FIC: Serendipity (2/2)
Apr. 12th, 2008 07:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nilchanceTitle: Serendipity (2/2)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nilchance
Rating: PG13 for language
A/N: Aimless comfort CWRPS AU. In which Jen and Jared are indentured workers under the SAG, and Jeff is uncivilized.
The house smells like his grandmother's potato soup, which is simmering on the burner. Jeff leans on the kitchen counter, dinner his excuse to stay out of the chaos in his living room. Zach's trying to set up the blow-up bed without making their guests move away from the fireplace, his mouth running to fill up the silence. This is the loudest Jeff's house has been since the funeral.
Beside him, Ever slices off generous chunks of homemade bread. She'd brought it with her, a gift from her uncle David. The smaller of the two boys jerks a little every time the knife scrapes. His name is Jensen, but Jeff wants to call him Green Eyes. Like nicknames will keep him from adopting them as his. It's too late for that already.
"This is dirty pool, you know," he tells Ever.
Ever doesn't pretend not to understand. "They're in bad condition. Another few months..."
"I see that." Jared, the other boy, is hunched in and hurting. They both look nearly starved and exhausted. Jensen is beaten down and smart-mouthed, which could get him hurt. Ever had to get them out. But there was no need to bring them here. "What about David?"
"He's got his hands full." Ever turns the eyes on him. "Jeff, come on. You need this."
In his living room, Jared puts his head on Jensen's shoulder. Jensen glances their way, his body a protective barricade between owner and owned. Jeff remembers his own first days with David, and he'd been lucky enough to "pay off SAG's investment" before he left. This two were still young, still in debt, and have been abused as hell. Too much for him to handle.
But there's a guest room with a king bed upstairs. He can give them space to heal, food to eat. He likes to think he could stay uninvolved, but he tried that with Zach and Ever. They still ended up family.
There's nothing else for it. They're staying here.
"Jeff?" Ever prompts.
"Soup's on," Jeff says. He's not sure he can handle her victory dance if he told her straight out she's won, but she can read between the lines. She smiles at him as he dishes out generous portions of soup. The smile makes him remember how she felt around his fingers, her clit against his tongue.
Jensen stiffens and starts to get up to serve. Without a prop, Jared starts to shiver and tip over, so Jensen grabs him. Hesitates, caught between two demands, and looks right at Jeff. Jeff wishes like hell he didn't enjoy that, startled green eyes on his own.
"You're a guest. Sit," Jeff tells him. When Jensen keeps standing, wavering on his feet, Jeff adds with a little iron, "That's not a suggestion."
Jensen sinks back onto the couch, gripping Jared's arm. Jeff smiles, unsurprised when it isn't returned, and carries out the steaming bowls. He serves the boys first, deliberately kneeling in front of them to set the bowls down on the coffee table, and feels Jensen's stare like a sunburn. When he sits back on his heels, Jensen averts his eyes quickly, then ends up staring at the bowl of soup like it might explode.
Jared looks at the bowl with such longing that it makes Jeff want to touch him, surround him and protect him and feed him until he's waddling. Wetting his lower lip, Jared shifts in place, then glances desperately at Jensen. For permission, Jeff realizes. For approval. Jensen is Jared's protection. A hard role in SAG slavery, where there's no safety to be found.
"There's... is there cream in this?" Jensen asks.
Zach snorts. "Cream, butter, potatoes, maybe a little lard."
"There's no lard," Jeff mutters, then pats Jared's knee. "It'll put some meat on your bones."
Jensen darts a hard look at him, but there's fear behind it. Fear that this is a trick. Jeff has heard about owners who let their slaves binge, then forced them to down laxatives or mustard, until the slaves learned to avoid food on their own. He doesn't blame Jensen for being wary. "Are there vegetables?" Jensen asks.
"Only the ones in the soup." Jeff straightens, hating the way they both lean away from him. "Eat up, boys. It's all right now."
Jensen narrows his eyes. "You're not SAG." Jared hisses softly, putting a hand on Jensen's arm. Ignoring him, Jensen turns his attention to Zach and Ever. "And you're not handlers. What is this? A brothel? Snuff?"
"Jesus." Zach rises, pausing when Jensen flinches. "I'm just getting a damn beer, dude, take it easy."
"Not until you answer me." Straightening his shoulders, angry now that he showed weakness in front of them, Jensen says, "What do you all want?"
"We were SAG. Just not the way you think." Ever unbuttons the cuff of her shirt and rolls the sleeve up, baring the ugly collection of cigarette burns. Her expression dares Jensen to say one damn word, but he quiets, listening. Ever flicks him a faint, bitter smile. "Guess you can see I didn't make a million dollars and buy my way out of my contract. I still owe SAG a pretty penny, just like they want. Just like you two."
Jensen jerks his chin at Zach. "You too?"
Zach shrugs. If Jeff didn't know him, he'd miss the tightness around Zach's eyes. "Yeah. All of us. Jeff's the only son of a bitch who bought out, and that's because he damn near killed himself working nights while he served."
"I was lucky," Jeff said.
Jared eyes all of them, then nods. His voice is gentle when he asks Ever, "What happened?"
"My uncle bought out years ago. David Carradine. He knew the score. When he heard that I'd signed a contract, he went looking." Ever pulls her sleeve back down to cover the scars. "He found Jeff first. Took him in. By the time my uncle found me, Jeff had bought this place. Now Zach and I take our 'official' SAG badges around and free who we can, then take them somewhere to recover. We help them to make a new life."
And sometimes, they failed. Ever doesn't say it, but Jeff feels that ghost heavy in the room, like the ashes he scattered over the beach. He goes to get a beer, fetches one for Zach. Zach clinks the necks together and gives Jeff that look, the look that tells him not to start brooding. Jeff pretends not to see in and settles in by the fire.
Jared's smile kindles low before brightening. "We're free?"
"Free," Ever replies. "Congratulations. We were going to tell you after dinner."
Jensen wears his distrust like a flag, sitting very still on the edge of them couch. Jared turns to him, beaming, and thumps his arm. "Jen, stop glaring. They're telling the truth."
"You don't know that."
Jared's smile flickers, something dark moving behind his joy. He says simply, "I know," and the weight of it snags Jensen's attention. They share a long look before Jensen sets his jaw and glances away. Smiling broader, Jared grabs the soup bowl and digs in. His moan of appreciation hits Jeff hard in the chest. "God, this is good. It's good. Jensen, you've got to eat this."
Eyes fixed on the floor, Jensen takes the bowl. When he puts the spoon in his mouth, his eyes flicker closed, pleasure that's nearly pain. Jeff folds his hands in his lap before he can reach over and touch Jensen, soothe him down into comfort.
As they eat, Jared asks a thousand questions: can I call my family? Can I shower? Can I have seconds?
Jensen doesn't say a word.
They stay up late. Jeff shows the boys to the guest room long before Zach and Ever talk themselves out, Jared drowsing upright against Jensen. He thinks that's the end of it.
***
Moonlight breaks over the ceiling of Jeff's room, casting the corners into shadow. When he wakes with a body against his own, he thinks for a moment that it's Bisou. But no, she's on the mainland getting groomed and checked over, another introduction to make, another layer of complication.
It could be Ever, but when Jeff reaches out to touch bare skin, there's no weight of breasts filling his hands. The body is lean, male, painfully thin; Jeff's palms brace ribs as Jensen climbs on top of him, skin to skin. Jensen's eyes are filled up with darkness. Jeff smells oily lube, feels the trail of it against his thigh.
Jensen looks down at him, breathing fast. Scared. Jeff strokes his side, cups his hips, and shoves Jensen out of his bed.
Jensen catches himself like a cat, all pissy grace. Hunched up, Jensen hisses, "What the hell?"
"Go back to bed." Jeff slings an arm over his face before he looks at Jensen's naked body more than he already has.
"You have to want something." Bitterness spills over the edge of Jensen's voice. "You have to."
"I want world peace. And pancakes. I think Ever's making them in the morning." Jensen's breathing punctuates the silence. Jeff adds pointedly, "Sleep tight."
Nothing.
When Jeff rolls over, Jensen is gone.
Author:
nilchanceRating: PG13 for language
A/N: Aimless comfort CWRPS AU. In which Jen and Jared are indentured workers under the SAG, and Jeff is uncivilized.
The house smells like his grandmother's potato soup, which is simmering on the burner. Jeff leans on the kitchen counter, dinner his excuse to stay out of the chaos in his living room. Zach's trying to set up the blow-up bed without making their guests move away from the fireplace, his mouth running to fill up the silence. This is the loudest Jeff's house has been since the funeral.
Beside him, Ever slices off generous chunks of homemade bread. She'd brought it with her, a gift from her uncle David. The smaller of the two boys jerks a little every time the knife scrapes. His name is Jensen, but Jeff wants to call him Green Eyes. Like nicknames will keep him from adopting them as his. It's too late for that already.
"This is dirty pool, you know," he tells Ever.
Ever doesn't pretend not to understand. "They're in bad condition. Another few months..."
"I see that." Jared, the other boy, is hunched in and hurting. They both look nearly starved and exhausted. Jensen is beaten down and smart-mouthed, which could get him hurt. Ever had to get them out. But there was no need to bring them here. "What about David?"
"He's got his hands full." Ever turns the eyes on him. "Jeff, come on. You need this."
In his living room, Jared puts his head on Jensen's shoulder. Jensen glances their way, his body a protective barricade between owner and owned. Jeff remembers his own first days with David, and he'd been lucky enough to "pay off SAG's investment" before he left. This two were still young, still in debt, and have been abused as hell. Too much for him to handle.
But there's a guest room with a king bed upstairs. He can give them space to heal, food to eat. He likes to think he could stay uninvolved, but he tried that with Zach and Ever. They still ended up family.
There's nothing else for it. They're staying here.
"Jeff?" Ever prompts.
"Soup's on," Jeff says. He's not sure he can handle her victory dance if he told her straight out she's won, but she can read between the lines. She smiles at him as he dishes out generous portions of soup. The smile makes him remember how she felt around his fingers, her clit against his tongue.
Jensen stiffens and starts to get up to serve. Without a prop, Jared starts to shiver and tip over, so Jensen grabs him. Hesitates, caught between two demands, and looks right at Jeff. Jeff wishes like hell he didn't enjoy that, startled green eyes on his own.
"You're a guest. Sit," Jeff tells him. When Jensen keeps standing, wavering on his feet, Jeff adds with a little iron, "That's not a suggestion."
Jensen sinks back onto the couch, gripping Jared's arm. Jeff smiles, unsurprised when it isn't returned, and carries out the steaming bowls. He serves the boys first, deliberately kneeling in front of them to set the bowls down on the coffee table, and feels Jensen's stare like a sunburn. When he sits back on his heels, Jensen averts his eyes quickly, then ends up staring at the bowl of soup like it might explode.
Jared looks at the bowl with such longing that it makes Jeff want to touch him, surround him and protect him and feed him until he's waddling. Wetting his lower lip, Jared shifts in place, then glances desperately at Jensen. For permission, Jeff realizes. For approval. Jensen is Jared's protection. A hard role in SAG slavery, where there's no safety to be found.
"There's... is there cream in this?" Jensen asks.
Zach snorts. "Cream, butter, potatoes, maybe a little lard."
"There's no lard," Jeff mutters, then pats Jared's knee. "It'll put some meat on your bones."
Jensen darts a hard look at him, but there's fear behind it. Fear that this is a trick. Jeff has heard about owners who let their slaves binge, then forced them to down laxatives or mustard, until the slaves learned to avoid food on their own. He doesn't blame Jensen for being wary. "Are there vegetables?" Jensen asks.
"Only the ones in the soup." Jeff straightens, hating the way they both lean away from him. "Eat up, boys. It's all right now."
Jensen narrows his eyes. "You're not SAG." Jared hisses softly, putting a hand on Jensen's arm. Ignoring him, Jensen turns his attention to Zach and Ever. "And you're not handlers. What is this? A brothel? Snuff?"
"Jesus." Zach rises, pausing when Jensen flinches. "I'm just getting a damn beer, dude, take it easy."
"Not until you answer me." Straightening his shoulders, angry now that he showed weakness in front of them, Jensen says, "What do you all want?"
"We were SAG. Just not the way you think." Ever unbuttons the cuff of her shirt and rolls the sleeve up, baring the ugly collection of cigarette burns. Her expression dares Jensen to say one damn word, but he quiets, listening. Ever flicks him a faint, bitter smile. "Guess you can see I didn't make a million dollars and buy my way out of my contract. I still owe SAG a pretty penny, just like they want. Just like you two."
Jensen jerks his chin at Zach. "You too?"
Zach shrugs. If Jeff didn't know him, he'd miss the tightness around Zach's eyes. "Yeah. All of us. Jeff's the only son of a bitch who bought out, and that's because he damn near killed himself working nights while he served."
"I was lucky," Jeff said.
Jared eyes all of them, then nods. His voice is gentle when he asks Ever, "What happened?"
"My uncle bought out years ago. David Carradine. He knew the score. When he heard that I'd signed a contract, he went looking." Ever pulls her sleeve back down to cover the scars. "He found Jeff first. Took him in. By the time my uncle found me, Jeff had bought this place. Now Zach and I take our 'official' SAG badges around and free who we can, then take them somewhere to recover. We help them to make a new life."
And sometimes, they failed. Ever doesn't say it, but Jeff feels that ghost heavy in the room, like the ashes he scattered over the beach. He goes to get a beer, fetches one for Zach. Zach clinks the necks together and gives Jeff that look, the look that tells him not to start brooding. Jeff pretends not to see in and settles in by the fire.
Jared's smile kindles low before brightening. "We're free?"
"Free," Ever replies. "Congratulations. We were going to tell you after dinner."
Jensen wears his distrust like a flag, sitting very still on the edge of them couch. Jared turns to him, beaming, and thumps his arm. "Jen, stop glaring. They're telling the truth."
"You don't know that."
Jared's smile flickers, something dark moving behind his joy. He says simply, "I know," and the weight of it snags Jensen's attention. They share a long look before Jensen sets his jaw and glances away. Smiling broader, Jared grabs the soup bowl and digs in. His moan of appreciation hits Jeff hard in the chest. "God, this is good. It's good. Jensen, you've got to eat this."
Eyes fixed on the floor, Jensen takes the bowl. When he puts the spoon in his mouth, his eyes flicker closed, pleasure that's nearly pain. Jeff folds his hands in his lap before he can reach over and touch Jensen, soothe him down into comfort.
As they eat, Jared asks a thousand questions: can I call my family? Can I shower? Can I have seconds?
Jensen doesn't say a word.
They stay up late. Jeff shows the boys to the guest room long before Zach and Ever talk themselves out, Jared drowsing upright against Jensen. He thinks that's the end of it.
***
Moonlight breaks over the ceiling of Jeff's room, casting the corners into shadow. When he wakes with a body against his own, he thinks for a moment that it's Bisou. But no, she's on the mainland getting groomed and checked over, another introduction to make, another layer of complication.
It could be Ever, but when Jeff reaches out to touch bare skin, there's no weight of breasts filling his hands. The body is lean, male, painfully thin; Jeff's palms brace ribs as Jensen climbs on top of him, skin to skin. Jensen's eyes are filled up with darkness. Jeff smells oily lube, feels the trail of it against his thigh.
Jensen looks down at him, breathing fast. Scared. Jeff strokes his side, cups his hips, and shoves Jensen out of his bed.
Jensen catches himself like a cat, all pissy grace. Hunched up, Jensen hisses, "What the hell?"
"Go back to bed." Jeff slings an arm over his face before he looks at Jensen's naked body more than he already has.
"You have to want something." Bitterness spills over the edge of Jensen's voice. "You have to."
"I want world peace. And pancakes. I think Ever's making them in the morning." Jensen's breathing punctuates the silence. Jeff adds pointedly, "Sleep tight."
Nothing.
When Jeff rolls over, Jensen is gone.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-04-12 10:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 05:58 am (UTC)Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 06:13 am (UTC)I´m glad you managed to write so fast^^
I´m loving this new verse^^
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 09:35 am (UTC)He serves the boys first, deliberately kneeling in front of them
I love that little gesture.
Jensen narrows his eyes. "You're not SAG." Jared hisses softly, putting a hand on Jensen's arm. Ignoring him, Jensen turns his attention to Zach and Ever. "And you're not handlers. What is this? A brothel? Snuff?"
"You have to want something." Bitterness spills over the edge of Jensen's voice. "You have to."
Aw, poor Jensen! And he always has to be the suspicious one, to protect Jared.
And the worldbuilding! Always with you and the awesome worldbuilding!
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 03:20 pm (UTC)This seems preemptive to me. You mentioned Jared being fucked by the owners in the first chapter, so this felt like Jensen making sure that Jeff focused on him. Ever the protector. Not to mention Jensen seems to feel an undercurrent of attraction to Jeff that he's not ready for.
Am I supposed to know what SAG stands for? It doesn't really matter, the indentured servitude/slavery structure is the point, but I'm just curious.
I'd love to read more, but I'm also waiting with bated breath for a Retreiver update so I'm torn...
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 07:21 pm (UTC)You know you're never allowed to leave me, right? *cuddles*
Also, are you post-dating or posting private and then unveiling or something? Because neither installment is showing up on my flist and that's NOT COOL, yo.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 11:03 pm (UTC)Can I second that? Exactly that? Cos. Yes.
Seriously, this fic is best way to start a sleep-deprived Monday ever.
Please, sir, I want some more...
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 09:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 09:31 pm (UTC)Jeff's job is going to be a hard one - that's for sure.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 10:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 11:03 pm (UTC)Very nice! The idea of slavery is one that gives me chills, one of the things that really makes me sick. Good thing they have Jeff, Ever and Zach!
Great fic.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 12:06 am (UTC)Ok, where to begin:
-Jeff, Ever and Zack as a kind of underground railroad make this fic fantastic.
-Ever didn't even do a victory dance, but the idea of it is possibly the cutest thing I've ever imagined.
In his living room, Jared puts his head on Jensen's shoulder. Jensen glances their way, his body a protective barricade between owner and owned.
Even if they're not a couple in the sexual kind of way (I'm a little fuzzy on that in this verse) I melt over protective Jensen.
Jared looks at the bowl with such longing that it makes Jeff want to touch him, surround him and protect him and feed him until he's waddling.
The Jared puppy dog eyes of doom! You are not match for them Jeff!
Jensen catches himself like a cat, all pissy grace. Hunched up, Jensen hisses, "What the hell?"
Yeah, that's a perfect image.
I like how Jensen goes to Jeff (maybe as a way to keep him away from Jared?) and how Jeff just shoves him out.
I hope you come back to visit this verse. I'd love to know more about how Jeff, Jared and Jensen navigate one another.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 12:08 am (UTC)Jensen catches himself like a cat, all pissy grace. Hunched up, Jensen hisses, "What the hell?"
I can completely picture this!
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 01:59 am (UTC)I love how angsty and broken and vulnerable and needy your characters are. It's so perfect :D
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 03:20 am (UTC)MAn I so love when you come up with verses like this. It's like a whole new world that you take me into, a world that I never imagine the J3 could be in.
Jeff being so protective of the boys and Jared always managing to retain at least some of his optimism.
So on last count, this is the third J3 verse you've got me hooked on now. I need my fix please. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 03:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 10:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-15 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-15 01:31 am (UTC)I liked the little things: Jeff kneeling to give the dinner; Jared looking to Jensen for protection; the way Jensen and Jared can read each other with no words.
But it's so heartbreaking, that Jensen still thinks there's something more to give. So he sacrifices himself so Jared can rest, which is why I think he's there during the night. An offensive.
I hope there's more, eventually. I do love reading your stuff (even though I'm horribly behind with your other fic). :-)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-18 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-27 11:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-30 06:48 pm (UTC)It's so redolent of mucky reality mixed with the sort of scared-hopefulness which just tugs at my heartstrings that I can't forget it. And Jeff/Jen, which is awesomecakes when looked at through your lenses. Hope there will be more of this sometime, even though it sits uncomfortably well as it is.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-01 03:30 am (UTC)I'm seriously torn because I'm totally in love with your raven!verse but I love these too!