Big Bang Masterpost "We've been traveling over rocky ground", Jared/Jensen, R

[icebear_cw]

Fic title: "We've been traveling over rocky ground (Stars have faded, the sky is still)"
Author name: the_milky_way
Artist name: digitalwave
Genre: RPS AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: R
Rating: minor violence
Word count: ~ 37.000

Summary: “Times are rough and the future is not as brilliant as people hoped it would be. Half the country’s a desert the other half constantly fighting winter. Access to technology is restricted, watched over by a corrupt government and people have turned back to a simpler way of life.

Jensen’s a rancher with a ranch that hangs on a by threat. He struggles to make ends meet. Now someone powerful wants to take away what has been in his family for generations. His land. And that someone is willing to kill.

Jared’s a rebel, in the truest sense of the word. He fights for freedom, against half of the government and is always, always on the front line. But then a mission turns too hot and Jared’s forced into hiding. As luck will have it he ends up as a ranch hand on Jensen’s isolated land in the mountains.

Fighting the same enemy is, what pushes them together in the end.”



PART I
A
B

PART II
A
B + Epilogue





***

PDF with Art * epub version


ART: Masterpost

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Notes:
Please go and look at digitalwave's awesome Art Post Masterpost and leave comments. It was so much fun doing this year's Big Bang with her. Thank you so much digitalwave for the pieces of art you created. It was a pleasure working with you on this and I love that you came up with such great ideas.

My first Thank you goes to my beta readers parka_girl and silverraven. You guys helped me so much with your comments and suggestions.
You are awesome. All remaining mistakes are, of course, mine.

Another big Thank you to softcake_70 , who actually came up with the plot for this fic. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't even have considered writing cowboys or would have had the idea to combine cowboys and futuristic utopia. Thank you for helping me through the idea finding process.

Thanks to all of those who have been holding my hand through all of this, so basically half my flist. You guys are awesome and I really appreciate all the encouragements and comments. I know I says this every year but it's true. Five years is a long time and I really appreciate all the support.

This was written for the 2012 round for spn_j2_bigbang.
Thanks to wendy and thehighwaywoman for running this for six years now and it's my fifth. Wow.

Title and Chapter titles taken from Bruce Springsteen's newest album "Wrecking Ball". When I heard this for the first time in March I knew I had my title for the story and the overall theme. Those songs just fit so very well that I couldn't resist using them as the guide line during editing.

---

There is, of course, a Soundtrack:

* These are the songs that inspired me during writing.

1. Bruce Springsteen -- Rocky Ground
2. The BossHoss -- Don't Gimme That
3. Ivy Quainoo -- Do you like what you see
4. Stefanie Heinzmann -- My Man Is A Mean Man
5. Bruce Springsteen -- Shackled and Drawn
6. Christian Kane -- Different Kinda Knight
7. 30 Odd Foot of Grunt -- Other Ways of Speeking
8. Alex Clare -- Too Close
9. Keane -- Disconnected
10. Bruce Springsteen -- We take Care of our Own

Download and Cover Art:



Zip. file can be found HERE

Comments

[big-heart-june.livejournal.com]

This was such a lovely entertaining read! rancher!Jensen and rebel!agent!Jared definitely work for me!

Thanks so much! ♥

[the_milky_way]

Thank you.. :)

Glad you enjoyed those two and the story.

[etrix.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this a lot.

It was a very interesting world you developed, with the semi-declared civil war between civic and corporate factions. Your romance between Jared & Jensen fit in believably, which considering how different their backgrounds were, was a feat. I also love the idea that Jensen's 'ranch' is an electricty farm, heh. At least he doesn't have to shovel much manure. =p

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much.

It's good to know that the world and the characters worked out. I'm happy you enjoyed reading it. :)

[ayane42.livejournal.com]

great story!! very tense!!

i really enjoyed this!!!

thank you!!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you... :)

I'm happy you liked it

[nna-slavyanka15.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the story! It wasn't easy for the boys, but they are ultimately the winners here!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you for reading and the comment.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. :=)

[sandymg.livejournal.com]

Oh. I enjoyed this very much. Loved the atomosphere you created. Unique. Both old-time Western and futuristic. Nice mix. And I really liked how masculine both main characters were. Very sexy.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much. :)

It's good to know that the mix of genres and the characters worked for you. 'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the lovely comment. :=)

[enablelove.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this Dee! It was different and enticing and in this whole new world which you definitely made your own!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much..: :)
♥

I'm so happy that it worked for you and that you liked the world and the boys in it. :)

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Great characterisations; Jensen as the stoic cowboy and Jared as the trained rebel leader sounded like a weird combination, but you really made them work! I loved that they mostly grew closer in silence; through actions not through long conversations, and that when they finally did talk, Jensen had already gained so much respect for Jared that he could understand why he hadn't disclosed all secrets.
What I liked even more than that wonderful relationship was that you also build a fascinating world for them; an action-packed plot that even included a road-trip in style! I had to read it in one go:)

[the_milky_way]

Wow, thank you so much for the comment.

It's so very good to know that the story and the way it's build up worked for you. I'm happy that you enjoyed reading this story so much.

Thanks again for reading and the lovely comment. :)

[aelia1980.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this! The world you described reminded me a little of the world in "The Hunger Games" (which btw, wasn´t a bad thing) and I generally am fascinated by fanfics where writers invent a world that is different from ours, but still a little alike. And I really liked the very slow but realistic development of the Js relationship/friendship! Thanks for writing and sharing!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you...

I'm happy that the world worked for you (and I don't mind the comparison even though I have to admit that I red "The Hunger Games" after I was prompted with this idea ;) ).

Thank you so much for reading and the lovely comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it all. :)

[matalinolukaret.livejournal.com]

Love it! I enjoyed the storyline and the utopian feel, as well as the families. Still love their boys. ;P ♥

[the_milky_way]

Awwww... thank you. :)

Happy that you enjoyed it and liked the story. :)

♥

[elless18.livejournal.com]

Your world building was amazing. I loved all the little details you put in, like the lack of electricity and the weather being different from past years. Jared and Jensen were awesome too. <3

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much. :)

It's good to know that the world worked out. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

*hugs*
♥

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Interesting combination of cowboy and spy genres...I enjoyed the slow build of the first part especially.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you. :)

I'm happy that it worked for you and that you enjoyed it. It's good to know that the pacing worked as well.
Thank you for reading and the comment. :)

[z3s-keep-going.livejournal.com]

a little late to read, but im glad i saved it for when i had time!! i couldnt stop once i started. loved this fic ;D

[the_milky_way]

:) It's never too late to read something.

So happy to know that you liked the story and enjoyed reading it :)
Thank you.

[lupina78.livejournal.com]

Oh boy..this had been a fabulous story!!! LOVE it!! I can´t say what was best in it, bc everything fits together so perfectly! This post-apocalyptic-flair, going back to the roots thingy..perfect! Oh and Jensen and Jared...*sigh* I have no words for it!!
Honey, you really did a great job writing this bigbang-story!! I´ll put it to my memories and download the OST. Great artwork too! :)

Thanks for sharing! ♥

[the_milky_way]

Awww honey, thank you so much for the lovely comment.

So glad you enjoyed this little piece. :)

Thank you, for reading.
*hugs*

[frost.livejournal.com]

I've downloaded the PDF; thank you! :D

[the_milky_way]

Thank you... hope you'll enjoy it :)

[(Anonymous)]

Lovely story.

I liked that you created two parts in the story-telling and that everything still fits together.
The combination of a future world having gone back to the roots and a slow love story made it a good read for me.

Thanks for sharing.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much.

I'm so glad that the pacing and the parts worked for you. Happy that you enjoyed the story.

[oldbatj.livejournal.com]

Couldn't help but fall in love with this tale........ What and who's not to love in this story?? All the best scenery and plot lines ( hard, but fulfilling country life.....political unrest and guerilla warfare.......undercover attacks) and then of course....supportive Jim and motherly Samantha, protective bestfriends like Steve, Sandy and Danneel and strong family backups on both sides!!!!!!!!! Great stuff!!

Thank you so very much! Will be watching for your timestamps and............ praying for a possible sequel in the 2013 Big Bangs, huh??

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much :)

*blushes*
It's good to know that all the parts and characters worked for you, and that you enjoyed it all.

There'll be time stamps for sure.... and maybe a sequel.. :)

Thanks so much for reading and the lovely comment.
<3

[blodyn1.livejournal.com]

Great fic, I really enjoyed it. I absolutely love when both boys are tough types and get into some combat action!
: )

[the_milky_way]

Thank you:)

I'm glad this worked for you and that you liked it :=)

[blackpanther07.livejournal.com]

This was just perfect, love it. Thank you for sharing.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much for reading. :=)

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[pigeongirl99.livejournal.com]

I loved this - wonderful storytelling and lovely characterisation throughout - would love to see more set in this verse.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much. :)

I'm glad you liked it and enjoyed it.

There'll be more in this verse. I just have no idea when I'll have time to actually start on it.

[awennra.livejournal.com]

Hey this was a lovely story. I really enjoyed it. I like the futuristic aspect to it and how the government is not so reliable and how the rebels are helping the President and so on. The ranch and Jensen's side of it too was great. I loved the feel of everything, how there is this contrast between the 'real' world and how this piece of land that Jensen has is so separate from all that in a way. Jared's character too was great, how he just seems like a young cheery man with his sweet looks and dimples and how he can change into a lethal looking and hard agent. The love story too was great. And I loved that Jensen made such a long journey to find his love back. This was a good read, plus it was well written. Thanks for sharing :)

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much for reading and the lovely comment. :)

I'm happy to know that this worked for you and that you enjoyed reading it. I'm glad that all the parts and aspects fit together and made you enjoy it.

Thanks again for reading. :)

[(Anonymous)]

One, this is a brilliant story. Second, thank you for using the new Bruce album. He's my favorite and these are my favorite boys and just guh... I can't even make this wonderfulness make full sense.

[the_milky_way]

Thank you :)


I'm happy to read that you enjoyed the story.

I couldn't resist the new Album, it just talked to me and the story kinda build up on it. It fit so well.

Thank you so much for the lovely comment. :)

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

Terrific story! I loved the whole set-up - the fractured country, the rebels, Jensen holding on to his ranch. The dynamic between them - Jensen so taciturn, Jared more open but with a lot to hide - was touching underneath all the stuff they had to deal with. Kudos!!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much. :)

I'm glad that you liked the setting and the characters and enjoyed the story..

Thanks so much for reading and the comment. :=)

[apieceofcake.livejournal.com]

Enjoyed, thank you :-)

[the_milky_way]

Thank you. :)

Happy you liked it.

[herminekurotowa.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story. Cowboy!Jensen and rebel!Jared saving the country... *purrs*

Kudos!!

[the_milky_way]

Thank you so much. :)

Glad you enjoyed reading it.

<3