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dugindeepMaster Post
Part 4
When he really thinks about it, Jensen knows this is all brand new to him, yet somehow it still seems very routine. He’s sitting on the couch with Val at his side, his hand tucked into the luscious fur on her belly as she sleeps.
The new thing, next to her, is Jared stretched out on the chaise section of the couch with the four kittens fussing over the red yarn he’s teasing them with. They fall over one another to be the one to trap the strand before anyone else gets it, and it’s a never-ending supply of amusement. For the kittens and for Jensen.
There are take-out containers filling up most of his coffee table, but he’s getting used to relaxing after eating, easing up on the frantic need to clean up immediately. And he’s been letting Jared talk him into new foods; tonight was Jensen’s second try with Indian; Jared insisted on Tikka Masala and Jensen agreed, so long as they got extra naan.
The TV has been ignored for a while now, with Jensen watching Jared play with the kitties, no longer caring what’s happening to the con men on the run from the FBI. Witnessing Jared’s softness with Val and her babies is entertainment enough for Jensen these days.
It’s a wonderful image, this whole night is, and he wishes it could play on every day.
Nights like this have occurred more often than not over the last month, ever since Val gave birth and Jensen and Jared have been watching the kittens grow, together.
He’s pretty sure Jared’s phone has just as many pictures of the litter as Jensen’s does.
Still, he worries … “What am I gonna do with the kittens? They’re almost old enough to ween off.”
Jared glances over with a smile before going back to playing with the kittens, who happily bat at his fingers. “You could keep them.”
“If I were being honest.” Jensen sucks in a breath and holds it. “I really want to.”
“Then keep them.”
“Yeah, but …” Another deep breath and Jensen frets, “Five cats? All in this tiny apartment?”
“You’ve already made room for her in your life,” Jared points out with a steady look. “I think you could do it for the rest of them.”
He’s still not sure, Jared’s professional opinion or not. “That’s just a lot of change all at once.”
Jared turns to him again, this time with soft eyes and a careful smile. He watches Jensen for a few moments before moving in a little closer, even as he does all he can to not disrupt Val. She opens one eye and stretches a paw to Jared’s thigh, but otherwise seems unbothered. “You can handle change far better than you think you can.”
Jensen’s body heats up from the inside out with Jared’s soft compliment, not to mention the proximity of him, how comfortable it is to be this close when Jensen had lived so long putting walls up in front of everyone.
There’s something reassuring about the way it comes in Jared’s voice, too, and the intent look he’s keeping with Jensen. It all really makes Jensen want to believe it.
Especially when Jared closes the space between them to kiss him, lips gentle and barely there, yet the impact is felt all the same.
“You made room for Val and helped her through pregnancy and birth.”
“I guess,” Jensen admits quietly.
“And you’ve made room for me.” Jared suddenly seems a little awkward as he searches Jensen’s eyes. “At least, I hope so.”
Jensen nods immediately, excitement burrowing deep down in his gut and he has so many emotions swirling around because he starts to think that this could all be good for him. Val and the kittens, and especially Jared.
“Yeah, of course, you, too,” Jensen says quickly, hoping he doesn’t lose the bravery to say more. “I mean, it’s all still new to me, but I’m glad you’re here. At least until the next cute patient comes along.”
Jared smirks and nudges their noses together. “I’m a veterinarian. Every patient is cute. Hairy, but cute.”
Jensen rolls his eyes, though he appreciates Jared’s willingness to keep this light. It’s a big thing for Jensen to consider, let alone to do it without the requisite panic attack about every single end road they could find themselves running towards.
“When you think about when we met,” Jared says, tugging on Jensen’s hand to get his attention again. “I was just some schmuck hanging around the pet store, wanting to give you my number.”
He wants to cut this conversation short and hide from the memory of that day, especially when he thinks about the clerk who wouldn’t take no for an answer or how Jensen was completely flustered under Jared’s attention. “That was not my finest moment.”
“Not many of them were,” Jared jokes. “But you’ve done so much for Val and her babies. Those are fine moments. And you’re gonna have a hell of a lot more now that you’ve let them in.”
Jensen looks at Val, sliding his fingers through the white and dusty grey hair at her side. She blinks at him and stretches out alongside his leg, and he can’t stop the big smile breaking free. “I just don’t want to break up her family. She deserves to be with her babies.”
“It’s your family,” Jared corrects him. “And you deserve to be with them.”
There’s a bit of a chill as Jared’s words settle over him, diving down deep with the real impact of care and love and devotion. He’s never been in this position before, where everything seems to work just right. He has Val to thank for that. Her four babies, too.
And probably Jared. He has a feeling he’ll be thanking Jared for a lot of things in the future, least of all for tugging Jensen out of the solitary life he’d once committed to.
So maybe this little family can work after all.
Jensen isn’t as scared of the idea as he thought would be. His own family, here in this apartment, in this home that Jensen made the moment he let Val in.
Just one moment has brought about change he never expected. He thinks he’ll keep moving that needle, finding all sorts of new things for his life, step by step.
But first, he thinks the kittens need their very own cat beds.
Part 4
When he really thinks about it, Jensen knows this is all brand new to him, yet somehow it still seems very routine. He’s sitting on the couch with Val at his side, his hand tucked into the luscious fur on her belly as she sleeps.
The new thing, next to her, is Jared stretched out on the chaise section of the couch with the four kittens fussing over the red yarn he’s teasing them with. They fall over one another to be the one to trap the strand before anyone else gets it, and it’s a never-ending supply of amusement. For the kittens and for Jensen.
There are take-out containers filling up most of his coffee table, but he’s getting used to relaxing after eating, easing up on the frantic need to clean up immediately. And he’s been letting Jared talk him into new foods; tonight was Jensen’s second try with Indian; Jared insisted on Tikka Masala and Jensen agreed, so long as they got extra naan.
The TV has been ignored for a while now, with Jensen watching Jared play with the kitties, no longer caring what’s happening to the con men on the run from the FBI. Witnessing Jared’s softness with Val and her babies is entertainment enough for Jensen these days.
It’s a wonderful image, this whole night is, and he wishes it could play on every day.
Nights like this have occurred more often than not over the last month, ever since Val gave birth and Jensen and Jared have been watching the kittens grow, together.
He’s pretty sure Jared’s phone has just as many pictures of the litter as Jensen’s does.
Still, he worries … “What am I gonna do with the kittens? They’re almost old enough to ween off.”
Jared glances over with a smile before going back to playing with the kittens, who happily bat at his fingers. “You could keep them.”
“If I were being honest.” Jensen sucks in a breath and holds it. “I really want to.”
“Then keep them.”
“Yeah, but …” Another deep breath and Jensen frets, “Five cats? All in this tiny apartment?”
“You’ve already made room for her in your life,” Jared points out with a steady look. “I think you could do it for the rest of them.”
He’s still not sure, Jared’s professional opinion or not. “That’s just a lot of change all at once.”
Jared turns to him again, this time with soft eyes and a careful smile. He watches Jensen for a few moments before moving in a little closer, even as he does all he can to not disrupt Val. She opens one eye and stretches a paw to Jared’s thigh, but otherwise seems unbothered. “You can handle change far better than you think you can.”
Jensen’s body heats up from the inside out with Jared’s soft compliment, not to mention the proximity of him, how comfortable it is to be this close when Jensen had lived so long putting walls up in front of everyone.
There’s something reassuring about the way it comes in Jared’s voice, too, and the intent look he’s keeping with Jensen. It all really makes Jensen want to believe it.
Especially when Jared closes the space between them to kiss him, lips gentle and barely there, yet the impact is felt all the same.
“You made room for Val and helped her through pregnancy and birth.”
“I guess,” Jensen admits quietly.
“And you’ve made room for me.” Jared suddenly seems a little awkward as he searches Jensen’s eyes. “At least, I hope so.”
Jensen nods immediately, excitement burrowing deep down in his gut and he has so many emotions swirling around because he starts to think that this could all be good for him. Val and the kittens, and especially Jared.
“Yeah, of course, you, too,” Jensen says quickly, hoping he doesn’t lose the bravery to say more. “I mean, it’s all still new to me, but I’m glad you’re here. At least until the next cute patient comes along.”
Jared smirks and nudges their noses together. “I’m a veterinarian. Every patient is cute. Hairy, but cute.”
Jensen rolls his eyes, though he appreciates Jared’s willingness to keep this light. It’s a big thing for Jensen to consider, let alone to do it without the requisite panic attack about every single end road they could find themselves running towards.
“When you think about when we met,” Jared says, tugging on Jensen’s hand to get his attention again. “I was just some schmuck hanging around the pet store, wanting to give you my number.”
He wants to cut this conversation short and hide from the memory of that day, especially when he thinks about the clerk who wouldn’t take no for an answer or how Jensen was completely flustered under Jared’s attention. “That was not my finest moment.”
“Not many of them were,” Jared jokes. “But you’ve done so much for Val and her babies. Those are fine moments. And you’re gonna have a hell of a lot more now that you’ve let them in.”
Jensen looks at Val, sliding his fingers through the white and dusty grey hair at her side. She blinks at him and stretches out alongside his leg, and he can’t stop the big smile breaking free. “I just don’t want to break up her family. She deserves to be with her babies.”
“It’s your family,” Jared corrects him. “And you deserve to be with them.”
There’s a bit of a chill as Jared’s words settle over him, diving down deep with the real impact of care and love and devotion. He’s never been in this position before, where everything seems to work just right. He has Val to thank for that. Her four babies, too.
And probably Jared. He has a feeling he’ll be thanking Jared for a lot of things in the future, least of all for tugging Jensen out of the solitary life he’d once committed to.
So maybe this little family can work after all.
Jensen isn’t as scared of the idea as he thought would be. His own family, here in this apartment, in this home that Jensen made the moment he let Val in.
Just one moment has brought about change he never expected. He thinks he’ll keep moving that needle, finding all sorts of new things for his life, step by step.
But first, he thinks the kittens need their very own cat beds.
