Chapter Text
And it shall come to pass that the Soul will guide the mind and the heart, predict the ways of the Vampire, and lead to the biggest roads of profit and fortune.
Just as the Warrior at his side will attack in stealth and always find great victory. The Warrior shall provide strength and guidance for the Soul and together they shall rule.
And each shall gather trusted companions who aide and assist. Each shall play a vital roll in the path of the Warrior and his Soul. (The Witness, The Innocent, The Stalwart, The Wise, The Ardent)
Together as one they shall eliminate the practiced order and the Elders shall diminish. For it is written, so it must be.
- The Book of augury
Jensen was woken by the rise and fall of voices in the vague, far off distance and for a moment he thought he was dreaming. Especially because there seemed to be a solid weight lying mostly on top of him and though he was not uncomfortable, it did seem a bit odd. Then the events of the past few days slammed back into his mind at full force. The assignment from the Elders, meeting Jared, losing Jared, changing Jared, the Prophecy, evil Elders, Mike changing Chad, and a really hot blow job in the shower that he would really like to repeat as soon as possible. And it didn't even have to be in the shower, Jensen was not that picky.
When his eyes fluttered open he was looking down at the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. "My Soul..." he whispered softly, the name falling from his lips almost subconsciously as he dipped down for a gentle kiss.
Waking up to Jensen's lips on his was about the most intoxicating feeling in the world. Jared sucked softly at his mate's bottom lip, lapping at his mouth sleepily. Not getting up.
Smiling into the kiss, Jensen pushed Jared slightly until he could roll on top, trailing his hands down his mate's flesh. Not saying anything about getting up. Completely content with not getting up. He rolled his hips against Jared's and broke from the kiss, dipping into the curve of his neck to lick and bite along his flesh.
"Mmmm," Jared's head fell back on the pillow, hair covering his face, fingers dancing over Jensen's shoulders. He could already feel his heart beating faster, stronger, so different - the sensation of Vampire blood in his veins. He squeezed his eyes shut as he was assaulted with thoughts and feelings from outside their room. "They're... all awake you know... did I say that out loud? I'm never sure." His hips pushed up off the bed forcefully shifting Jensen's mouth back to his. Slanting his mouth over his mate's he kissed him, deeply, lovingly, perfectly - like every touch that passed between them.
Groaning at the slide of hips along his then Jared's mouth connecting with his, tongue sliding across and inside his lips, was enough to send spirals of pleasure directly to his cock. Pulling his lips up a little he breathed into the space between them with a sigh, "Yeah, they've been up for awhile and very loud. From what I can gather, Mike's putting on some sort of puppet show for Chad. But the idea is pretty creepy so I'm trying not to think about it too much. Should we go out there?"
Jared shifted so he could wrap a leg around Jensen's calf. "That makes some of the images in my head make much more sense." He laughed, feeling his mate's stomach muscles flutter at the vibration. He smiled, running the tip of his nose across Jensen's cheek. "Can I keep you here, just for me, for a little while longer?" Closing his eyes he breathed out across his mate's lips, I don't want to share you.
I'd like to stay here forever, Jensen thought with a smile, sealing their lips together once more. "Mmm my Soul..." he mumbled into their kiss, hands spreading over every inch of bare skin he could reach. It's just a matter of time until they come get us. I'm sure they know we're up he sighed and once more slid their hips together, grinding down and moaning as his tongue chased Jared's past their lips, along their teeth. "Want you," he gasped, hands coming up to tangle into his mate's hair.
Jared's breathing stuttered to a halt at Jensen's words, his back arching up off the bed. How do you do that? "make me feel like this?" Eyes wide Jared licked along Jensen's bottom lip - his new favorite place in the world - and felt his fangs start to lengthen. Tightening his leg over his mate's he pressed up against Jensen's hard length with his hip. He trailed his lips down Jensen's cheek, his neck and sucked hard on his collar bone. Can I? He trailed the sharp points of teeth along Jensen's sensitive skin. Just a little? "I promise - I won't take much" he gasped, you're like a drug.
"Yes," Jensen groaned, tilting his head to give Jared as much room as possible. "It's almost sundown, we'll feed soon so it'll be..." he trailed off, grinding his hard shaft down into Jared's thigh and moaning, "And I uh," he gasped, giving up on actual speech, knowing Jared would hear him. I fed a little last night when I went out for the blood for Chad. Jensen continued to rock forward, fingers tightening in Jared's hair and yanking his head forward to his flesh.
Jared made a sound like purring, it started low in his chest and deepened as his teeth slid easily into Jensen's flesh. The flood over his tongue made Jared's body tighten, desire washing over him as the thick liquid rushed over his tongue. He sucked gently, peacefully, nuzzling into Jensen's neck with each pull on his vein. Arms tightening over Jensen's back he pulled back with a groan and licked the wound shut. "Fuck..." he whispered against the already healing bite marks; his hips wouldn't stop their gentle movement up and down, grinding and sliding.
"One of these days..." Jensen gasped as pleasure rolled through his body over and over, consuming him and pushing him closer to the edge. He slid his cock along the tight flesh of Jared's thigh and moaned. "We're gonna do more then just..." His toes curled as his orgasm began the slow, steady build through his system. "Dry hump on the bed..." he chuckled for a moment, the noise deep and rich in the back of his throat, before his fingers curled around Jared's hair and tugged him up, crashing their lips together, tongue darting out to taste his blood dancing along Jared's mouth.
Jared's laughter faded to a moan in his lover's mouth; he slid his hand down over Jensen's ass, pushing, pulling, fingers digging into the muscle. His lust was riding him hard, arching his hips up into Jensen's; he was twisting on the bed, a fist full of sheets in one hand; the slow warning feeling gathering low in his belly.
"Want... " he murmured as he thrust his tongue into Jensen's mouth, he lost his words and did what came naturally sending out his thoughts - imagining Jensen's teeth in his neck, drawing his blood as he came, as they came together, sucking, kissing as their orgasms rolled over their bodies. - hoping Jensen could understand what he couldn't say. He pulled back, panting, "please..."
"Yes," Jensen groaned, hands falling to Jared's waist and pulling his hips roughly forward. "Jared." The tightening climbed up his body and he knew he was only moments away from coming all over Jared's cold flesh. "My Soul," he breathed, sliding their bodies together over and over until his eyes fluttered closed and he spurted white hot jets along Jared's thigh.
Jared's orgasm rolled through him, churning him up inside, his hips shot up off the bed one last time and he came,pulsing, writhing, sliding wet skin. Jared let his thoughts go, let them flow out and wrap around his mate as his body shuddered through his pleasure. He laid there for a few minutes, twitching occasionally, a big grin on his face. "I like this… thinky... sendy thought thing..."
"Me too," Jensen agreed, hand stroking over the nearest part of Jared's flesh for several long moments. He could still hear the faint movement in the other room, could feel the sun slowly setting, and he sighed. "We should get up. I'm sure Chad still has a lot of questions and it might not be the best idea to leave him in the care of Mike and Tom for too long." He laughed and climbed out of the bed, reaching for the clothes he'd worn the night before. "I don't know Misha too well but they trust him so it should be okay. God, we need to go shopping, I need new clothes, don't know what happened to mine..."
"Come 'ere..." Jared sat up and pulled Jensen closer. He picked up his t-shirt off the floor and wiped Jensen's hips and stomach clean then wiped his thigh. Tossing his dirty t-shirt on the floor he stared up into Jensen's dark eyes. "You know I love you right?" Just curious He smirked. "And I need clothes too," he looked down, "have to go shirtless all day now." He grinned evilly and stood up to hunt for his jeans. After he found them he tugged them on and padded back over to Jensen, "okay, ready, take me out there, barefooted and shirtless. We'll kill them all with jealousy... or at least Mike" He winked.
Jensen laughed, pulling on his own jeans quickly and tugging the shirt over his arms, not bothering with the buttons. "Yeah I'm sure that will happen, because they've never seen a naked man before." He grabbed Jared's wrist before they could reach the door, spinning him around and pinning him to the hard wood surface. "I love you too, for the record." He dipped forward and pressed a long, firm kiss against his mate's lips before pulling back and bumping their noses together. "My Soul," he smiled, linking his arm with Jared's and tugging him out the room.
Mike was the first to greet them with loud cat calls, across the room in a second, arm thrown around Jared's shoulder. "Well kid, you sure know how make an afternoon pleasurable," he chuckled, rubbing his freehand up and down Jared's arm. "That was probably the most delicious thing I've ever heard."
"You...?" Jared's eyes darted to Jensen's. "You could hear us? I... I didn't think we were making any noise." Eyes wide he looked over at Jensen for help.
Chad groaned from where he was sitting up on the bed, propped up by pillows and tucked in tight like a two year old. "Dude... nasty... my brain..." He closed his eyes.
"You... I don't..." Jared slipped behind Jensen and buried his head between his mate's shoulder blades.
A loud laugh fell from Jensen's mouth and he circled his arms behind his back to cup Jared's hips comfortingly. "Oh Jared... it looks like we're really gonna have to work on this mind thought thing. And to think we didn't even have full..." he stopped, before laughing again. "Well I guess you would know that."
"We know everything," Mike slid over to him and caressed the skin inside his shirt. "Jensen I had no idea you were so big." Both Tom and Jensen groaned at the same time, Tom's forehead falling into the palm of his hand. "And no, Tom did not want to know that."
"It's okay," Jensen said softly to Jared over his shoulder, still chuckling low and under his breath. "But maybe you can borrow one of Tom's shirts? Just to help with the uh... well you know."
"Is it too late to kill me?" Jared's voice was muffled by Jensen's shirt. He looked up, eyes still wide, "Tom? shirts? bedroom?" and he took off down the hall without waiting for an answer.
"Not that anyone ever believes me..." Misha said from his deflated air mattress, "but I'm straight... really didn't need the imagery." He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow.
Jensen shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, "What can I say? I'm like, a sex god I guess."
Tom and Mike shared a look before laughing in unison, "Obviously Jared's gone right to his head." Mike insisted and moved around the room to join Chad on the bed, reaching out to trail a hand down the young Vampire's chest. "Feels like your bones are healing pretty well, when we take you feeding tonight it should help in doing the rest."
Jensen looked over at Tom, leaning forward to say softly, "Did you guys explain? I mean, Chad does know that feeding isn't grabbing a burger from the local fast food joint right?" He held out an arm to snag Jared's elbow and pull him close as he sensed the Vampire walking by.
Jared smiled, having the common sense to stay very quiet as he leaned into his mate. You okay, Chad?
"Dude!!! Seriously! Outta my head." he shot Jared a mock-glare then his expression softened. "I'm good, Jared. Got a lot to think about... but Mike..." he grabbed Mike's hand tightly and looked up at him, "is great - you were right." He chuckled. "And Tom's... pretty great too." He turned back and frowned at Jared, "I can't believe you kept all these lovely specimens from me for so long."
Laughing, Jared sighed and let his weight rest on Jensen.
"The kid amuses me," Mike laughed, pulling Chad forward slightly.
Jensen, who was watching the whole interaction with a slight smile, turned to Tom and tilted his head slightly. "Few things I want to get done tonight... Jared and I both need new clothes. I'm assuming Chad does as well, so we'll have to arrange to get those. Thankfully I transferred all my funds to an American bank after my stint in Europe. Also, I think we need a bigger place. Obviously it's not smart for us to separate at this point in time, who knows how the Elders will try to attack us next, so I think just a bigger house would be wise. And, I'm going to call Kane."
Tom's eyes widened slightly at the name, fingers dancing along the counter top for a moment as he watched his own mate laughing on the bed with the young blond Vampire. "Kane hmm? He's pretty reclusive, you think he'll come?"
"If I asked, yes," Jensen nodded, reaching behind him to tighten a hand around Jared's waist.
"Who's Kane?" Jared asked curiously.
Jensen lifted his shoulders and dropped them with a heavy sigh, "Kane and I served the Elders together for many years. He was one of the best friends I ever made, but he's also very hard to work with..." Jensen turned slightly so he could face Jared as he spoke. "Four hundred or so years ago he met his soul mate, they were deeply in love, but he was called away on assignment before he could change him... when he returned it was to find out the man had been killed. Apparently someone had seen them kissing shortly before Kane left. Since then he's been trying to find him but to no avail...."
"I can't even imagine that pain," Tom shook his head sadly, looping his arm around Mike as his lover stepped up to his side, heads leaning to press against each others.
Jared tightened his hold on his mate. With Jensen's blood newly moving through his veins, he had a terrifyingly clear understanding of Kane's loss. He shuddered.
"Regardless," Jensen pressed on, holding Jared tight against his body. "Kane is one of the best fighters I know. I can have him bring a selection of weapons that will be very useful to us. Plus he knows a lot about how the Elder's minds work. Between him and Misha, we'll have a great advantage over them. Which is really the only thing that's going to help us."
"I knew he'd come in handy," Mike laughed, bouncing across the room to throw an arm around Misha's shoulders.
Misha rolled his eyes, a half smile on his face. "Is there a phone? I need to call Vicki, get her to our safe house before someone notices I'm gone." His brow creased into a worried frown.
Jared slipped out of Jensen's arms and grabbed his cell phone off the counter then tossed it to Misha. "Here, make sure she's safe." Jared couldn't get his mind settled... so many things were happening.
"Well," Mike looked around at the group for a minute before curling his fingers around Tom's wrist. "Tom and I need a shower before we got out... still haven't completely gotten over Jared's visual aide earlier." He smirked as everyone else in the group groaned and he pulled Tom down the hall. "Just be glad I can't project images, though I'm sure you'd all love to see Tom's-" His words were cut off by the bathroom door slammed shut.
Jensen turned slightly toward Jared and smiled, "I'm going to use your phone after Misha okay? Why don't you spend some time talking with Chad? See if there's anything Mike and Tom didn't explain adequately? Make sure he's doing alright?"
Jared walked over and settled on Chad's bed. "So... wow... yeah... Mike explained everything to you?" he cringed, feeling a little like he had let Chad down by not being there to answer all his questions.
"Yeah, well..." It wasn't hard to see that Chad was struggling a little with his thoughts.
"It's tough, Chad, I know," Jared looked down at Chad's bruised chest. "But... I didn't... you were so hurt..."
Chad smiled sadly and dipped his head trying to catch Jared's eyes. "Guess we're pretty lucky though, I mean ... things could be a lot worse right?" Concern tinged Chad's words. He didn't even know if Jared was okay, had never had a chance to ask him and couldn't really figure out all the dynamics of the group of men yet.
"Yeah, it could," he smiled, "Jen is... well... I don't think I deserve him... but he's good, he's amazing."
Chad's brow furrowed, "If anyone deserved happy it's you Jare. It looks good on you. Well ..." he felt shy all of a sudden, completely unlike himself, but then he wasn't himself anymore, "you've got that whole hot Vampire thing going on now too." He looked back up sparkling eyes.
Jared laughed and leaned in to try and plant a sloppy kiss on Chad's lips. His friend cried out, crawling towards the wall and batting Jared's face away, "wounded here! Cheater!!! Mike!!! Help!"
Jensen watched Jared laughing with Chad as he pressed the cell phone against his ear, listening to the ring with a small smile on his face. "Hello?" A gruff voice filled the line and an oddly familiar feeling tightened through him. He'd always sympathized his friend, hated seeing the constant sadness in his eyes. It made him a remarkable warrior - since all he did was train and search - but also a hard person to talk too. It was nearly impossible to have a conversation with him but Jensen didn't mind putting forth the effort.
"Christian Kane," he called happily, heart fluttering oddly when he watched Jared's hand thread up through his hair. It was one of the things Jared did that Jensen loved the most. He couldn't help sending a thought out to his love, I love... want... you.
"Jensen Ackles?" The deep voice on the line was filled with confusion for a moment before he went on. "I don't think I've ever heard you sound so happy."
"It's been an interesting few days," Jensen chuckled softly and smiled when Jared's eyes met his. "There's uh... well let's just say a lot of stuff has changed."
"I've heard a story about you holding a sword to Elder Morgan's throat," Kane said in disbelief. "And then something about you and your soul mate being part of a Prophecy? I didn't even realize you had a soul mate... what's going on Ackles?"
"I just found him, Jared, my soul mate," Jensen offered. "And those other things you heard are true but I'd rather not try to have this conversation over the phone. I need you here Kane, there's a lot going on and I could really use all your assistance, and any weapons you can spare."
The line filled with silence for a while but Jensen knew not to ask again, with Kane it was always best to wait it out and not push things. Jensen had once seen him come two breaths away from killing a young Vampire who wouldn't leave well enough alone. "Alright, I'll be there tomorrow night. I can reach you on this number?"
"Yeah," a wave of relief washed through Jensen. He knew Tom and Mike were very experienced in the way of the Vampires but neither had served time with the Elders, neither knew exactly what type of battle they were likely headed for. "I'll see you then."
"Jensen?" Kane's response kept him from turning the phone off and he waited for the Vampire to go on. "I'm happy for you, that you found your mate." The line clicked dead after this, which was okay because Jensen didn't want to say anything regarding Kane's lost mate.
"Everything alright?" Tom looked down at him, a worried expression creasing the skin between his eyebrows. "Did he say he'd come?"
"Yeah, he'll be here tomorrow night," Jensen pushed up and ran a hand through his hair. "Gather everyone up. Are you and Mike okay with taking Chad to feed while Jared and I go get some clothes and hopefully a new place to stay? Misha should probably get back to the Elders..." he trailed off, looking around at the Vampires in the room. Mike was helping Chad off the bed, plugging his nose and scrunching up his face as he declared that Chad needed a shower. Misha was gathering his things, already getting ready to head back to the Elder's mansion.
"We'll take him," Tom nodded and laid a hand on Jensen's shoulder, squeezing tightly. "Think you'll actually try to buy a house or just find one that's going to be empty for awhile?"
"Depends on what's out there," Jensen moved forward as Mike helped Chad down the hall, snagging Jared around the waist and pulling him forward into his arms. "Hey, we're going to have a busy night, I'm sending Chad with Tom and Mike, is that okay?"
Jared slid into Jensen's embrace easily; he already felt more at home there than on his own. Smiling he looked straight into his mate's eyes, "Chad's good. Mike is... well, he's a special guy." Jared's brow furrowed for a few seconds. "He just connects with people - you know - it's amazing really... to watch I mean." He nodded, lost in his own thoughts. "But... Chad's good - so yeah - I think it will be good for him to be with Mike and Tom." You think Tom's okay with all this Jen? Mike changing Chad?
Jensen turned slightly to consider Tom and Mike who were talking softly to each other, Mike's finger dipping under his shirt slightly. "I think so," he nodded. "Tom's pretty much the definition of patient. Plus he loves Mike, more than... well you get that." he smiled and looked down the hall to the bathroom where Chad was showering. "Chad's lucky to have Mike as his maker, never seen anyone so devoted to things then Mike. Now though... I'm ready to find a house, buy some clothes, and feed. Not necessarily in that order."
"Oooh me too." A grin spread over Jared's face, his eyes crinkling. "You need some extremely tight t-shirts, and low-waist jeans, and... let's see..." he couldn't hold back his laugh any longer.
The large, three story house obviously hadn't been lived in for a long time. A fine layer of dust covered the floors and counter tops, and a collection of spider webs lined the ceiling. Even though the place seemed a little like a wreck, Jensen loved it almost instantly. He turned to Jared with wide arms, a brilliant smile on his face. "What do you think? We could make it work right? There's eight bedrooms, so more then enough. Sure it's going to need some serious work but we could do it!" He laughed and stepped forward to his mate. "Well?"
"I feel so... domestic." Jared laughed. "Seriously? It'll be fine...needs some sweeping..." He couldn't help looking a little wistful. He'd always imagined his life so differently... and now everything was... changing.
"I've never had a house," Jensen said softly, dragging his finger through the dust on the mantel in the living room, rubbing his fingers together until it was completely gone. "Even when I was human... we moved around a lot, my father was constantly trying for the next best thing... once I became a Vampire it was just never the right time. I kept saving this money, putting it in banks to gather interest, kept thinking I'd get a home one day..." he smiled sadly and shook his head, turning back to Jared. "We don't have to get it if you don't like it."
"No, it's great... really... it's just..." he walked over to the window and looked out over the grounds. "You know what? Never mind... what do we have to do to get it?"
"What is it?" Jensen slid over to him, reaching out to touch his arm. "It's going to drive me crazy if you don't tell me. Seriously. Remember, I can't read minds..." he tried to laugh, worried at the look on Jared's face that he couldn't quite interpret.
"I just..." he looked down at the ground unable to meet Jensen's gaze, "I had this whole other future planned... you know? Finish school, travel, meet someone," his eyes widened, "I didn't mean anything by that..."
Taking a step back Jensen blinked before turning to face the mantel once more and wetting his lips. He hated the way his heart ached all of a sudden, hated that something so silly, just an off hand little comment, hurt so much. He cleared his throat, walking across the room - waves of dust kicking up along his feet with each step. "Hey it's okay, you uh... you have a right to feel that way. It's not... I took your life away from you and I get that it's going to take some time to get used to it all."
"No..." Jared walked over to Jensen and grabbed his arm. "That is not what I meant. You didn't take anything away from me... you gave me a different life that's all." Jared folded his arms. "You know, I'm not going to live with this... this guilt thing you have going on. Have you thought about how that makes me feel? That you feel bad for making me what I am? Maybe you didn't make the right choice and that's why you feel guilty?" He huffed and turned away.
Jensen's eyes widened as he turned to Jared, staring in disbelief. "Excuse me? Are you serious? I'm making you feel bad because I feel bad? How do you get to use that logic? How else am I supposed to feel about this whole thing when this whole situation just sucks? I shouldn't have been forced to change you because the Elders took your friend! It should have been just because..." He sighed and shook his head. "I don't want to do this."
Jared spun back to face Jensen. "Don't want to do what? Talk to me about something other than the prophecy and all that crap?"
"I don't want you to tell me I'm making you feel bad by feeling bad!" Jensen scowled, folding his arms across his chest. "And I don't want to sound like this! It's ridiculous."
"That's not what I said." Jared walked back towards the window. "Okay... let's just be grown up for a minute here. I just wanted to point out that the feeling is mutual. You've kind of been stuck with me too -and when you say things like that, when you talk about how bad you feel - it... makes me… just " he cleared his throat, "wish I wasn't even around." He turned back to face Jensen. "I don't want to be responsible for making you feel like you did something wrong... stop me anytime." He ran his fingers through his hair.
"Oh Jared..." he crossed the room in the blink of an eye and gathered Jared into his arms. "I never meant that I didn't want you around... I just... God I don't even know what I meant. Here's an idea," he chuckled, looking into Jared's eyes with a small smile. "How about I just stop talking about these things and stop feeling this way and you go gather the others and bring them here? I'll start cleaning up?"
"No." Jared folded his arms again and stood there staring at Jensen.
Stepping back, Jensen frowned and tilted his head to the side. "Really? You're not going to let us drop this? You really want to argue over this?"
Jared gave Jensen a crooked grin. "No, actually, I just meant 'no, I don't want to leave you here and go get the others', but I can argue."
"Oh thank god," Jensen chuckled, stepping forward again and nuzzling his neck. "I don't want to argue... but we probably should let the others know about this place, we may even have time to move some things before the night ends..." he dragged his lips across Jared's flesh, humming softly. The skin was still warm from the blood they'd had less then two hours ago and the sudden temptation proved to be too great. Tightening his arm around Jared's waist, he used his free hand to tug hard on his mate's hair, stretching back the skin so he could easily pierce the area with his fangs, latching on and sucking eagerly.
"Jesus..." Jared whispered fighting to stay on his feet. It had been intense when Jensen had fed from him before, when he was human, but now - it was like he felt everything on every dimension. His feelings, his body, his mate's; all the sensation and feeling shocked him, jolted through his body. His blood flowing from him, into Jensen, it was exciting and crazy and... he gasped for breath. "Jen..." his hands wrapped around his lover's head, cradling him and his knees started to collapse.
Jensen held Jared tight against his body, rocking forward slightly with each pull from his flesh. The noises flowing from Jared's lips, the way his body thrummed against him, was intoxicating and he wanted nothing more then to throw his mate down on the dusty floor and have his way with him. Instead, he pulled back slightly and ran is tongue over the incision, releasing Jared's hair in favor of cupping his mate's cheek with his palm and bringing their lips together. My Soul, my love
"I... I can't wait for make-up sex." Jared crouched down trying to get his bearings back.
Jensen chuckled slightly and nodded, "I agree. Come on, Mike, Tom, and Chad will be back at their place by now, we can recruit them for cleaning duty." He bent slightly to grab Jared's hand and tug him up. "Love you," he breathed into his ear before pulling him out of their new house.
"This is it?" Mike shared a long look with Tom, Chad, and Jared in that order before returning his gaze to Jensen. "Well, Jensen, darling, I'm not sure you’ve noticed but this place is filthy."
Jensen rolled his eyes and gestured around them. "Sure it needs some work but I mean it's a real investment opportunity! Plus we don't have to sleep tomorrow. So right now we'll work on covering all the windows and then, come morning, we can do some serious cleaning! So Jared, would you and Chad like to go back to the apartment and gather some supplies, furniture, whatever you can carry? And Tom? You still have that friend at the electric company?"
"On it," Tom nodded, patting Mike's shoulder as he walked by, dropping a quick kiss to his lips and murmuring, "Have fun boarding up windows."
"I really think Chad needs my assistance," Mike hurried to say, eyes wide. "Right Chad?"
"Jared and I can do it - we need some alone time." Chad grinned and nodded.
Jared laughed and looked over at Jensen. Don't go away while I'm gone? His smile faded from his face.
Where would I go? Jensen smiled softly and moved to the large bag of clothes they'd purchased in the first part of the evening. "Want to change out of that shirt? Tom's a little sensitive about his clothes."
"Tom's just sensitive period," Mike snorted and moved to Chad's side, smacking the back of his head. "After all I've done for you boy. Way to show your gratitude. You don't know what type of slave driver Jensen is." He huffed, rolling his eyes when Jensen informed him he could hear him in a sing song voice.
Jared walked over to the bag, "Dress me," he said want you to pick the shirt you like. Jared was afraid to leave. Every single time he and Jensen were... apart for some reason, something bad happened. He knew it was childish to even think that way, but, he had so little to hang on to.
Chad shook his head and chuckled. "Mike, you'll live. Jensen seems like a nice guy, of course, maybe you just have a problem with authority." Chad rubbed his head where Mike had hit him. "I wanna talk to Jared... us... youngsters need some time alone."
"Fine, fine," Mike grumbled, staring at Chad for a moment before pulling him in for a hug, dropping a kiss to the top of the young Vampire's head.
Jensen watched them with a faint smile before turning to the bags and sorting through them, pulling out a normal black shirt with a vague light blue pattern on it. "It brings out your eyes. And stop worrying; I'm not going anywhere okay? When you get back this house will be Vampire safe okay?" He smiled and trailed a hand down his mate's arm.
Crossing his arms and grabbing the hem of Tom's shirt Jared pulled it off. He took the one in Jensen's hands and stared at it for a few moments, pulled the tag off then slipped it over his head. "Okay?" He blinked at Jensen.
"Gorgeous," Jensen grinned and dropped his hand. "Come here, give me a kiss," he chuckled even as Mike and Chad cooed from the other side of the room.
Jared stepped up to his mate sliding his hand over Jensen's shoulder. Don't like leaving, don't know why. He pressed his lips against Jensen's and pulled back, gave him a slight smile and walked over to grab Chad's arm. "Come on sunshine - we have work to do." He cast a glance back over his shoulder at Jensen as he left, Chad grumbling at his side.
They walked for a while in a companionable silence. It was a beautiful night, perfect for walking, not that they had any other options. "Chad - do you think this will be okay? We'll be okay I mean?"
"Dude," Chad laughed, "you're asking me? You're the one with Prince Charming. I... I don't know what's going to happen to me." He kicked a rock up the road ahead of them.
Jared waited a few moments, "Jen... doesn't really know me... not like you do. We were kind of thrown together." He looked at Chad out of the corner of his eyes to see if he was listening then continued. "I mean, I'm not even sure if this is what he wanted. I know he said he wanted me to change - but he meant like at some point and... then we had to get you and we... well, Mike told you all this I guess." He fell silent for a few minutes.
Chad got it. Most people didn't give Chad the time of day but Jared knew him well. Jared knew that when he really needed to talk Chad would listen. So- that's what Chad did. Except - things were so fucked up and confusing he had to ask questions. "You not happy with Jensen?"
"No..." Jared shook his head quickly, "I mean yeah... basically I don't know. I mean I think I get it- yeah - I get that we're bonded, connected..." He didn't even know how to explain that to Chad. "We're linked - and yeah -he's great in so many way... but Chad he's been alone for so long... I... guess I wonder if it was right. I should have waited... changed later if we both wanted it. I feel like he was backed into a corner... and maybe I made a decision... that I wasn't prepared to make." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I need time Chad and we don't have time and everyone can get in my head and you all know what I'm feeling and... it's kind of like being violated... and I know that's not what anyone is doing."
Chad looked at Jared with a frown on his face. "I get that... I mean... yeah... you gotta work on that projecting thing." He linked his finger through Jared's. "Try now... try shutting me out... just concentrate - remember that stupid yoga class we took when I lost that bet? You were really good at that bunk. Use it now- just concentrate on making yourself like... in a bubble or something.
As they walked along, Chad let Jared practice on him; sending, seeing what he could read from Chad. By the time they reached the old safe house Jared had a better handle on projecting and receiving and he had learned that it wasn't difficult at all to shut himself off from everyone. He knew he'd accomplished it because he couldn't feel Jensen anymore. He'd told Chad, it was kind of a relief, and then felt incredibly guilty for saying it. But, he kept himself shut off. It was the one thing, the only thing he had control over and he was going to make the most of it.
"Sure wish I had my iPod." Chad muttered as they started hauling boxes out. "And I wish one of these damn guys had bought a truck in their hundreds of years of living."
Jared got an idea.
The front door burst open and Chad yelled, "I need strong men to come and help move things inside." He looked over at Mike and scratched his head. "You see, we found this truck, well, Jared found the truck and I... sorta... started it and we got most of your stuff." He turned to Mike, "why do you guys have so many glasses?" He shook his head, "Anyway, we just dragged all the stuff out of the truck and Jared's gone to uh... unborrow the truck - and I need a hand." He nodded, satisfied with himself. "That's the short version."
"Jared stole a truck?" Mike's eyebrows rose and he glanced at Jensen with a wicked grin. "I liked that kid more and more every day." He bounced forward, snagging Tom's arms. "Come along honey bunches, we qualify as strong men and since you're the one with the glass obsession."
"They're collectibles," Tom shrugged, following his lover out of the house.
Jensen shook his head, fond smile tugging at his lips before he looked up and his eyes landed on Chad. He hadn't really been alone in the room with the young Vampire... well... ever, and he really wasn't sure what to say. "So um... did you and Jared have a good conversation? Get some things out in the air?"
"Yeah, about that..." Chad pulled Jensen aside. "I... can I talk to you later? About Jared?"
"Uh... sure?" Jensen nodded, taking a few steps forward and hesitating for just a moment as he passed Chad to pat his shoulder. "We'll talk later." He headed the rest of the way out of house, laughing at the way Tom and Mike were grumbling at each other over a set of boxes. "Ladies, please, the sun rises in a few hours and unless you want to get crispy fried, I'd suggest we hurry this along?" He bent to pick up a box, frowning slightly when he searched the familiar presence of his mate in the distance and couldn’t pin point him.
Chad grabbed a couple of boxes, wincing slightly, and walked inside. "Jensen? How long till the sun comes up?"
"Oh about three hours," Jensen hefted his own box inside the house, dropping it just inside the door. "Or at least three hours until we should be inside. Why? Something you need to do before then?"
"No," Chad was nervous. Jared had told him that there was more than enough time for him to get back to their old place and grab some things. At first, it had seemed like a great idea; Chad wanted some clothes, his iPod, things like that. But - even as he was watching Jared drive away the sinking feeling in his stomach arrived. "I was... uh... just wondering." He dropped the boxes on the floor and went back outside to find Mike.
"What's up kiddo?" Mike greeted him with a wide grin, shoving the box in his arms to the top of Tom's pile. "Don't trip honey; pretty sure that top box is the one with your glasses."
"Great, thank you," Tom grumbled, and headed back into the house.
Mike stepped up to Chad and smoothed a hand through the blond hair. "What's the matter? You seem upset."
"I think I did something stupid." Chad scratched his head. "Jared hasn't gone to take the truck back... he... I mean, I should have gone with him really, or I should have talked him out of it I guess." Chad sucked in some air, "He went back to our place... to get some stuff... he made me promise not to tell Jensen." Chad was scared shitless truth be known.
"He went back to your place?" Mike's eyes widened slightly and he bit his lower lip. "God that was pretty stupid. There's so much that could go wrong, beyond the obvious one of him not getting back in time." He sighed and pulled Chad forward for a tight hug. "Don't worry; it's not your fault. I've got a pretty good view of Jared in the past few days I've known him and I've put it together that he's the type of guy that goes through with his plan no matter what people might try to say. But um... let's just keep it between us okay? Jensen's probably going to freak but it won't do any good for him to go after Jared, it would just be another person we'd have to worry about in a few hours."
Chad nodded and picked up a smaller box. "Thanks... I really didn't want to tell ... Jensen... he kind of scares me."
Mike laughed and picked up a stack of boxes, heading into the house with Chad at his side. "Don't worry about him, he's really no one to be scared over. In fact, he's one of the sweetest guys I know outside Tom so really don't worry about it." He reached out to ruffle Chad's hair as they set down their boxes inside the house.
Two and a half hours later Jensen was pacing the living room floor, weaving through boxes, and darting to the door every couple of minutes to gaze out into the night with worried eyes. He turned to Chad after the fifth cycle through and sighed, "Did you say he was just returning the truck? How far away was that? What if something happened? What if he's hurt? I can't feel him. He's either really far away or..." He shook his head, trying to get rid of the worry building in his gut.
He wasn't going to say a word unless Mike told him to; Chad paced over and sat down, cross-legged on the floor by Mike. Mike knew better - he would know when or if it was time to tell Jensen where Jared had gone. He had to admit - Jared should have been back a while ago; he'd factored in traffic, driving time to the college, enough time to wander around the apartment and pick stuff up and he didn't get it. Even if Jared had taken the truck back to where they found it he should have returned over an hour ago. He looked up at Mike again and rubbed his aching arm.
"Jensen, you'd know if something was wrong with him," Mike offered, wrapping an arm around Chad's shoulders in comfort. "Maybe he decided to pick up a few extra things?"
"From where? Walmart?" Jensen huffed, walking to the door and leaning against the door frame and staring into the lightening street. "Maybe I should go look for him."
"Don't be stupid," with a heavy sigh Tom joined him at the door. "Jared will be here any minute I'm sure.
Jared brushed past Jensen with a smile "Hey!!! Chad! iPod" Jared walked in and tossed his duffel on the floor, rooting in his pocket for Chad's things. "Man, took forever to get back from the truck - I wanted to leave it right where we got it." Walking over to Chad he knelt down and handed him his iPod, "I got..." he fished around some more in his jacket pocket, "your wall charger too." He handed the charger to Chad, stood up and shucked off his jacket. "What are we doing?" He looked around, "Hey! It looks great in here!"
Chad sat on the floor staring at his iPod.
Jensen and Tom jumped at the sudden appearance of Jared, sharing a look before Jensen nearly exploded with the rush of words, "How the hell did you do that? Where did you come from? And what do you mean you got his iPod? Wouldn't that have been at his... you went all the way to your apartment?!? JARED! What the hell where you thinking?!? Do you realize how stupid a mistake that was?!?"
"Uh, we should go upstairs and clean," Mike jumped up off the floor, pulling Chad up with him as Tom closed the door and turned the lock. "Lots to clean, lots to get organized. Come on."
Jared was still sitting on the floor where Chad had left him. "Wow... that... you caused a mass exodus. That's impressive Jensen." He brushed his hair off his forehead. "Where did I come from? I walked up the road - like we did last time. I took the truck back, and I... ran some errands on the way." He sighed and looked down at his hands. "I went for a walk... on campus, wanted to see some things."
Jensen sighed shakily, trying to control his anger at the ignorance of his young mate. "Jared..." he inhaled and exhaled, fist clenching open and closed, before tugging hands into his hair. "Jared seriously. You need to think about these things. You could have gotten pulled over and I know you don't have an ID do you know what would have happened if they took you to jail? Or you could have gotten attacked! Think about it! Damn weren't you even... god I just..." he shook his head and leaned heavily against the wall, sinking down into a defeated pile. "I was so worried. And I couldn't feel you... I didn't know what to do. Even... even now I don't... it's like, you're not even here."
"I didn't want you to... feel me." Jared looked down at his hands.
Eyes growing wide and heart lurching uncomfortable in his chest, Jensen pushed up off the floor, moving to the nearest stack of boxes, pulling open the top one and sorting through it just to have something to keep him busy. Anything to not show Jared the tears pricking along his eyes. "Oh. Alright." He nodded and wrapped his fingers around the bottom of the box - which turned out to be Tom's glasses - and carried it into the kitchen, setting it too hard on the counter top and flinching at the tiny shatter of glass.
"Jen?" Jared looked up at his mate's back. "Jen... come over here... before you break everything."
"No." Jensen replied shortly, pulling out glasses and stacking them in the closest cabinet. He wasn't sure if it hurt more knowing Jared didn't want him to feel him or that he had the ability to just cut that off. It meant at any point in time Jared could severe the connection between them and Jensen would be left in the dark.
"Okay. You don't want to talk? That's fine." Jared lay down on the floor with his arms behind head... waiting.
Slowly but surely Jensen unloaded every cup into the cabinet, sorting around the glass that had shattered half way through the glass. He focused on the methodical task of putting them all in line, facing outward. A large part of him wished that Jared would come and wrap his arms around him, that he could just let it slide. But Jensen didn't function on that level, so he continued unpacking the glasses until a sharp piece nicked his palm and he hissed, pulling it up quickly and staring at the beginning trickle of blood with wide, watery eyes.
Getting up slowly, Jared padded into the kitchen and grabbed Jensen's hand. "You okay?" Bringing Jensen's hand up to his lips he kissed the wound and licked it slowly, letting his saliva close it. "You want to talk now?"
"What is there to talk about?" Jensen asked slowly, taking his hand back and cradling it to his chest. He stared blankly at the box for a moment before moving forward again and working on the rest of the glasses there.
"Do you want to talk about how I needed some privacy? And how that seems to really be a problem for you?" Jared reached out and hooked a finger through Jensen's belt loop tugging gently.
Jensen jerked back, arms shoving hard into Jared's chest to put distance between them. "How about we talk about the fact that we're Vampires and that's not how it works," he snapped, shoving past Jared and into the living room for a new box. "We're bonded for eternity, Jared. Bonded. Do you understand what that means? Because the fact of the matter is, I can't stop you from feeling me and I don't want to."
Jared swallowed, hurt washing over him; he let Jensen feel that. "Can you feel that? Does it feel good? Doesn't feel very good over here." Jared followed behind Jensen, absent-mindedly rubbing his chest where Jensen had pushed him. "I... just wanted to be by myself for a while. I've had people all around me for days, and now I've got people in my head all the time, and my thoughts and feelings aren't my own. I was practicing with Chad... to see if I could control it more... and I can shut down... shut off from people." He took a deep breath and stepped closer, hesitantly, half-prepared to be hit again. He let Jensen feel that too. "I'm sorry - but I'm not used to having someone... know everything about me all the time. What if there are things..." he shrugged, "why bother."
"I don't think you understand what you're saying to me," Jensen said quietly, looking toward the stairs where he was sure the three other vampires were listening. It might have annoyed him but at this point he was done with all these silly emotions he'd gone so many years without feeling. "So here's the thing, I'm going to say this and then I'm going to go upstairs and you're not going to follow. I get the people thing, I do, because it's more then I've had to deal with in over three hundred years. But I'm not people Jared. I'm not them. I'm supposed to be the Vampire you want to spend the rest of your eternity with and if you can't handle that after what, three days together? Then I can't possibly see how you're going to handle it in a hundred years." He took a few quick steps forward and hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, saying over his shoulder, "You know, I thought this soul mate thing was going to mean we'd just... click... like that. But I guess it doesn't work that way."
"Don't you dare walk away from me." Jared's eyes were impossibly wide. "I just met you... days ago. You showed up through my window in the middle of the night - and then followed me around and I... I I just met you." He took a few steps closer. "What's my favorite book Jen? Do you know where I was born or where I lived before I came here to school? Do you know why I was living with Chad - or why he's so important to me?" Tears welled up in Jared's eyes, all he'd wanted was some time to think, to be the person he was until a few days ago. "You don't even know me... I mean you..." he sighed. "I don't know what I mean anymore - but if you walk up those stairs..." He turned and walked over to the couch and sat down had, knocking a box of books on the floor.
Jensen looked up the stairs and sure enough, there stood Tom, Mike, and Chad, staring down at him with wide eyes. Very slowly he half turned and looked at Jared. "You're right. I don't know you at all. And you don't know me. So who cares about some stupid soul mate crap? Or all this ridiculous Prophecy shit? Hell, why should it matter that we're supposedly destined to be together? Obviously you and I function on completely different levels and that's not something I can deal with right now. So you make your threat, go through with it, I don't care. Because the way I see it? If you're allowed to have some personal space, cut everyone off, then I'm allowed to walk away from you." He turned back to the steps and slowly put one foot in front of the other, trying not to wish that Jared would just stop him and make this whole thing better. He found it almost hard to believe that less then twelve hours ago they had laid twisted together on the bed, sharing slow and loving kiss.
Jared laid down on the couch, pulled his knees up to his chest and closed his eyes. "Okay..." he said quietly. He'd never felt more alone in his life; so he pulled himself back, shut himself off from everyone in the house, and laid there shaking.