Paper Faces | Epilogue

“Please welcome to the stage – Masquerade!”

Jared stood behind the curtain as it lifted and the lone spotlight found him. Staring at the floor, he held perfectly still while a few single, solitary piano notes played over the loudspeaker.

Jared’s dance tonight was special, and just for Jensen, even if there were a hundred or more people in the audience watching him as well. All that mattered was that Jensen, his boyfriend, was there waiting for his performance.

Last night, Jared had said “I love you,” to Jensen, and Jensen had said it back without hesitation. So yes, this dance was for Jensen.

A slow bass rhythm started behind the piano notes, and Jared let his arms rise to his sides, letting that rhythm flow through him as if Jared were the music’s puppet – its marionette. Swaying to the side, the music caused his body to move in liquid undulations, while his fingers made invisible illustrations in the air. Slowly, ever so slowly, Jared brought his fingers to his mask, letting them trace the contours of the thing that had hidden his identity onstage for so many years.

Deftly, Jared removed his mask and set it almost reverently on the floor in front of him.

And then he made the mistake of looking out at the audience, an audience that could plainly see Jared’s face, an audience that could probably see the naked fear on Jared’s face.

Jared froze.

Why did I think I could do this?

His eyes flew over the audience, which were hardly more than blurs since the lights on stage were so bright, but then Jared saw Jensen.

Jensen was staring at Jared in shock, but even from here Jared could see how proud Jensen looked.

That was all that mattered.

The music hit a crescendo and delved into a deep, thumping beat that was similar to what had been playing in the bar that fateful night. Jared let it overtake him once more; the power of the music moved through his body and he moved expertly. It built and built and built, and Jared wasn’t even sure what he was doing, but he didn’t care.

Right now, the music owned him. When it finally released him, and Jared came back to himself as he was on his knees, back nearly touching the floor behind him, with his mask held aloft – that was when Jared realized that not only had he finally danced without his mask, but he’d put on the performance of his life.

Breathless from more than just the dance, Jared gracefully stood and took his bows to uproar from the audience like he’d never heard before. This was what made it all worth it.

Jared took his mask and left the stage, collapsing in the first chair he found backstage. Genevieve was immediately in his face, grinning and saying words like: “I can’t believe you just did that!” and “amazing” and “why didn’t you tell me you had that planned?”

No, wait, that last question had come from Jensen, who’d pushed his way backstage.

Jared just smiled up at Jensen. Jensen was looking at him with wide, concerned eyes.

“Are you okay?” Jensen asked.

Jared thought about it. He waited for the panic to come, and it was there, just waiting on the periphery of his awareness, but Jared was able to center himself and fight it off.

His new therapist would be proud, but Jared didn’t care so much about that. He stood and gathered Jensen into his arms, kissing him soundly before resting their foreheads together.

“You know what?” Jared said, “I think I am.”