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FIC: Serendipity (1/2)
Title: Serendipity (1/2)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nilchance
Rating: PG13
A/N: Aimless comfort CWRPS AU. In which Jen and Jared are indentured workers under the SAG, and Jeff is uncivilized. This is Zach and Ever, Jeff's canon softball and marijuana buddies. Pt. 2 tomorrow evening.
"It's not that bad, dude."
Jensen twitches, jerking his attention away from the view of gray clouds beneath his window. He hates planes, from the recycled air to the uncomfortable seats, and this tiny puddlejumper has been rattling his teeth for ten hours now. He isn't in the mood to perform, but he composes a polite smile.
The guy across the aisle smirks at him, full on smirks like an LA waiter with a superiority complex. He's been screwing around with an old guitar for most of the flight, but apparently his patience has worn off. His SAG badge says he's Zach something, a midline official. He doesn't look like any official Jensen had ever known, thick curly hair and falling-apart jeans.
Apparently satisfied that he has Jensen's attention, Zach nods and slings the guitar up on his lap again, absent as a father with a squirming kid. "It's a nice gig," he says. "Big house with a yard, no kids. Lots of ocean. Summer all year long. You're not going to a gulag. It'll be good for him."
Jensen glances through the seats at Jared, curled up in an impossible position, his head against the window. Last night Jared didn't sleep for shit, muscle cramps bending him double, his breaths coming in uneven pants. Jensen had rubbed him until his hands hurt, but Jared's tendons stayed taut as wires. Neither of them had known they'd be on a plane eight hours later, strangers come into their lives like a brick through the window. Zach and Ever, the pretty blonde with the hard eyes, who had the owners pissing themselves with a few quiet words Jensen didn't hear.
They'd been out on their asses soon after. It wasn't like they had anything to pack.
If Zach was telling the truth, Jensen could be happy. He could be relieved that Jared could spend a day without working himself sick for the owners, that they might see the sun, that they might not have to ration out sleep according to the owners' demands and watch their weight and crash in the goddamn laundry room. He'd be fucking thrilled. But Zach is lying, and he's using Jared to make that lie prettier.
The debt's still there, the crushing truth: Jared and he will never get out.
"We go where we're told," Jensen says, and turns back to the window.
Behind him, he hears Zach laugh. "Oh, he's gonna love you."
***
The flight is too long, and even that isn't the end. They debark onto a dirt runway, into a Jeep, onto a dock, into a boat. It's not safe to sleep, not wise, but despite it all Jensen drowses on the boat. Jared is a firm pillow, Jared's arm draped heavy across his shoulders. He hears the slap of water against the drone of the motor, the ink-black night outside barely pierced by the boat's floodlights. The night air is thick with heat and the salt-fish scent of ocean water. All Jensen can think is, we're far enough to disappear.
Zach spends a lot of time bent over the rail of the boat, cursing when he isn't puking. Ever hands him bottles of water, the ones Jensen won't touch, and makes fun of him in between holding his hair back. She makes endless rounds between the captain, Zach's hunched form, and the two of them. Her hands are kind, but it pisses her off when they won't take her help. Jensen can see it in her face.
They ride. Jared's awake enough to be interested, his attention everywhere, his arm tightening quietly when he sees things splashing in the dark. He shakes Jensen, whispers, "hey, baby dolphins," but they're gone by the time Jensen looks.
The land they're heading up on is mostly shadow, a few shivering lights on the water. As they draw closer, he sees someone standing on the dock. A man, hands shoved in his pockets, body tense with displeasure. Jared shifts tighter against Jensen's side, like that'll keep the boat from cutting further through the black water.
They slow, and Ever goes to confer with the captain. While she's busy, Zach sinks back on his heels, shuddering and wiping his mouth. Jared clears his throat, then rolls Zach another bottle of water. It's all fuzzy on the edges, Jensen's eyes burning with saltwater and fatigue. He's too tired for this, too tired to be polite anymore.
The boat slides alongside the dock, knocking and clicking, and the shadowed man reaches out to snag its edge with his foot to drag it closer. Jensen can't see his face, but he radiates trouble.
The second they dock, Ever bounds out of the boat and embraces the man. Ever's not a small woman, but the man can tuck her neatly under his chin, and he does. He says something into her hair, and Ever pulls away, grabbing his arm and dragging him a few feet away. Jensen hears them whispering fiercely, and Jared shoves in closer against his side.
After a minute, the man turns and looks at them. Jensen tries not to glare back, but for fuck's sake, it's late and they're on the wrong side of a long plane ride. They're grimy. What does he want to do, check their teeth before he decides they're worth taking?
The man's mouth curves up, his eyes still on Jensen. Heat surprises Jensen, coiling slow in his belly, and he remembers to glance away.
Next thing he knows, the boat's rocking. The guy's put his foot on the side, his hand offered out to help them onto the dock. There's no wedding ring on the man's hand, and this close Jensen can see calluses. Maybe the owners are still inside, but he doubts it. The man has the easy confidence of the free.
"Hey." The man's voice is rusty, like he's not used to talking. "I'm Jeff."
Jensen feels Jared's eyes on him, waiting to see what he'll do. Jensen asks, "You taking us or not?"
It's too blunt, one of Jensen's sloppier performances, but Jeff doesn't react. Jeff shifts down until they can see his face better, until he can see theirs. "I am. You coming up?"
Behind Jeff, Jensen can see a house. There's a lot of space between for him to bury them. He's being paranoid, but he doesn't completely let that thought go. He nudges Jared, a silent question: what do you think? Are you okay? Do we trust him?
Jared doesn't hesitate before taking Jeff's hand. Jensen's outvoted, but he climbs onto the dock on his own anyway, ignoring Jeff's hand. Jeff helps Zach up, instead, and thumps him fondly as Zach groans, "Land. Thank you, God."
"Still got lousy sea-legs, I see," Jeff says dryly.
"Dude, shut the fuck up. If you weren't all Swiss Family Robinson..." Zach waves a hand vaguely at the house in the distance, which looks to Jensen to be more Architectural Digest than roughing it. Zach isn't distracted enough not to notice Jared swaying; he steadies Jared on the side Jensen isn't already covering, still pulling faces like a two year old. "Whatever. I want beer and pot to make it up to me."
Jeff gives him a half-lidded stare, an undercurrent passing between them. Jensen watches for those, for anything that could sweep he and Jared off their feet and drown them. It's a family look, irritated but resigned. It's not the look a prospective owner would give handlers dropping unwanted goods at his feet.
"So," Jeff says finally, gruffly, shoving his hands in his pockets again like he doesn't know what to do with them. With any of this. Jensen knows the feeling. He looks at Jensen and Jared, manages an awkward smile. "Bet you two are hungry. Jared, right? And Jensen?"
Something flicks on under Jensen's skin at the way Jeff says his name, like he's tasting it. He hesitates too long.
Jared covers, straightening up out of his slouch. He has a great smile, too good to be wasted on owners, but Jared doesn't differentiate. He'd beam up at the old owners after fucking, right before he went into the bathroom to scour himself clean. "That'd be great. We can give you guys space to catch up if you just say what we're allowed to eat."
Jeff blinks. "Excuse me?"
"Um. Y'know." Jared holds up his hands. "Salads, clear soups. Eggs. Chicken breasts? Whatever you have here."
Another slow blink, then Jeff looks at Ever and raises his eyebrows. She gives him a steady stare back, a silent I told you so if Jensen's ever seen one. With a sigh, Jeff turns back to Jared. Puts his hand on Jared's arm, like he has any right to touch him. "C'mon inside and I'll make you boys dinner."
Author:
nilchanceRating: PG13
A/N: Aimless comfort CWRPS AU. In which Jen and Jared are indentured workers under the SAG, and Jeff is uncivilized. This is Zach and Ever, Jeff's canon softball and marijuana buddies. Pt. 2 tomorrow evening.
"It's not that bad, dude."
Jensen twitches, jerking his attention away from the view of gray clouds beneath his window. He hates planes, from the recycled air to the uncomfortable seats, and this tiny puddlejumper has been rattling his teeth for ten hours now. He isn't in the mood to perform, but he composes a polite smile.
The guy across the aisle smirks at him, full on smirks like an LA waiter with a superiority complex. He's been screwing around with an old guitar for most of the flight, but apparently his patience has worn off. His SAG badge says he's Zach something, a midline official. He doesn't look like any official Jensen had ever known, thick curly hair and falling-apart jeans.
Apparently satisfied that he has Jensen's attention, Zach nods and slings the guitar up on his lap again, absent as a father with a squirming kid. "It's a nice gig," he says. "Big house with a yard, no kids. Lots of ocean. Summer all year long. You're not going to a gulag. It'll be good for him."
Jensen glances through the seats at Jared, curled up in an impossible position, his head against the window. Last night Jared didn't sleep for shit, muscle cramps bending him double, his breaths coming in uneven pants. Jensen had rubbed him until his hands hurt, but Jared's tendons stayed taut as wires. Neither of them had known they'd be on a plane eight hours later, strangers come into their lives like a brick through the window. Zach and Ever, the pretty blonde with the hard eyes, who had the owners pissing themselves with a few quiet words Jensen didn't hear.
They'd been out on their asses soon after. It wasn't like they had anything to pack.
If Zach was telling the truth, Jensen could be happy. He could be relieved that Jared could spend a day without working himself sick for the owners, that they might see the sun, that they might not have to ration out sleep according to the owners' demands and watch their weight and crash in the goddamn laundry room. He'd be fucking thrilled. But Zach is lying, and he's using Jared to make that lie prettier.
The debt's still there, the crushing truth: Jared and he will never get out.
"We go where we're told," Jensen says, and turns back to the window.
Behind him, he hears Zach laugh. "Oh, he's gonna love you."
***
The flight is too long, and even that isn't the end. They debark onto a dirt runway, into a Jeep, onto a dock, into a boat. It's not safe to sleep, not wise, but despite it all Jensen drowses on the boat. Jared is a firm pillow, Jared's arm draped heavy across his shoulders. He hears the slap of water against the drone of the motor, the ink-black night outside barely pierced by the boat's floodlights. The night air is thick with heat and the salt-fish scent of ocean water. All Jensen can think is, we're far enough to disappear.
Zach spends a lot of time bent over the rail of the boat, cursing when he isn't puking. Ever hands him bottles of water, the ones Jensen won't touch, and makes fun of him in between holding his hair back. She makes endless rounds between the captain, Zach's hunched form, and the two of them. Her hands are kind, but it pisses her off when they won't take her help. Jensen can see it in her face.
They ride. Jared's awake enough to be interested, his attention everywhere, his arm tightening quietly when he sees things splashing in the dark. He shakes Jensen, whispers, "hey, baby dolphins," but they're gone by the time Jensen looks.
The land they're heading up on is mostly shadow, a few shivering lights on the water. As they draw closer, he sees someone standing on the dock. A man, hands shoved in his pockets, body tense with displeasure. Jared shifts tighter against Jensen's side, like that'll keep the boat from cutting further through the black water.
They slow, and Ever goes to confer with the captain. While she's busy, Zach sinks back on his heels, shuddering and wiping his mouth. Jared clears his throat, then rolls Zach another bottle of water. It's all fuzzy on the edges, Jensen's eyes burning with saltwater and fatigue. He's too tired for this, too tired to be polite anymore.
The boat slides alongside the dock, knocking and clicking, and the shadowed man reaches out to snag its edge with his foot to drag it closer. Jensen can't see his face, but he radiates trouble.
The second they dock, Ever bounds out of the boat and embraces the man. Ever's not a small woman, but the man can tuck her neatly under his chin, and he does. He says something into her hair, and Ever pulls away, grabbing his arm and dragging him a few feet away. Jensen hears them whispering fiercely, and Jared shoves in closer against his side.
After a minute, the man turns and looks at them. Jensen tries not to glare back, but for fuck's sake, it's late and they're on the wrong side of a long plane ride. They're grimy. What does he want to do, check their teeth before he decides they're worth taking?
The man's mouth curves up, his eyes still on Jensen. Heat surprises Jensen, coiling slow in his belly, and he remembers to glance away.
Next thing he knows, the boat's rocking. The guy's put his foot on the side, his hand offered out to help them onto the dock. There's no wedding ring on the man's hand, and this close Jensen can see calluses. Maybe the owners are still inside, but he doubts it. The man has the easy confidence of the free.
"Hey." The man's voice is rusty, like he's not used to talking. "I'm Jeff."
Jensen feels Jared's eyes on him, waiting to see what he'll do. Jensen asks, "You taking us or not?"
It's too blunt, one of Jensen's sloppier performances, but Jeff doesn't react. Jeff shifts down until they can see his face better, until he can see theirs. "I am. You coming up?"
Behind Jeff, Jensen can see a house. There's a lot of space between for him to bury them. He's being paranoid, but he doesn't completely let that thought go. He nudges Jared, a silent question: what do you think? Are you okay? Do we trust him?
Jared doesn't hesitate before taking Jeff's hand. Jensen's outvoted, but he climbs onto the dock on his own anyway, ignoring Jeff's hand. Jeff helps Zach up, instead, and thumps him fondly as Zach groans, "Land. Thank you, God."
"Still got lousy sea-legs, I see," Jeff says dryly.
"Dude, shut the fuck up. If you weren't all Swiss Family Robinson..." Zach waves a hand vaguely at the house in the distance, which looks to Jensen to be more Architectural Digest than roughing it. Zach isn't distracted enough not to notice Jared swaying; he steadies Jared on the side Jensen isn't already covering, still pulling faces like a two year old. "Whatever. I want beer and pot to make it up to me."
Jeff gives him a half-lidded stare, an undercurrent passing between them. Jensen watches for those, for anything that could sweep he and Jared off their feet and drown them. It's a family look, irritated but resigned. It's not the look a prospective owner would give handlers dropping unwanted goods at his feet.
"So," Jeff says finally, gruffly, shoving his hands in his pockets again like he doesn't know what to do with them. With any of this. Jensen knows the feeling. He looks at Jensen and Jared, manages an awkward smile. "Bet you two are hungry. Jared, right? And Jensen?"
Something flicks on under Jensen's skin at the way Jeff says his name, like he's tasting it. He hesitates too long.
Jared covers, straightening up out of his slouch. He has a great smile, too good to be wasted on owners, but Jared doesn't differentiate. He'd beam up at the old owners after fucking, right before he went into the bathroom to scour himself clean. "That'd be great. We can give you guys space to catch up if you just say what we're allowed to eat."
Jeff blinks. "Excuse me?"
"Um. Y'know." Jared holds up his hands. "Salads, clear soups. Eggs. Chicken breasts? Whatever you have here."
Another slow blink, then Jeff looks at Ever and raises his eyebrows. She gives him a steady stare back, a silent I told you so if Jensen's ever seen one. With a sigh, Jeff turns back to Jared. Puts his hand on Jared's arm, like he has any right to touch him. "C'mon inside and I'll make you boys dinner."