(no subject)

[longsufferingly]

Title: Texas Forever
Author: chash
Fandom: Supernatural RPS/Friday Night Lights season four (crossover, not fusion)
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1260.
Summary: Set a few years after The Good Old Days, the Honest Man and Never Really Gave Up On Breaking Out of This Two-Star Town. A homecoming.
Notes: Spoilers for FNL season four. Instead of reading this fic, if you are not caught up with Friday Night Lights, you should do that. Because it is the best show on TV.
Disclaimer: Lies and untruths.


"How would you feel about going back to Dillon?" asks Jared.

Jensen starts up from the paper in shock, but Jared doesn't look upset, just curious. "Is everything okay? Your mom isn't--"

"Mom's fine," says Jared. "It's nothing like--" he laughs. "Actually, Coach called."

"Coach Taylor?"

"Yeah. Apparently, he's not with the Panthers anymore."

"And he wants you to take over?"

Jared shakes his head. "They reopened East Dillon. I remember it--it shut down when I was pretty young. It was--when we were still segregated, you know? The other school."

"Yeah," says Jensen.

"Anyway, he's--well, I don't know exactly how it happened, but he's coaching East Dillon, and he's got no support, his only other coach is a guy he found at Best Buy, and--he needs help."

"And you want to help."

Jared manages a wry smile. "If it makes you feel better," he says, "no one really cares enough about the Lions to make a big deal about me being gay."

Jensen snorts, "Wanna bet?"

But he and Jared both know that means I'd go anywhere.

*

Jensen's old boss actually liked him a lot--not enough that he can create a job out of thin air, but he manages to get Jensen some shifts and find him some of his old clients. He's surprised but unspeakably glad to learn that Jason Street moved out of town, feels the pride like they were more than they were, like he had something to do with it.

"You did," says Jared, rolling his eyes. "You saved that kid's life, Jensen."

That's the weird thing about Dillon. It's easy to feel like a hero, because you got one of them out, but then you turn on the radio or drive past a player's house, and you remember you're fighting a battle that can't be won.

*

Coming back to Dillon is like settling into a pool of lukewarm water. It's different, but not unpleasant. The change seeps in, and it's unavoidably a new state, a new atmosphere.

"You get it, right?" Jared asks, pulling him close as they lie in their new bed--what will the neighbors think?--under their old quilt. They're farther from the town than before, near Jared's mom, in the flat farmland. Jared sounds quiet and unsure, and Jensen knows he's asking for forgiveness.

On some level, Jensen doesn't get it. He played sports in high school, but not the way that people play football in Dillon. He doesn't have anyone from high school who he'd come out for, no questions asked. He was never a Panther.

"I get it," he says anyway. Because it's impossible to live in Dillon and not understand what it means, at least a little. "Seriously, Jared. I do."

"I love you," says Jared, and it's not necessary, but Jensen appreciates it.

"Yeah," he says. "Me too."

*

"They forfeited their first game," says Jared. "I mean, coach did. Not like the team quit. When he called me, he couldn't even get them on the field."

"How bad is it?"

"The team?" Jared leans back, and Jensen gets him a pity beer. His day wasn't great, but Jared looks like he got hit by a truck. "They've never been a team, you know? I mean, Coach is yelling at them, and they're all trying, but they don't get it. Even if they've played football before, they've never done it like this. They don't get how it works."

"Here," says Jensen. "Doctor's orders."

Jared grins and takes it, patting the cushion next to him to get Jensen to sit down. They drink in companionable silence, Jared's arm close and warm around Jensen's shoulder, and Jensen tries to figure out what he's supposed to do here.

"When's the next game?" he asks.

"Friday," says Jared. "Of course. We don't even have uniforms yet."

"Jesus."

"Speaking of which, I'm fundraising."

"I'm broke. Try someone else."

Jared kisses the top of his head. "How was the hospital?"

Jensen shrugs. "Pretty much the same. It's actually creepy how little this place has changed."

"East Dillon," says Jared. "Trust me, it's plenty different."

*

Lions games, as it turns out, are nothing like Panthers games. The stands are almost empty--there aren't even enough people that all the parents could have come, which must be horribly disheartening. He spots Tami Taylor in the front, and she waves him over before he can debate if she'll want to see him.

"Hey there, Jensen!" she says, all wide smile and southern charm. "I heard you were back in town."

Jensen shrugs and smiles, a little nervously. He's not sure if he's supposed to say I pretty much go where my boyfriend goes. It's not totally true, anyway--they talk about it. He figures in every relationship, everyone should get one move to Texas no questions asked card. Or equivalent. "Good to see you, Mrs. Taylor," he says instead.

"You know you can call me Tami," she says.

Jensen smiles. "I know."

Jared shoots him a grin as the team comes out, and Tami watches with a small smile. "I hope he knows Eric really appreciates him coming to help out."

"He does," says Jensen. "We're happy to."

Tami nods. "It's not going to be like the Panthers. You know that, right?"

It's weird, how she says that like it's a bad thing. It's not like losing is good, but it's just high school. It shouldn't be what it is.

The Lions score once, right at the end, and it's good, because Jensen can see Jared's shoulders unslump and his face brighten.

"Looking up, I guess," says Jensen.

Tami smiles. "I sure hope so."

*

Jensen leans against the car as Jared leaves, walking with a tall, built guy with long hair. Jensen feels twin stabs of heat and jealousy, because there's no denying the guy is really good-looking, and the way he and Jared are laughing together seems so friendly it makes Jensen want to step in.

But as soon as Jared spots him, he lights up, and there's no way Jensen can think Jared isn't all his.

"Hey," says Jensen, with an awkward little wave.

"Hey," says Jared, grinning widely. Jensen knows he wants to give him a kiss, but there are still people in the parking lot waiting, so he doesn't.

"You must be Mr. Coach," says the tall kid.

"He goes by Jensen, thirty-three," says Jared, rolling his eyes. "Jensen, this is Tim Riggins. I used to coach him."

"Oh," says Jensen, fitting the pieces together "Jason's friend."

Tim manages a wry smile. "That's right. You knew Street?"

"I did some of his physical therapy."

"Oh," says Tim, and Jensen thinks it was the wrong thing to bring up. "Anyway, night, Coach."

"Night, Riggins," says Jared.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Coach," says Tim, with a little smirk.

"Gonna kick your ass one of these days, Rigs."

Riggins just waves his hand dismissively as he walks away.

"So," says Jensen, as Jared starts the car, "no inappropriate locker room fantasies there, right?"

Jared groans. "Shut up."

Jensen smirks, but lets it go. Instead, he leans back and closes his eyes. "Are you glad you came back?"

"Yeah," says Jared, after a long minute. "I know you don't get it all the way, man, and, trust me, I don't blame you. But it's what Dillon's got, and it's all we've got. Give it a season, Coach can turn it around, and they'll be on their feet again."

"But they need the season," Jensen says.

"Yeah."

"Well," says Jensen. "Get on that."

Jared laughs. "Yeah. Will do."