Archive of Our Own ^beta

  "Jared..."

  "Shh," Jared sounded, resolutely ignoring Jensen nibbling at the side of his neck. "Trying to focus."

  Jensen groaned, head dropping onto his shoulder- Jared sent up a silent thanks that the lounge was completely empty, save for an elderly couple who neither knew nor cared about Supernatural, Jared Padalecki, or Jensen Ackles.

  "It's your own episode," Jensen complained. "Why do you need to watch it?"

  "Because I always live-tweet it," Jared reminded. "And maybe because I actually want you to watch it."

  "I am watching it," Jensen pointed out. "Awesome job with that monologue, really. But I also know Walker's about to hook up and sorry, but I don't wanna watch you necking with someone else."

  Jared bit back a smile at the pout audible in Jensen's voice- this was precisely why he'd wanted to watch this episode with Jensen by his side.

  Jensen seemed to catch on. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?" It was not a question.

  "Maybe."

  "You're a menace."

  "You love it."

  Jensen's lips closed around his pulse, sucking, teeth grazing lightly. Unprepared, Jared sucked in a sharp breath, tensing as his cock twitched slightly. He glanced at the couple to check, then tipped his head to the side a bit, offering Jensen more room-

  But the asshole slipped out of the booth, smirking. "I'm going to get some coffee, you want some?"

  Jared glared at him. "Fuck you."

  "You love it," he shot back in the same tone and left the lounge.

  Jared looked back at his tablet screen. Jensen's timing was perfect- Walker and Julia had just started kissing. Jared chuckled at the persisting weirdness of his watching himself do scenes like this and pulled out his phone. "Cordell! Your kids are watching this!" He typed out. He glanced at the tablet- Jesus, how long did this scene go on?- and then back at his phone.

  "Fucking typos," he grumbled, replying to his own tweet after some deliberation.

  He sighed and turned his attention to the episode, already missing Jensen pressed up against his side; no wonder the fans thought they were codependent. He stared at the screen, looking forward to the Independence episode, and started a little when Jensen slid in next to him again. "Missed me?" He asked, almost as if he knew.

  "Don't I always?" Jared quipped, taking the coffee gratefully. Red-eye flights were tiring, stressful, but it was also the easiest way for him and Jensen to get some time together without worrying about being seen. So worth it.

  Jensen checked his watch. "I'm gonna catch a few winks before boarding the flight. I'll watch the rest of the episodes at the hotel."

  "Yeah, 'course." Jared slid down a little, ignoring the sharp ache in his back. It receded after a moment, and Jensen slumped against his side, head resting on Jared's shoulder. He was out in seconds, a talent Jared envied. His own brain never let him shut his thoughts down fast enough to just drop asleep.

  Leaning closer, Jared smiled down fondly at Jensen, remembering how, back in the early days of filming their show, Jensen would try to stay awake during their drive home past midnight. And then, inevitably, he'd slump against Jared's side, just like this, and Jared would relish the closeness, the mixed scents of Jensen's hair products and dried sweat, soak in his warmth against the cold Vancouver air, and wonder why those twenty minutes in the car felt more comfortable than the hotel suite.

  God, how stupid had Jared been, not realizing what he was feeling? He'd wasted nearly six years-

  "Quit thinking," Jensen grumbled, poking his side. "I can hear your brain working."

  Jared muttered an apology, kissing the top of his hair. He really should focus on live-tweeting the episode, damn it.

  "You're quiet," Jensen observed two hours later, as they boarded the plane. "What's up?"

  "Just thinking." Jared smiled over his shoulder, slightly apologetic. "Here, found our seats."

  Jensen sat next to the window, pushing his one bag under his seat. "C'mon, Jay, don't start the weekend with a bad mood. Just tell me."

  Jared huffed. "I'm not in a bad mood."

  Jensen bit his lip, watching Jared put his duffel into the overhead compartments. "Hey, why did the airplane get sent to its room?"

  "What? Are you-"

  "Because of its bad altitude."

  It worked- Jared laughed, loud enough to turn a few heads. He gave an apologetic shrug, then turned to Jensen with comically wide eyes, one hand pressed to his chest. "Do mine senses deceive me? Did I just witness Jensen Ackles make a pun?"

  Jensen stifled his own laugh, pulling out his phone. "Hold that pose."

  Jared rolled his eyes, but obliged, smile still goofy and eyes sparkling. Jensen clicked the picture and sent it to him quickly. After a second of thought, he sent the one he'd taken earlier too, of Jared cramped into the small lounge booth, focused on his tablet. Jared flopped down next to him.

  "Seriously, though," he said in a quiet voice. "I'm not in a bad mood, just... Sentimental, I guess."

  "We haven't been together to Rome in a while," Jensen suggested- it was more significant than either of them could put into words. Rome was where they'd first kissed. Without freaking out immediately after, that is. It was where they'd first admitted to wanting a proper commitment between themselves. It was also where they'd nearly fallen apart before realizing they were being idiots.

  Jensen didn't need to rehash all that now, because Jared just nodded. "It is, yeah. And I just keep remembering the first season, you know? And then everything after that..."

  Jensen nudged his chin, leaning in to kiss him softly. Jared sighed against his lips.

  "Sorry."

  "It's okay." He smiled wryly. "I think about those stuff a lot too."

  "Yeah?" Jared asked quietly, eyes searching his.

  "Yeah," Jensen assured. "And I always come to same conclusion: there's nothing I'd change, nothing I'd do differently."

  Jared's lips curved up into smile, smaller but sweeter than the ones the fans saw. "I can take a page from that."

  "You should." Jensen smirked. "You know what's more fun to think about?"

  "What?"

  "That time on your private jet, with all the other guys with us, and we snuck away to-"

  Jared slapped a hand over his mouth, sudden and forcefully, as a woman sat down on the seat across from them with a kid babbling along. Jensen made a muffled noise of indignation, while Jared smiled charmingly at the woman before removing his hand.

  "There were other ways to stop me than slamming your giant paw into my face," Jensen scolded.

  Jared gave a sheepish grin. "Sorry. Besides, you usually enjoy it when I..."

  "Don't finish that sentence."

  He laughed, leaning back in his seat as the seatbelt sign came on. His hand found Jensen's, tangling their fingers together. "You booked the same hotel room, right?"

  "Same as always," Jensen promised.

  "Good." Jared exhaled, losing some tension that even Jensen couldn't pinpoint. "Thanks, Jen."