they are outside though, making Jared stumbled back and actually land on his ass due the force he used to drag Jensen along. At the very confused look his must have crossed his face because Jensen actually snickers. Then he helps Jared up and shrugs.
“Didn’t think my family would be here as well.” It’s the first time Jared realises the other group of people standing in the lot, looking at them rather curiously. And there is Danneel, looking relieved and very smug.
“Your friend was worried about you. She called us and said the last time she saw you was here, close to closing time. It was a chance and I must say that it makes my Christmas quite happy.” The officer smiles at them and then walks off to join his partner.
Jared reluctantly lets go of Jensen’s hand. He immediately feels the loss. But Jensen smiles all wide and happy.
“Go. Say hi to your family. We’ll talk later.”
So Jared does, but not before drawing Jensen back in and pressing a soft kiss onto his smiling lips.
Epilogue: One Year Later
The unicorn, Jensen named it Jaredina for some reason, sits innocently on the back of the couch in Jensen’s room. It’s the perfect place or at least Jared said so at some point and Jensen didn’t protest. Therefore it’s sitting there now, looking at them every time they sit on the couch.
The room is still all decked out in Christmas decorations, which also happens to be Jared's fault, if only because he insisted on going all out this year. But Jensen doesn’t seem to mind at all. They spend their second Christmas Eve together with a real tree, fresh cookies, lights that work and decoration all over the place. And, of course, with each other. It’s not so different from the Christmas Eve the year before, only this time they have power -- and been together for a year, thus know how to make each other happy.
They're not locked in at Target and can get up early the next day to drive to San Antonio to spend Christmas with the families. Sometimes Jared thinks introducing their families to each other was a mistake, but then he sees how happy they are to know each other and just feels his heart melt a little.
Jared still doesn’t know quite how they ended up like this, but he is grateful. For the winter storm that brought snow to Texas and even the power outage to Austin, because both bought Jensen to him.
They sit on the couch, watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate. Jensen moves closer cuddling up to Jared. It’s sort of too warm for it, since Texas is actually having a normal winter this year, but Jared doesn’t mind. He likes being warm with Jensen.
Looking at the Muppets on TV, Jared snorts. “You know, this is probably the cheesiest Christmas I've ever had. I'm not home or locked in Target store finding the love of my life.”
Jensen laughs, then smiles softly at him. He tugs Jared close and kisses him slowly.
Jared thinks every Christmas with Jensen will be his favourite one from now on, no matter how cheesy it sounds. And really, he's just thinking it, so it's not like anyone will hear it anyway. But it’s still kind of true.
The end.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 11:55 am (UTC)From:this was super sweet and warm and fuzzy - I love the misunderstandings of relationships, and I love how jensen comes across as douchy when he's really just not great with new people. thanks for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:05 pm (UTC)From:Hehe, I worked at a Home Improvement store and they had their own jingles, drove me mad so I think doing it with Christmas music is sort of equally evil.
Thank you so much, I am happy you liked this and that it actually made sense. *g*
I sort of really like writing shy!Jensen.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 01:08 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:05 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 02:19 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:06 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 05:04 pm (UTC)From:<3
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:06 pm (UTC)From:I love writing shy!Jensen for some reason. Thank you, I am happy you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 09:16 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:07 pm (UTC)From:*hugs*
I am so happy that this actually worked out.
Glad you like it.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 09:28 pm (UTC)From:I love it!! No, seriously, I LOVE IT!!! Thank you so, so, sooo much for taking this prompt. Seriously, I wanted to read something like this for FOREVER!!! And you made it happen!! And it was a college story, it had shy!Jensen and you made it fluffy!!! I can die happy now!! Thank you so, so much!! You truly made my day!!! *squishes you until you turn blue* :-D
♥
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:10 pm (UTC)From:♥
As I said I loved the idea and wanted to write it but then it sort of went all bitchy on me. That's why it was a little late.
So Thank you for the prompt, in the end it was real fun writing this. And I am happy that it worked for you.
Shy!Jensen is one of the things I like to write, so I thought it would work here as well.
*hugs*
♥
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 10:30 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:11 pm (UTC)From:Glad you like this.
:)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 11:23 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:12 pm (UTC)From:A shopping reminder then.
Thank you so much. :)
♥
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 11:37 pm (UTC)From:Made my day :)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:12 pm (UTC)From:And yay, I am happy that this made your day. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 11:41 pm (UTC)From:Thank you SO much :D
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:14 pm (UTC)From:Thank you for reading and the lovely comment.
I am happy you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 01:41 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:15 pm (UTC)From:Thank you. :)
Happy you like this.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 03:56 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 12:15 pm (UTC)From:Oh yes please? I wouldn't say No to that either.
Thanks for reading.
♥
no subject
Date: 2009-12-31 04:16 pm (UTC)From:Happy new year to you :D
xxx
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 01:38 pm (UTC)From:Happy you liked it.
Happy new year to you as well. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 03:07 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 01:38 pm (UTC)From:Glad you liked it.
♥
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 04:21 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:51 pm (UTC)From:Thank you. I am happy you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 05:55 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:52 pm (UTC)From:Oh a wild bunch then.
I just had the image of them having a little fun in there in my head.
Thanks so much fro reading and commenting.
Glad you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 09:35 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:53 pm (UTC)From:Yeah, shy!Jensen is one of my favs, too. And I don't know but there had to be a unicorn in there. I have probably seen to many of those lately.
Happy you liked this. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 09:59 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:53 pm (UTC)From:There had to be a unicorn in there for some reason. It wouldn't let me write it out again. :)
Happy you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 10:27 pm (UTC)From:You write shy Jensen very well !
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:54 pm (UTC)From:Thank you so much. I am happy this worked for you. :)
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 11:08 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 12:55 pm (UTC)From:I am glad you liked this. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 01:11 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 05:38 pm (UTC)From:Happy you liked it.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 01:33 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 05:39 pm (UTC)From:I am happy this worked for you. Thank you so much for reading and the comment.
♥
no subject
Date: 2010-01-04 01:34 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-04 04:46 pm (UTC)From:Glad you liked it.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 04:31 pm (UTC)From: (Anonymous)Great story.
Thanks for sharing.
~ Mia
no subject
Date: 2010-01-06 09:43 pm (UTC)From:I am glad you liked this.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-10 05:43 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-10 06:45 pm (UTC)From:Thank you so much fro reading and the comment. :)