Sarcasm or Suckage

“JEN-SEN!”
“JEN-SEN!”
“JEN-SEN!”
“JEN-SEN!”

The crowd was a living thing as Jared watched Jensen step onto the stage. Screams erupted as the fans saw him and the spotlight bathed the lead singer of Soul Bonded in silver fire.

Jensen opened his arms to them, accepting their worship, eyes closed and head thrown back. Jared forced his gaze away from Jensen, looked out at the adoring throng who were all enraptured at the sight of their idol.

Jared stood at the wings, watching the sea of obsessed people and wondered if tonight was the night that all hell broke loose.

“He’s something, huh?” Chris Kane, the band’s guitarist, clapped him on the shoulder as he made his way past, electric guitar slung across his back like a bandolier.

“Yeah, something,” Jared muttered.

Kane whooped and skidded on stage, bumping up against Jensen. Jensen laughed, throwing an arm across Kane’s shoulders.

Misha, drummer and general instrument of insanity, smacked Jared on the ass and raced past him, waving to the mass of humanity as he bolted up to the drum set raised above the stage. The crowd roared as he took his place and Jensen and Kane grinned up at him.

Danni walked up, leaned against Jared, all long legs and red hair. “Kiss for luck?” she asked, presenting him with her cheek. Her eyes were glittering as she smiled at him.

Jared leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her even softer skin. “Not that you need it,” he said and she beamed up at him.

“You’re the best, Jay,” she purred and strolled past him, into the light and noise. The whistles and cat-calls made her smile broadly as she made her way slowly across the stage, past Jensen and Kane who rolled their eyes at her stretching out her moment of glory. She accepted Kane’s help onto the dais where the three keyboards sat and took her place behind them.

Jared watched as Jensen went to his amp and pressed a couple of buttons. The crowd was getting louder; anticipation was almost a living thing in the theatre.

When he was satisfied with his settings, Jensen walked up to his microphone and played one chord. Just one and the place went silent.

“I see forever in your eyes…” and the throng took the roof off at the first line of their most well-loved hit.

Jared stood and watched Jensen work his magic over the people. He was all sweat and swagger, sex and fire. Jared pressed his hand against his crotch; watching Jensen do his thing on stage always had this effect on him.

Not that Jensen knew. Or cared. Or really even acknowledged his existence. Jared had accepted that Jensen was way above his pay-grade in terms of partners but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t look. And want.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, pulled a face at the caller ID. After one last look at the stage, he headed to the small alcove backstage that had been designated for him. “JD,” he greeted the Head of Non-Human Affairs.

“Jay,” his boss sounded distracted. “Just wanted to check up, make sure everything was going well.”

Jared sighed. It was pissing him off that they kept tabs on him. “It’s going fine, JD. And you know that it’s going fine because I know that you’re watching the live feed right now.”

The silence spoke of JD’s guilt. Then he cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, you know how powerful Soul Bonded are.”

“It’s why you assigned me to them,” Jared reminded him. “I’m a warlock with enough firepower to handle almost any emergency.” Jared had been trained from a very young age to harness the power of his mind and the power of the earth’s energy to bend it to his will. He was very good at what he did and it pissed him off that his father couldn’t just let him do his job in peace.

“Better safe than sorry, Jay.”

And Jared knew that it was out of concern so he wasn’t as mad as he should have been. “Tell Dad that I’m okay, okay?” he asked JD.

JD made a scoffing noise. “You’re the human voice of the Fae Prince,” he said. “Your father isn’t going to stop worrying until your assignment ends.”

“I know,” Jared sat on the sofa he’d been given. “But I’m a big boy with enough juice to zap Ackles back to Seelie in a heartbeat.”

JD was quiet again. “The others in the band would overpower you.”

“Why are we even talking about this, JD?” Jared asked. “I’ve been with Jensen and Soul Bonded for two years and they’ve never put one foot wrong.”

“There’s always a first time,” JD said and there was something in his tone…

“Alright, spill it,” Jared said. “Whatever it is that you’re not telling me.”

The sound of screaming caught his attention when he realized that it wasn’t the sound of fans but of fear, he took off at a run. “”Something’s going on,” he shouted into the phone. “I’ll call you back.” He shoved the mobile back into his jacket pocket, silencing JD’s squawks of protest, and skidded around the corner to where he’d been standing earlier.

Jensen and the band were standing stock-still, completely unmoving and everyone in the audience was looking up towards the domed roof. Jared moved out of the wings and followed their gaze.

A dark shadow swirled across the roof of the theatre, black, roiling and angry looking. Every couple of seconds a bolt of lightning lit the shadow from within and Jared could see faces, eyes, mouths.

“Kane, Jensen, Danni, Misha! Get off stage right the fuck now!” he yelled, bolting towards the Fae prince. Jensen was his first priority. An assassination attempt on his watch would be disastrous.

When he reached Jensen and wrapped a hand around his wrist, Jensen met his eyes and Jared could see the fear. “Jay?” his voice was hoarse and molasses slow. “I can’t move.” Jared looked back at Danni and Misha on their raised stages.

“Can either of you move?” he shouted. Misha replied with a small shake of his head and Danni’s face was white with terror. Jared felt helpless. He didn’t have a clue what was going on.

A scream made Jared glance up again and he saw that the shadow was spiraling down towards them, towards the stage, towards Jensen.

“Kane!” Jared looked at the bassist. “Get Jensen and the others out of here.”

Chris watched the shadow and replied in that same slow, rough tone, “Can’t budge, Jay. It’s Fae magic and it has us locked up tight.” He shot him a glance and Jared read true fear in his eyes. “Help us.”

Those words were the closest Jared had ever heard any of the Fae ask for anything. They believed that to ask for something meant to be obligated. “I’ll try,” he said and stepped in front of Jensen as the shadow hit the stage.

The shadow coalesced, taking the form of two men and a woman. Fae, Jared thought immediately, and heard Jensen hiss behind him. “Mark!”

“You know him?” Jared asked, not looking around. He kept his gaze on the intruders, noting that they were Fae but that something was off-kilter. He couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

“King of the Unseelie Court, his Peacemaker, Genevieve and his pet mage, Corin.” Jensen’s answer came as though ripped from his throat. Jared didn’t have time to worry about what the hell was going on with Jensen. He had to deal with these three first.

“You’re not allowed here,” Kane said, words forced out through a clenched jaw. The King looked at him, eyes dark and intent. Kane made a noise that didn’t sound human, sharp, hurt, afraid, and crumpled to the ground. The crowd started screaming again.

“Corin,” the King said and waved a hand at the people. “Do something about that, would you?”

The thin-faced Fae bowed and turned to the crowd. “Silence,” he whispered and a wind shivered through the theatre. Jared saw the people’s mouths all still open in mid-scream, but he heard nothing.

“That’s much better,” King Mark purred. “Now we can have a nice little chat.” He wasn’t a tall man but his presence was tangible. “Remove yourself, little mortal. The Prince and I have Fae matters to discuss.”

Jared shook his head. “Prince Jensen and his guard are under my protection,” he saw the mage turn to look at him out of the corner of his eye. “You have broken protocol with this action.”

“Corin,” King Mark said once more and he sounded bored. “Rid us of this pestilence please.”

Before Corin could do anything, Jared called his power. It was the reason he’d been assigned to Soul Bonded and it was impervious to Seelie tricks. Sliding out of the ends of his fingers, it curled around the air and punched at the wall between their worlds. He felt the opening expand as the rush of magic increased.

He pushed Corin through the newly opened portal to Seelie and erected an invisible shield so that the Fae could not come back through His head was aching and he would pay later for using this much power.

“Would you like to join him by force or by choice?” Jared asked the King, keeping his voice steady with an effort. His strength was wavering and he didn’t know how much longer he had to hold the portal open.

King Mark looked at him closely. “Oh, now I see what you are,” he mused. Then he stared at Jensen. “Perhaps this can wait for the next time you visit Seelie,” he said. “Please send my love and greetings to your mother,” he said to Jensen and allowed the smoke to reclaim him and Genevieve. Jared released the shield and watched the black smoke seep back through to the land of the Fae.

The spell cast by Corin dissipated at the same time that Jensen and the band were released from whatever had bound them. Kane got slowly to his feet, his face ashen and hands shaking.

The power ebbed back into Jared and he felt weary but exhilarated. This had been the first time he’d been asked to do something like this. It validated JD’s concerns about the safety of the heir to the Seelie throne.

The screaming started again and Jared looked at Jensen. “Do something,” he pleaded, head pounding and muscles tight.

Jensen nodded and stepped up to the mic again. “Be at peace…” he breathed and the glamour spread through the theatre, calming the crowd. It wasn’t quite legal, letting Jensen to use his glamour like that over humans, but Jared would allow it this once. He would explain if anyone questioned it. It wasn’t like he had any control over the crowd. Thank god Jensen did.

Jared fought the spell of Jensen’s voice and started reciting multiplication tables in his head to distract his brain. Jensen’s glamour was powerful and hard to resist. Jared had a lot of experience in resisting Jensen. Glamour or no glamour.

Once the people were calm again, Jensen leaned into the mic and asked, “Shall we get this party started?” as though nothing had happened. And in the eyes and brains of all humans present, apart from Jared, nothing had.



Jared headed backstage again, shaken and sweating. His phone buzzed urgently in his pocket and he answered as he went. “It’s all under control, JD, no need to send the NHA.”

“What the fuck is going on?” JD demanded and Jared winced as his voiced punched into Jared’s already sore head.

“Apparently the King of the Unseelie Court arrived unexpectedly and had some sort of issue with Jensen.” Jared was walking quickly towards his car. He felt as though he needed at least some of his weapons for the rest of the night.

“What?” JD’s roar almost punctured Jared’s eardrum. “Get Jensen and the rest of the band out of there right the fuck now!”

“Relax, JD,” Jared opened the trunk and pulled out his silver 9mm and the iron dagger Queen Samantha had given him on his only trip to Seelie. “It’s under control. They’re gone.”

“They?” JD sounded as though his head was about to explode. “There was more than one of them? Jared, what the actual ever-loving fuck?”

“I’ve got to get back,” Jared told him. “I don’t want to leave them out there alone, in case the asshole comes back.”

He cut JD off mid-rant and bolted back into the building. He needn’t have worried. Jensen had the crowd of thousands eating out of the palm of his pretty Fae hand.

He skidded to a stop at the edge of the wings. He waited, looked around and watched as five thousand people were bewitched by the Fae prince.

Jensen danced around the stage like quicksilver. He was light and fire and heat and flame. The people watching him were helplessly sucked in, worshiping at the altar of Soul Bonded and at the feet of Jensen Ackles.

Jared was prepared to defend him. Ready to protect him. Able to kill for him. Willing to die for him.

It had been tough working with Soul Bonded. Jared had made a connection with Kane, Danni and Misha but Jensen barely acknowledged his existence. Jared was used to people liking him but Jensen kept his distance while Danni hugged him and Kane teased him and Misha offered him suggestions that promised to improve his sex life.

Jared was mostly okay with Jensen ignoring him. Any attention from Jensen usually resulted in Jared stuttering and sweating and generally making a complete ass of himself. God only knew what he'd do if Jensen behaved in a more friendly way towards him. He'd probably start writing poetry and buying rings and shit.

The crashing chords of the song signaling the end of act one brought him back to reality. Kane went to Danni and helped her off her dais. She was pale and shaky and clung to him. She turned to Misha as soon as he joined them, allowed him to swing her up into his arms, curling her own around his neck.

“What the fucking fuck was that?” Jensen stalked past him, his rage wrapped around him like a cloak. Jared hurried after them.

“I don't know what the hell the NHA is doing but that wasn't supposed to happen,” Kane's growl made Jared look over at him.

“We're not supposed to actually do anything,” Jared said.

Jensen whirled on him. “Do you honestly think the Fae would tolerate having humans around every fucking day if we weren't getting anything in exchange?” His eyes were green fire rimmed in brightest gold and Jared blinked the glamour away desperately.

“Jen,” Kane put a hand on his arm. “He doesn't know.”

Jensen shook him off. “Fuck that!” he spat and he pointed a long finger at Jared. “Talk to that fucking asshole Morgan and find out what the fuck just happened.”

Jared watched them climb into the Fae chariot, the black pegasii pawing impatiently at the ground. “You can't just leave without telling me...” he began.

Jensen stuck his head out of the window. “I'm telling you jack shit until you and your fucking Non-Human Affairs buddies find out why the King of Unseelie is able to get into your realm.” The coach shimmered in the night as the pegasii took flight and then it slipped between worlds, invisible to the eye.

Jared watched the empty sky, bleakly wondering what the hell JD hadn't told him.

He called his boss. “So, why don't you tell me about King Mark of the Unseelie?” he asked before JD could start berating him.

There was a weighted silence and then JD sighed. “Where's Jensen?” he asked.

“They've left the realm,” Jared said. “I'm not very popular right now.” And he was surprisingly bitter about that. While he wasn't friends with the Prince and his guard, he had at least formed a respected camaraderie with them.

Most of them.

“Jay?” He realized that JD had been talking to him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I'm a little wiped. Had to use a bit more juice that usual to send that mage back to Seelie.”

“Oh my god,” JD sounded horrified. “You took on a Seelie mage?”

“Unseelie,” Jared felt obligated to point out.

“Get your ass over here now,” JD growled and the phone went dead. Jared went to his car and got in. He sucked in a breath, leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. Somehow he just knew that this was going to end up being blamed on him.



The offices were dark by the time he arrived. He checked his gun and knife in, went through security and headed up to JD's office.

The sun was almost ready to start up again, he thought as he spotted a line of gold on the horizon through one of the armored glass windows that lined the top floor.

He knocked on the door and it slid open. JD was at his desk, hair slightly spiky and tie tugged awry. He looked up. “It's about time, Padalecki.”

Jared threw himself in the seat opposite JD's desk. “I had to keep to the speed limit. I've got to set an example. I need to show the world that the NHA are law-abiding citizens and not mavericks who wield magic like a weapon.”

He grinned at JD's barely repressed snarl. “One day I'm going to forget that your father is the President of this country and beat your ass,” JD muttered. “Report.”

Jared straightened in the chair and gave JD a brisk run-down of the events of the night. His body was aching and his head hurt like a mother but he knew his duty.

“The Unseelie should not have been able to come through the Veil,” JD picked up the phone to his right. Jared knew that it was the direct line to the Queen of Seelie and Jensen’s aunt. “Samantha, its JD Morgan. We have a problem. You need to get here now, please.”

He put the phone down and clasped his hands. “This is seriously fucked up, Jay. The Unseelie were never meant to be seen by humans.”

Jared watched JD. He wasn’t used to seeing the second most powerful man in America so concerned. “I thought the Unseelie were a myth,” he kept his voice low, aware of the constant ears of the Fae turned to their world.

“They have always been real,” JD admitted. “The Seelie would prefer not to admit to their existence.” He stood and walked to the huge window facing the city. Los Angeles was a bright and glittering sprawl below. “When we signed the accord between the Seelie and ourselves, it was part of the deal that the Seelie would contain the …” he paused, obviously struggling for the right words.

“Undesirables?” The voice that spoke was female and Jared spun in his chair. Queen Samantha of the Seelie court smiled at him. “Greetings, Jared Padalecki.”

He jumped up and bowed. “Your Majesty.” Something about her always made Jared feel like a small, insignificant insect that could be easily crushed beneath her elegant shoe.

Her eyes danced with subdued pleasure when she looked at JD. “Jeffrey,” she held out her hands. “Would that these were more pleasant reasons to meet.”

JD stepped forward and held up a hand to assist her through the portal. Jared had been so busy staring at the Fae Queen that he hadn’t noticed the curious faces behind her. “It’s good to see you again, Queen Samantha.” It wasn’t as though she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen but when she was in the room he saw no one else.

She shook her head. “Come now, Jeffrey, how many times must I remind you? I have granted you permission to call me by name and not by my title.”

Jared wondered just how close the Queen and his boss were. Obviously close enough that her glamour didn’t affect him as much as it did others. Samantha looked over at him as though she knew exactly what he was thinking. He blushed before he could stop himself and she gave a small laugh.

“So tell me of this breach of our treaty,” she said, suddenly serious, and sat in the chair that Jared had recently occupied. He remained standing, focusing on Queen Samantha and JD, trying hard not to look at the portal to the land of the Fae, trying not to see the world beyond that already held so much fascination for him.

“Jared?” He turned at JD’s voice and shook his head.

“Sorry,” he said and looked at the Queen. “Jensen, I mean the Prince, and his guard were on stage when a shadow filled the theatre.”

She held up a hand. “Black?”

He nodded and she waved him to continue. “The shadow took the form of three people - three Fae, two men and a woman. I heard Jensen call the guy in the front, Mark, and then he told me that the other two were Corin and Genevieve.”

Samantha’s eyes went hard. “He dared to bring Corin with him?” She glanced over at the portal and called, “Jim, please, to me.”

An older Fae climbed through the gate between worlds and he bowed to them all. “My Queen?”

She looked at Jared and JD, “You remember my Consul, Jim Beaver? He is my most trusted advisor.” She beckoned him closer. “It would seem that the King, our cousin Mark, has discovered a tear in the Veil and has managed to find his way into the mortal realm.”

Jim frowned. “That is not possible, my Queen,” he insisted. “Richard and Sebastien have been keeping close watch on the Veil. There has been no report of a tear.”

Samantha held up a hand. “There must be a weakness in the enchantment then. Find it and fix it.” Her mouth was tight. “The King of the Unseelie Court must not be allowed to jeopardize the safety of the humans we are sworn to or the life of the Prince who dwells here.”

Jim bowed again. “At once, my Queen.” He turned and headed back into Seelie, the bright gold and greens and blues engulfing him as the land of the Fae welcomed him back.

Jared found his gaze trapped in the glittering colors, forgetting not to look into the brightness of the land of the Fae.

“Jared,” Samantha’s hand on his arm brought him back to himself. “You cannot stare too long or you could be glamoured. You know this.” Her voice was soft but chiding.

Jared looked away, but the dazzling lights of Seelie were dancing through his mind.

“Do you need me to take it away?” Samantha watched him closely and her eyes were worried.

He shook his head. “No, thank you, your Majesty. I should have known better.” He smiled but it was difficult. “I do know better.”

Samantha nodded and then turned to JD once more. “I must return home,” she said. “When I have news for you, then I will either send word or come in person.”

JD took her outstretched hand and led her to the portal. “Thank you for coming so quickly,” he said, tone formal.

Her eyes twinkled. “You left me with little choice, Jeffrey.” She patted his cheek with a dainty hand. “You were most forceful.” Jared bit his lip as she gave a mock shiver. “It was very…stimulating.”

JD met her gaze. “Stop messing with me, your Majesty,” he said and her title sounded very disrespectful.

She laughed and waved to them both as the doorway between their worlds closed around her.

Jared let out a breath that he hadn’t realized that he’d been holding. “Wow.”

“I always forget what she’s like,” JD muttered as he slumped back into his seat.

“Yeah,” Jared sighed. “She’s something alright.”

“Pain in my ass,” JD told him and then laughed. “God, she turns my brain into scrambled egg!”

Jared could totally relate. It’s what Jensen did to him after all. He’d been trying to convince himself that it was because Jensen was of the Fae, but he didn’t get brain-dumb around any of the other Fae. It was only Jensen who drove him crazy.

Fuck.

He rubbed a hand over his face. It might be time for him to ask for a change in assignment.



Jensen didn't show up for their late morning meeting and Jared wanted to kill him. Or kiss him. Whatever felt most comfortable at the time.

Kane shrugged when Jared asked him where Jensen was. “He said he had a thing.”

Danni concentrated on her nails as though they held the secrets of the universe and Misha was hovering above the floor, legs folded and eyes closed in meditation. Sometimes Jared really hated the Fae.

Jared sighed. “I'm guessing that no one wants to tell me about the dude I pissed off last night?” He looked around, annoyed with them all, but mostly Jensen. They took their cues from their Prince and if he said...

“Agent Padalecki,” Jensen walked into the room. He didn’t sound apologetic. Jensen was dressed casually; jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and boots, but still managed to look better than anything Jared had ever seen. He’d tucked his hair behind his ears, emphasizing the Fae.

“Afternoon, your Highness,” Jared said drily. He hated Jensen’s cavalier attitude. Hated being treated as though he was less than the Fae.

“I had to explain what happened to my aunt,” Jensen told him, clearly annoyed with feeling as though he had to defend himself.

“I’ve already debriefed her,” Jared said. “She met with JD and I last night.”

Jensen looked even more irritated. Jared had learned to read him well. “It would have been nice if you could have advised me of that instead of having to answer a summons to Seelie at the ass crack of dawn.” Jensen’s mouth was a little tight.

Even that small bit of emotion made Jared feel a sense of accomplishment. Getting anything from the Fae was hard going. They held their cards really close to their chests when it came to feelings.

“I’m sorry,” Jared said, blatantly insincere. “You left halfway through your concert and I didn’t think that Queen Samantha would need your version of the event as well as mine.”

Jensen’s lip curled, a sure sign of him being pissed off. “My aunt was concerned for my safety.” His tone was clipped.

Jared ran his tongue over his teeth and muttered, “Guess she needed to make sure that her precious heir was just fine,” He flushed a little. He was being an ass. He looked around to see if anyone had heard him but fortunately they were too busy talking to each other.

He leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat to get their attention. “That’s what we have to discuss this morning. The NHA feels that until the threat from the Unseelie King is taken care of, Soul Bonded shouldn’t perform.”

Misha crashed to the ground and Danni jumped to her feet. “That’s not fair!” she declared, beautiful face furious. “We have commitments.”

Kane nodded, the most laidback of the group. “We’ve been sold out for months on this tour. I don’t think the fans will be too happy with us.”

Jensen shook his head. “No,” he sounded firm. “I’m not cancelling anything.” He looked at Jared and his expression was determined. “I’ll tell you what I told my Queen this morning. I am to be King of the Seelie one day. If I show fear now then I am not only showing it to the Unseelie, but to my own people. I will not be able to lead them if they think of me as a coward.”

Jared felt a grudging respect. He and JD had known that Jensen would refuse. “So, were you powerless against him or was it just that he caught you by surprise?” He was genuinely curious.

“He used the dark magic of the Unseelie,” Kane said and his dark eyes flashed silver. “We were not expecting it and it will not happen again.” He frowned. “I failed my Prince last night.” He looked at Jensen. “We all failed you but this human.”

Jensen nodded. “You have my thanks for your actions last night, Agent Padalecki.” It sounded formal. “The Fae owe you a great debt.” The words seemed torn out of him.

Jared allowed himself a small smile. “Man, is that really so bad?” he asked. “Owing a human something?”

Jensen’s mouth went thin. “It is not seemly for one of the Fae to be beholden to a mortal,” he admitted. “But you proved yourself both loyal and brave last night. You placed yourself in front of me, facing an unknown peril.” He stepped up to Jared. “I owe you much.”

His hands came up and long fingers cupped his cheeks. Jared stood still, holding his breath. It seemed as though the entire world did the same.

“Thank you,” Jensen said and he pressed a soft, dry kiss to Jared’s mouth.

His breath was sweet; Jared tasted mint and sugar and moonlight. His head swam a little and he pressed closer, moving so that he and Jensen were touching from chest to hip. The coolness of the Fae felt even colder against the heat of Jared’s skin. His mouth stung where his and Jensen’s lips touched.

Jensen pulled away with a gasp and his eyes were wide. The gold circles around the iris of his green eyes seemed wider, brighter. “That…” Jensen lifted one hand and touched his own mouth. “That was unexpected.”

Jared sucked in air as though he’d been underwater and unable to breathe. “What the hell was that?” he asked.

“Oh, that is so not good,” Kane was standing behind Jensen, his hands firm on the Prince’s shoulders. “Sire?”

“I…” Jensen looked bewildered. “That shouldn’t have happened.” He stared at Jared. “I can feel you!” he sounded accusing.

“Um, you’re standing a couple of feet away from me,” Jared pointed out. “Pretty sure you’re not.” And then he felt something tug inside. It burned a little and he stumbled back. The burning got worse. He gasped. “That hurts!”

“For fuck’s sake,” Misha stepped forwards and grabbed Jared’s hand. He pulled him towards Jensen and wrapped Jared’s fingers around Jensen’s wrist. The burning sensation eased.

“Fuck.” Jensen went pale. “Now what the fuck do I tell the Queen?”



Jared sat in the carriage heading into Seelie. He was pressed up close against Jensen. Much to his horror he'd discovered that moving away from Jensen, even just a few inches, resulted in pain. Jared was not a fan of pain so he went with plan B - staying close to Jensen.

It seemed as though the Prince was a little less comfortable with the situation. He shifted away every few minutes and then scooted back as soon as the burning became unbearable.

Eventually Jared grabbed his hand. “Enough,” he ordered. He linked their fingers. “Whatever this is, and I know you know exactly what it is, being separated is not good. It makes me hurt. I don't like being hurt. So hold my fucking hand and stop being such a bitch about this.”

Jensen's eyes went wide. Misha, Danni and Kane's eyes went wider. Obviously it had been some time since anyone had spoken to Jensen like that.

“I'm not some mortal to be...” Jensen stammered.

“Please, Jensen,” Jared begged and moved even closer, sighing in relief as the pain ebbed with contact.

“You should tell him before you have to explain to the Queen,” Kane said to Jensen.

“Tell him what?” Jared asked.

Jensen ignored him and glared at Kane. “Shut up,” he said. “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“I know more than you do,” Kane told him. “I've been through it.”

“Been through what?” Jared asked and he was getting pissed off at being excluded from a conversation that clearly involved him.

“You've had a hundred years to come to terms with it,” Jensen reminded Kane.

“Stop the fucking bus and tell me what the fuck is going on?” Jared yelled. The Fae all stared at him. It had been a long time since he'd lost his temper.

“This is a side of you I have not seen before,” Misha noted.

“I'm normally not as annoyed with all of you,” Jared admitted, his eyes never leaving Jensen and Kane. “So, who is going to let me in on the big scary thing that you're not actually telling me about that has something to do with the fact that I feel as though I’m on fire if I’m not touching Jensen?”

Kane rolled his shoulders and wedged himself into the corner of the carriage. “It's Jensen's duty to tell you,” he said with a pointed look at the Prince. “I suggest you come clean, Jen, and hope that Jay's okay with it.”

“Okay with what?” Jared demanded but Kane closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Jared looked over at Jensen. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“We're going to Seelie, to the court of my aunt, Queen Samantha,” Jensen said.

Encouraged by the still-reluctant sharing of information, Jared asked, “Why do I need to go there?”

Jensen glared at an apparently oblivious Kane. Kane could obviously see through his closed eyelids because he lazily raised a middle finger and folded his arms.

“Jensen?” Jared prodded.

Jensen rolled his shoulders and then slumped against Jared. It became clear that Jared had never been in the company of a truly relaxed Jensen. It felt like Jensen was made of liquid. “When I kissed you in thanks,” Jensen began and then he sighed “I meant for it to be a promise. A bargain if you will. A boon for you to ask for at a later time.”

Jared raised his eyebrows. “I was supposed to get all that from a kiss that lasted about two seconds?”

Jensen scowled. “You’re suggesting that my kissing technique needs work?” He sounded affronted. As though this was a possibility that he’d never considered.

“Jensen, your kissing technique needs work,” Jared told him, tongue firmly in his cheek.

“You didn’t seem to mind,” Jared thought that Jensen sounded as though he was pouting. That damn Fae face told him nothing.

“You’re kind of gorgeous,” Jared told him. “I don’t think many people would sniff at a kiss from a Fae prince.”

Jensen’s eyes flashed. “Now you are baiting me!” he said.

Jared grinned. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I am.”

“You are an irritating human, Jared Padalecki,” Jensen informed him.

“It’s a gift,” Jared agreed. “So, tell me why I can’t seem to let go of you without screaming in pain?”

Jensen’s mouth turned down. “I am afraid you’re not going to like what I have to tell you.”

“It can’t be worse than not knowing,” Jared said.

“Very well,” Jensen’s body was a cool comfort beside him, easing the burning that seemed to simmer constantly below the surface. “When I kissed you, we bonded.”

“We what?” Jared was sure he’d heard incorrectly.

“We bonded.” Jensen sounded as miserable as Jared was beginning to feel.

“Bonded as in…” Jared couldn’t get the words out.

“Mated, yoked, joined, wed, united, linked, merged….” Jensen ticked off the words in a litany that made Jared feel a little ill.

“So we’re…” Jared pointed between himself and Jensen.

“A bonded pair,” Jensen nodded.

“Well, fuck,” Jared said.


To Part 2