Your Strength

When Jared got home, after a five minute greeting from his two babies, Harley and Sadie, he checked his phone for the first time all night. It lit instantly with three text messages from Chad:

‘How’d it go?’

‘You’re not answering, so it probably went well, right?’

‘Or still going well, amiright?’

Jared chuckled quietly to himself, just as his phone buzzed again and another message popped up:

‘Look, I’m very bored, and I want to hear how it went. If you’re getting lucky, don’t pick up when I call in two seconds. If you’re not, pick up and we can talk about why not.’

Jared rolled his eyes and waited the promised two seconds before his phone began to ring. He let it ring nearly until it went to message before he picked up, just to anger Chad.

“You’re so nosy,” Jared said by way of answer.

“Actually, I think I’m more chin-y, if we’re pointing out facial imperfections, thanks,” Chad replied and Jared snorted.

“Really? I should dislike your chin more than your nose?” Jared laughed.

“Oh, God,” Chad groaned. “Should I worry about my nose? Do I have an ugly nose? Why has no one told me about my nose? Oh, wait. What am I talking about? I’m beautiful.”

“I admire the confidence,” Jared commented, snorting again. Then listened closely to Chad’s side of the line, where he heard what sounded like cars. “Dude, where are you? Outside? I thought you were at home.”

“Yes, thanks, glad we’ve established my confidence and my beauty early on in the conversation,” Chad said, ignoring Jared’s inquiry, then changed his voice to a mocking tone. “Now dish about the date. All the dirty details.”

Jared rolled his eyes. “I’m not ‘dishing’ about anything, you freak,” he scoffed.

“So, it went bad then?” Chad asked, ignoring Jared’s critique.

“No, it didn’t go bad,” Jared corrected, and couldn’t help but smile into the phone, knowing he was safe in his apartment where Chad couldn’t see him. Just as he thought this, looking down at his shoes, he heard a knock. He froze and felt a jolt of horror run through his body momentarily when he realized that the knock hadn’t been on his door, but rather glass. He slowly turned to look out to his fire escape to see Chad hanging on the cast iron ladder outside the window. Harley and Sadie both growled and stood at attention but were, thankfully, both well trained enough not to bark in the apartment. Jared ended the call, tossed his phone on the couch, and ran to the window, heaving it open. Chad fell into his apartment unceremoniously.

“Chad, what the hell?” Jared cried, slamming his window and turning on Chad.

“I thought it would be theatrical…funny,” Chad shrugged.

“You’re an idiot!” Jared said, but he was fighting off the serious urge to laugh. “I have a door, for visits just like these!”

“You know, I thought about that, but then I would’ve had to walk all the way down to the elevator, or the stairs, and then all the way back to the middle of the floor, and that’s when I realized you were only one story below me, directly below me. I did get you this apartment after all. That was one of the only reasons I knew this place was open anyway, was because it was right below me, remember? So I thought, what the hell, might as well.”

Jared stared at him for a long moment before he heaved a large sigh and shook his head. “You’re the weirdest person alive.”

“That is a very large claim, my friend,” Chad replied, walking over to the couch and throwing himself upon. “Now, can we please forget about my amazing stunt, and talk about this date? You went out with a friend of mine that I’ve never seen successfully date, so I’m a bit curious.”

“Okay, you all need to stop babying him,” Jared snapped immediately. “I get that he had a horrible experience that disenchanted him from dating for a little while, but that doesn’t make him some socially awkward infant that you all need to check in on all the time. He’s an adult, and a strong and stable one at that.”

Chad stared at him in shock for a moment before breaking into a huge grin. “Aww!” he cried out. “You’re smitten! How adorable!”

Jared groaned, slapping his forehead as Chad had simply completely missed or disregarded his point. “Prick,” he sighed.

“So, was that your way of saying that it went well?” Chad asked and Jared threw his hands up, falling onto the couch next to him. If you can’t beat ‘em, humor ‘em, he figured.

“I told you on the phone while you were scaling the building that it went well,” Jared replied.

“No, you said that it didn’t go bad,” Chad retorted. “That leaves a lot of room for the imagination. Just because it didn’t go bad doesn’t necessarily mean that it went well.”

Jared felt contradicting urges to simply give in and tell Chad everything, and to punch him in the arm. He thought for a moment, and went with a safe middle. “It went well.”

“That still leaves a lot of room for embellishment,” Chad persisted. “I mean, was it weird? What did you guys talk about? Did you touch at all on what happened to him? He didn’t think that I told you, did he?”

Jared rolled his eyes. “Are you just worried that I got you in trouble with him or something? Because, I didn’t. Talking about exes is pretty much number one on the ‘do not talk about on first dates’ list.”

“Look, it’s not that I’m afraid…it’s just that, I don’t want Jensen to hate me,” Chad admitted. “I mean, he is actually my friend, believe it or not.”

“I’m not going to tell on you,” Jared said, throwing his hands up. “If that’s all you wanted to know, you can leave now. I mean, I was in such a good mood before you fucking ninja-ed your way into my house!”

“Okay, I don’t think climbing down a ladder literally ten feet counts as anywhere close to ‘ninja’ prowess,” Chad commented.

“Who the fuck does that, is my point,” Jared replied. “I mean, that is not normal. That is definitely not normal. Like at all. Seriously. I’m just very perplexed.”

“I thought it seemed fairly straight forward,” Chad replied, shrugging. “But whatever, please just tell me about the date. Now that I know Jensen’s not going to hate me, did you have a good time?”

Jared sighed. “Do I really have to talk to you about it? I mean, is this what it’s going to be like after every date?”

“There are going to be more?” Chad asked hopefully.

Jared rolled his eyes. “Only if I’m not subjected to replaying every moment to you.”

“Okay, agreed,” Chad nodded. “Just this first date, and I won’t ask for updates anymore.”

“Really?” Jared asked, raising his eyebrows incredulously.

“Probably,” Chad nodded as if this solidified the promise. Jared took a deep breath before he decided to just give in entirely.

“Yes, it went well,” he confided. “Really well. Like way better than either of us thought, I’m sure. I mean, probably better than any dates I’ve actually been on before this.”

Chad raised his eyebrows. “Wow,” he nodded, smiling. “That’s impressive. Maybe Jensen’s better than I gave him credit for.”

“Like I said, start giving him more credit,” Jared replied immediately. “This wasn’t his first time, he’s not a virgin to the whole dating scene.”

“I know,” Chad replied. “What made it so good?”

“Him,” Jared replied without a thought. “I mean, we just…clicked I guess. There wasn’t a dull moment. There wasn’t any want for new subjects, or lack of subject for that matter. We just…I mean…it was just easy.”

“That’s sounds dreamy,” Chad said, putting his hands on his cheeks and grinning.

“You’re such a prick,” Jared said, shoving his shoulder and Chad laughed.

“You know, words hurt, Jared,” Chad commented.

Jared laughed. “If only, Chad. If only.”

“Wanna watch a movie?” Chad asked, indicating the end to his romantic inquiries. Before Jared could even answer, he was up, selecting a movie from Jared’s collection. Jared rolled his eyes, but had enough sense not to argue with the gale force wind that seemed to be Chad tonight.

Ten hours later, Jared was awoken from a nice dream by the music of his phone. He was laying in his bed, but jumped up immediately, knowing he was expecting a call from his agent, detailing the meet-and-greet that the director wanted to set up for the movie. He’d been expecting a call for the last three days, and his agent had said today was the latest day to inform him. He stumbled blurrily into his living room, nearly tripping on both of his dogs, to find Chad still asleep where he had been since last night. The ringing was coming from directly under him.

Jared walked over and shoved Chad off the couch roughly. “Dude, go home.”

Chad grumbled heavily. “You’re a dick.”

“You’re on my phone,” Jared replied, admiring, however, that his phone had gone all night without being charged without dying. Chad crawled back onto the couch when Jared had retrieved the ringing device. To Jared’s surprise, however, it was not his agent, like he had thought. But rather, Jensen.

Jared grinned, and answered without greeting, “Why are we friends with Chad?”

Jensen, startled, took a moment to answer, “What?”

“I mean, why are we friends with Chad? Why is anyone friends with Chad? I mean, the man climbed down the fire escape last night when I got home because he didn’t want to walk the extra few feet to the stairs so he could use my door, then he camps out on my couch, forces me to watch movies until some ungodly hour, and crashes here. He’s still here, Jensen.”

Jensen laughed. “That sounds like Chad.”

“Why do we put up with it?” Jared asked.

“He’s not bad on the eyes,” Jensen commented off-handedly. “And if we didn’t, who would?”

“Both valid points, I suppose,” Jared slowly agreed. “The latter slightly more so than the former.”

“Agreed,” Jensen commented.

“So are we making it a habit now to call after every date? Not that I don’t appreciate it, I’ll definitely oblige. I just want to know for Tuesday,” Jared asked.

“Oh, no,” Jensen said, sounded both embarrassed and amused. He chuckled nervously, and Jared noted just how stupidly cute it sounded. “No, I have a meeting this morning, and I went to grab my jacket when I realized that I left it in your car. It was so warm last night, I forgot I even brought one.”

“Oh!” Jared said. “Do you need it right away? Because I’m kind of in my pajamas.”

“No, no, don’t worry about it,” Jensen assured. “I knew I’d forget though, unless I acted on my realization. I don’t know…maybe you could bring it by the bar tonight…I mean, if you’re coming that is. If not, there’s always Tuesday.”

“Actually, Chad was begging me last night to hang with him, and he suggested the bar,” Jared fibbed.

“I did not, he just wants to see you, Jensen!” Chad cried out with sudden enthusiasm, making Jared jump as he had thought he’d fallen back asleep. Jared picked up a chew toy off the ground and pelted it at Chad.

“Was that Chad?” Jensen laughed.

“Nope, the TV,” Jared replied immediately.

“No it wasn’t,” Chad sang from his prostrate position on the couch.

“Sounds like a very interesting program,” Jensen mused. “You’ll have to tell me what you’re watching, I’ve noticed not many shows have characters named Jensen; it’s a pretty weird name after all.”
Jared slapped his forehead as he slowly replied, “It’s some weird channel, but I’ll definitely find out for you.”

“You do that,” Jensen laughed. Jared’s phone beeped at him to notify that he was getting another call.

“Hey, Jensen, I’m getting another call, can I put you on hold for a sec?” Jared asked.

“No, no worries, man,” Jensen replied. “I have to go anyway, I just wanted to…well, you know. Jacket. Bar. You got the gist.”

Jared smiled. “Okay, sure, Jensen. I will see you tonight.”

“Amazing,” Jensen replied, then backtracked immediately. “I mean great. Great. Great is the normal adjective in this situation. Yeah, great. Wow. Okay, hope you still want to date me after this. Bye.”

Jared laughed as Jensen awkwardly disconnected and answered the incoming call.

“Jared,” his agent, Steve, greeted. “How’re you?”

“Good, you?” Jared replied.

“Fan-freaking-tastic,” Steve replied, slipping into his usual demeanor. “Boy, this meet-and-greet thing is a piece of work. I mean, seriously. But it looks like they’ve finally locked down a date. They were going to do this upcoming Tuesday, but the producer or the screenwriter or one of the actors or someone couldn’t make it and the director is hell bent on everyone being present. Then, after that, the director is on location scouts for a week. So it looks like it’s going to be a week from Thursday.”

“Great, that sounds great!” Jared replied. “I don’t know why you act like this is such a hassle. I mean, it’s not like you’re actually doing much work, just telling them I’m literally available whenever they decide to do it.”

“You’re so ungrateful,” Steve retorted. “I should drop you as a client. And I would, if I didn’t know what a huge star you’re going to be after this movie. I’m talking Oscar nominated, baby.”

“Not Oscar winner?” Jared asked, laughing.

“First time undiscovered nominees rarely win,” Steve said. “Let’s be realistic. I know you’re a damn fine actor, and I really believe you could be nominated, with a script like this. But I don’t want you to get your head in the clouds, get your hopes up.”

Jared laughed again. “Steve, chill, dude. I mean, I know all of this. I was joking. Plus, I’m grateful for all the amazing work you do for me. I’m glad they decided for next Thursday whenever anyway, because I have plans on Tuesday.”

“Are you dating someone, Jared?” Steve immediately started in. “Because, as your agent, I just want to know who and what kind of damage control this may or may not induce.”

“Okay, Steve, just breathe,” Jared sighed. “I’m out, I’m so out it’s on my IMDB page. I doubt there’s much damage control. I’m a D-list actor, maybe even lower. No one will care if I’m dating a man, or who that man is. Not to mention, Tuesday will only be our second date.”

“Don’t downplay my role, Padalecki,” Steve grumbled. “There is always some sort of damage that needs to be controlled. Plus, I’m confident this movie will do great things for your career. You may soon by much higher than D.”

“Steve, this isn’t a problem, I promise,” Jared told him.

“Good, good,” Steve replied. “Alright, well, I’ll call you to remind you on Wednesday, okay? And probably on Thursday too. I’ll also give you another call when a time is cemented.”

“I’ll be hearing from you quite a bit. I get the picture,” Jared replied.

“Alright, talk to you later, kid,” Steve said before disconnecting.

“Your agent is already getting up in your business about Jensen, huh?” Chad inquired.

“Dude, you’re so nosy!” Jared groaned, having forgotten Chad was even there.

“Again with my nose? Why are you continually hating on my nose?” Chad replied, sitting up. Jared was beginning to wonder if Chad legitimately didn’t know what the word nosy meant, until Chad added, “Plus, you’re standing right above me. It’s like I’m lying at the foot of a skyscraper.”

“Yeah, because I keep forgetting that you’re here,” Jared replied. “Go home!”

“You’re not a very good host,” Chad commented, sitting up and stretching.

“I’m not hosting you!” Jared replied. “You just crashed here of your own volition, I had nothing to do with it, and therefore am not hosting you!”

“A good host would make me pancakes,” Chad replied, as if Jared hadn’t spoken. “Or, at the very least, coffee.”

Jared threw up his hands in exasperation, and went into his bedroom, slamming the door to get dressed.

“Is that a no on pancakes, then?” Chad called after him and Jared stifled a groan. He had at least grabbed his phone this time. He plugged it into the wall and sent a quick text to Jensen before changing:

‘Of course I still want to date you.’

‘Really? That’s surprising.’ He replied.

‘Nah, not really. I’ve always had a thing for adorably awkward guys. I was questioning whether you were too perfect yesterday. But now I can rest in peace knowing you still fit my type. Balance is restored.’ Jared quickly shot back.

‘Glad I could really shatter your idea that I’m perfect. It was just a matter of time.’ He replied, and Jared rolled his eyes.

‘It’s good that you’re a little awkward. If you weren’t, you’d actually just be too good to be true.’

‘You’re too kind.’ He replied. Then, quickly after. ‘I’m going into my meeting now, so I can’t text, but I’ll see you tonight.’

‘See you tonight, have a nice meeting!’ Jared sent back. He smiled at his phone for a moment before he heard clanging in the kitchen and groaned as he realized Chad must have brought it upon himself to make pancakes. He didn’t know how he would be able to get rid of his annoying best friend. He loved Chad like a brother, he really did, but he could not manage to spend the entire day with him and then go to the bar with him tonight as well—Jared would end up killing him.

Jared managed to shake Chad mid-morning as he said he needed to take Harley and Sadie for a run; he invited Chad along, knowing Chad would never willingly run unless something was chasing him. When he got back, sweating with pleasingly exhausted dogs, Chad left a note:

‘Wanted to wait for you, darling, but I do have a life of my own. I’ll see you at the bar tonight, I think I heard somewhere that we were making a guest appearance.’

Jared rolled his eyes. “Sassy prick,” he muttered under his breath, but smiled.

That night, to his dismay, he couldn’t get a cab if his life depended on it. Chad texted him around 6:00 pm saying he was leaving wherever he ended up after finally vacating Jared’s apartment (which apparently still wasn’t his own home) in about an hour and a half, so Jared had planned to do so as well. However, he didn’t end up at the bar, though not from lack of trying, until 8:15. He walked in, and immediately spotted what he was now sort of thinking of as his group of friends sitting in their normal spots at the bar. Chris, however, was nowhere to be seen. He approached them and slumped dramatically into a bar stool, offering a smile only to Jensen, who grinned in return.

“Finally, you’re here!” Chad said. “I thought you said you were leaving around the same time as me.”

“I did, I couldn’t get a cab for the longest time,” Jared explained. “Where’s Chris?”

“Something broke in the supply room, or something,” Danny supplied. “He’s helping fix it. He’ll be back up in a little bit.”

“Well, hope I haven’t missed much other than that,” Jared said.

“Oh no, just Chad’s detailed recollection of how you begged him to climb down the fire escape because you couldn’t stand not seeing him for the extra amount of time the stairs would take,” Jensen told Jared, barely fighting back his grin. “What was the term you used, Chad? Adorably clingy?”

“Dick!” Jared exclaimed exasperated, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Honey, we’ve talked about this, no pillow talk in public!” Chad retorted instantly.

“You want pillow talk in public?” Jared narrowed his eyes. “How about I tell them about the time you called me in your bathroom and it took me fifteen minutes to talk you out of the panic attack you had when Sarah wanted to cuddle after prom.”

Chad’s smug smile vanished. “Shut up.”

“I’m sorry,” Danny exclaimed from behind Jensen. “Panic attack? Sarah? Cuddle? Prom? This sounds amazing, please continue.”

“Oh, Chad, they want to hear more!” Jared said gleefully.

“You sure you want to do this, Padalecki?” Chad’s face was growing red. “Because if you tell the Sarah story, you know what I get to tell. Henry “Too Big” Slickerman.”

Jared’s smile vanished immediately. “You. Wouldn’t. Dare.”

“I’m sorry, Henry “Too Big” Slickerman?” Jensen piped up, looking like he was fighting back fits of laughter. “There’s no way we’re leaving this bar until I hear that story.”

“Truce?” Jared immediately tried, but Chad could see the embarrassment rising up Jared’s neck to his cheeks.

“Oh, no, I think they definitely deserve to hear this one,” Chad said, evilly. “Especially Jensen. He’ll appreciate it.”

“You really think that this story is worse than incest?” Jared asked, a little panicked.

“I’m sorry—incest?” Danny asked, her eyes bulging. “Chad...incest?”

“You started this, Padalecki,” Chad stated. “Let the record show that you started it.”

“Yours is definitely worse,” Jared said. “I mean, if you really think it’s worth it.”

Chad jumped into the story, immediately. “Alright, setting: Troy Golde’s house, eighth grade.”

“Oh my God,” Jensen laughed. “Middle school Jared—this story is already perfect.”

Jared groaned and dropped his head into his hands. “Please, no.”

“We’re all playing seven minutes in heaven, when Jared spins and it lands on Henry Slickerman, a sophomore in high school, and in Jared’s eyes, therefore infinitely cool. He had a huge crush on him.”

“I’m going to kill you,” Jared mumbled again. Jensen and Danny were already on the edges of their seats, staring at Chad with huge grins on their faces.

“Henry and young, naïve Jared here go into the closet together,” Chad continued and Jared could feel his face reddening even more. “Henry immediately drops his pants, classy gent that he is, and tries to convince poor Jared to give him a blow job. Of course, at this point in Jared’s life, he did not have a lot of experience in that area. But of course, Henry didn’t understand the concept of inexperienced, and tried to explain to Jared that, really, practice makes perfect.”

At this point, Jared was almost literally dying, and Jensen and Danny were laughing—Danny a little harder than Jensen. Chad continued, grinning ear to ear.

“Now, Jared didn’t think Henry was being very nice about how obviously uncomfortable he was. So Jared kneels down finally, and looks at Henry, exposed and proud. He then looks back up into Henry’s eyes, and says, loud and clear, ‘Why Henry, I think it’s just too big.’ Henry replied, ‘Really?’ to which Jared replied, ‘No, of course not really.’ And with that, he left. Of course, when he opened the door, he hadn’t expected all of us to be crowded with our ears pressed against it. So we all heard the exchange, and saw the still very much exposed Henry. And let me tell you, we can certainly attest that it was not too big. For the rest and high school, two whole years, Henry was then known as Henry “Too Big” Slickerman.”

Jensen and Danny laughed for a few long moments as Jared sat and slowly let the embarrassment fade by focusing on how amazing Jensen looked when he laughed. He threw his entire body into it, it seemed. He didn’t simply laugh from the stomach, but he laughed from all of him. It was one of the very few times that his bright green eyes seemed unburdened by reality.

“Rich, very nice,” Danny commented. “Now, Jared. Incest. Please, please explain.”

“It wasn’t incest,” Chad tried to prelude.

“Dude, shut up,” Jared said. “Pay back. Now, senior year of high school, Chad broke up with his cheerleader girlfriend a few days before prom. She, of course, had no trouble finding another date, but Chad was left without a girl. That is, until the night before, when his mom, very forcibly, commented that his cousin Sarah, didn’t have a date. So, he’s forced to go with her. Now, she was a very nice girl: head of the chess team, led a very respectable bible study group. After, we were all going to go out and have some fun, but he didn’t want to with Sarah, because he thought she would tell on him. So, they go back to his house, where his mother and father are asleep, and her father is picking her up in an hour. They somehow decide to start a movie in his room, instead of the living room, because that doesn’t seem like a sketchy choice.”

“It was her idea!” Chad argued. “What was I supposed to say, no? That made me feel weird?”

“Yes, dude,” Jensen replied. “That’s exactly what you do.”

“Anyway, they go up to his room, and while he’s focused on setting up the movie, Sarah quietly strips down to her slip,” Jared continued, grinning.

“No!” Danny exclaimed.

“You didn’t!” Jensen looked horrified. Chad opened his mouth to comment, but Jared continued before he could.

“When he turns around, he is obviously quite startled. But she said…oh God, what were the words? Right! She said, ‘I just want to be held by a man before I go to college.’”

“She did not!” Danny cried out, looking at Chad, who nodded, grimacing.

“So Chad, obviously, freaks out,” Jared laughed. “Excused himself to the bathroom and called me. Obviously, I’m dying of laughter, because when he called me, I was drunk with my own prom date, and the rest of our group out at a lake, where he was supposed to meet us after Sarah was picked up. But he’s panicking and asking what he should do, whether he should agree, since she was only suggesting cuddling, but what if she wanted more, all along that line. I told him to tell her no, because that’s the reasonable approach—“ Jared shot a pointed look at Chad. “But Chad…well, he’s never been really good about saying no to girls. So when he goes back in, all my advice simply leaves him, and he agrees, so that it’s only cuddling and nothing more. So they settle onto his bed, they spoon, watch the movie, and fall asleep.”

“Of freaking course!” Danny laughed. “Because it’s Chad!”

“Hey, I despise that!” Chad exclaimed, and they all laughed.

“Despise it or not, still true,” Jensen said.

“Sarah’s dad shows up an hour later, while Chad and Sarah, half naked, are snoozing in his bed,” Jared went on. “They were supposed to just be in the living room, where they could hear her father’s knock on the door. But when he’d knocked three times and there was no answer, he used the doorbell. The doorbell, in turn, woke his parents, who, after letting in Sarah’s father, went to check his room. Now, Chad, being Chad, hadn’t even had the foresight to lock his door. So all three of the adults walked in to see Chad and a half-dressed Sarah heavily spooning in Chad’s bed. Sarah’s dad flew off the handle, was going to beat Chad to a pulp, had Chad’s father not held him back. Needless to say, Chad didn’t make it out to the lake that night. Even now, after so many years, I still can’t seem to convince Chad’s mom that nothing happened that night. Then again, I wasn’t actually there, and the evidence is pretty damning. So really, it’s up to y’all to decide.”

“I cannot believe you slept with your cousin,” Danny immediately started in, no hesitation. Chad threw his hands up.

“I did not sleep with my cousin!” he cried out.

“Dude, your cousin?” Jensen began as well. “I mean…your cousin?”

“I. Did. Not. Sleep. With. Her!” Chad yelled, going a little red in the face.

Chris chose this time to walk from a nearly hidden door that must’ve led to the supply room behind the bar and approach his friends. “Hey, sorry I’ve been gone so long! Look, Jared decided to show up, good on ya!”

Chris slapped Jared’s shoulder amiably and looked at the group. “What’ve I missed?” he asked.

“Well, Jared was amazing even in eighth grade, and Chad slept with his cousin after prom,” Jensen said, and Chris’s eyes bugged. Jared laughed, but also felt a blush creep up his cheeks at Jensen’s compliment.

“Okay, so I’m just going to quickly focus on the first thing so I can really have all my attention on the second,” Chris quickly delegated. “Is there a particular story behind why Jared was amazing even in eighth grade?”

“He shut down this dick who was trying to coerce him into giving a blow job,” Danny swiftly rehashed.

“Solid,” Chris said, giving a surprised Jared a quick high five.

“Now…Chad slept with his cousin. This should surprise me more than it does,” Chris commented and they all burst into laughter.

“You all suck,” Chad grumbled. “Jared, that story was worse! I should be able to tell another one!”

“No, I told you that your story was worse,” Jared said. “You were warned.”

“Maybe I should tell an ex story,” Chad started. “Exes are always fun."

“Not always,” Danny said and Chad didn’t catch the look she shot him, behind Jensen’s head. Jared noticed that Jensen rolled his eyes, and made eye contact with Chris, pointing at his glass. Chris obliged, refilling it with whatever Jensen was drinking.

“Oh, I should tell them about Brad,” Chad said, and Jared’s smile vanished completely.

“That’s not even the slightest bit funny,” Jared said, and Chad’s eyes flicked up to his, and his face immediately fell.

"You’re right,” Chad quickly said. “I’m sorry.”

Jensen, Danny, and Chris all looked at Chad a little puzzled, not used to Chad apologizing when he crossed a line, seeing as he did so very often. Jared nodded in acknowledgement and all was silent for a tense moment before Jensen changed the subject.

“So, what broke in the supply room?”

Chris launched into a long story about how the universe hated bourbon whiskey, and the tension diffused. A few hours of drinking went by, and they all slowly moved over to a booth as the bar slowly emptied. Jensen and Jared were very obviously pushed next to each other by Danny and Chad. Jensen rolled his eyes at Jared for their lack of finesse and Jared laughed. They all devolved into quiet separate conversations, Chad, Chris, and Danny debating about public transit in L.A. and Jensen and Jared simply talking.

“How’d your meeting go?” Jared asked softly. His and Jensen’s heads were bent towards each other, closer than as was probably necessary, as the bar was fairly empty, with a normal level of noise.

“Good,” Jensen replied. “It was just a sort of impromptu meeting with the director I told you about. She wanted to show me the actors playing the main parts in the film. She told me that only one actor she’d signed already, because she thought the guy was perfect for the role; all the rest, she wanted to wait until she had my approval.”

“That’s awesome, this director sounds amazing,” Jared commented. “Did you veto anyone?”

“No, of course not,” Jensen laughed. “I mean, I thought they were all very good fits. She’s very thorough.”

“Sounds like a great experience, though,” Jared said. “Who’s the actor she’s signed already?”

“Sorry, can’t tell,” Jensen grinned at him.

“Aw,” Jared laughed. “Hush hush?”

“Hush hush,” Jensen agreed.

“Do you mind my asking what we’re doing on Tuesday?” Jared inquired and Jensen laughed.

“Nope, it’s a surprise,” Jensen grinned.

“Okay, but I can’t wear my Paul Bunyon costume? So does that mean it’s, like, a formal event?” Jared narrowed his eyes playfully. “Are we going to the opera?”

“Would that be a deal breaker?” Jensen asked curiously.

“No, I can appreciate opera,” Jared replied thoughtfully.

“Noted,” Jensen nodded. “But no, it’s not formal, and it’s not the opera. I was joking. You can wear your Paul Bunyon costume if you want.”

“Wow, so I’m back to square one in guessing,” Jared frowned for a split second, before grinning. “Are we flying to Paris?”

Jensen snorted. “Please explain how you got from point A to point B.”

“Warm hole?” Jared suggested. “I was just throwing it out there. I’ve never been to Paris.”

“Noted again,” Jensen laughed. “No, I’m not taking you to Paris on our second date. I’m not Hugh Hefner.”

“Which is truly a shame,” Jared joked and Jensen laughed for a long moment. Jared watched appreciatively, and when Jensen stopped, Jared kept on looking, for Jensen’s smile did not fade, nor the light in his eyes.

“What?” Jensen asked, a little self-consciously, but still smiling.

“You’re just…God, I wish I could kiss you,” Jared finally admitted.

Jensen chuckled a little, blushing slightly, glancing down at their hands. They both had one resting on the table, and the other in their respective laps. “Well, I’m not really one for PDA, but…” Jensen slowly took the hand that rested in Jared’s lap and entwined their fingers on Jensen’s knee. “Does this suffice?”

Jared’s grin was huge and made Jensen laugh a little. “This definitely, definitely suffices.”

“You’re such a teenager,” Jensen rolled his eyes. “We’re just holding hands.”

Jared laughed, and squeezed Jensen’s hand a little bit. “I know. But it makes me happy, deal with it.”

“Okay,” Jensen agreed. “I will.”

Jared grinned. “Just so you know, though, dude, for future reference, I am very much a PDA kind of guy. Not even just with people I’m dating, but with people in general.”

Jensen examined their hands for a moment before slowly meeting Jared’s eyes, a smile slowly spreading across his lips. “I guess I’ll just have to get used to it then.”

“I mean, I won’t if it makes you uncomfortable,” Jared offered, a little crease between his eyebrows as he slowly sobered.

Jensen laughed. “You know, somehow, I think I’ll live with a little PDA.”

And with that, Jensen leaned forward and pecked Jared’s lips—a quick little chaste kiss that left them both grinning like fools. They glanced at their three companions, who were still deeply engrossed in their own conversations. Jared didn’t think they noticed, if not for the stupidly big grin on Danny’s face. He looked back at Jensen who laughed, and shrugged. They grinned at each other as they both fell back into normal conversation, their hands grasped closely together the entire time.