(no subject)

[longsufferingly]

Another help_haiti timestamp! Sequel to this J2 OnStar commentfic for logans_mom00.


"This is nuts," says Sandy.

Jared stops in front of the mirror, fidgeting with his hair. "How is this worse than if I met him in a bar?" he asks.

"It's weird," says Sandy.

"Or the internet," Jared continues.

Sandy sighs. "If you'd met him on the internet, I'd be worried too."

"Look, he's a guy. He's a few years older than me. I know what he does, where he's from--all I don't know is what he looks like." Jared smirks at her. "You can't honestly tell me you're saying I shouldn't meet him cuz he might be ugly."

Sandy throws up her hands. "He could be--I don't know! A pervert! A rapist!"

"Sandy, I don't think anyone purposefully crashes their car just to get a date," Jared says. "It's not like OnStar is a breeding ground for sexual deviants."

She sighs. "Okay. But--you've never gotten a date before. You don't think it's weird?"

Jared smiles. "Nah. I mean--I was really hoping. I just--I had a good feeling about him."

Sandy can't help smiling. "You're such a romantic, Jared. It's gonna get you in trouble."

"Yeah," says Jared. "Save me from the big, scary blind date."

Sandy shakes her head, giving up. "Call me if you need me."

*

For all he made fun of Sandy, Jared actually is nervous. Not because he thinks Jensen is going to do anything inappropriate, just because he's always worried about first dates. And there is something especially nerve-wracking about it being a totally blind date; they didn't agree on any way to find each other, and Jared is a little concerned he'll never even see Jensen. Of course, he could find his contact information, but that would be an abuse of power.

So, yeah, he's nervous, just not about Jensen shanking him or anything. He's maybe a little nervous that Jensen will be ugly or something--he doesn't like feeling shallow, but he has to admit, he has his moments.

"This is dumb," he says to himself, and pushes the door open.

Goldman's is small, cozy, and comfortable. Jared really likes it--his friend Adrianne works there, and the coffee is to die for. And it's close to his favorite bar, so he figures--well, they have options for the rest of the night.

It's pretty quiet inside when he gets there--a few people scattered through tables, no one clearly alone. Of course, it's a little before seven, so Jensen might not even be there yet. Jared sits down conspicuously, alone and alert, so anyone coming in will see him, hopefully.

"Hey, Jared," says Adrianne. She's wiping tables over by a redheaded girl and her hot date. "What's up?"

"Not much. You gonna give me table service?" he asks, with a smirk.

"You wish. You order at the register like everyone else, Padalecki."

Jared sighs exaggeratedly. "I don't know why I come here if I don't get perks."

Adrianne heads to the register, and Jared goes over to meet her. He drops his voice. "I'm actually here for a blind date," he admits.

She raises her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. So if anyone comes in looking lost, send him my way."

"Gotcha. The usual?"

"Yeah."

"I'll bring it over."

"See, why do I have to come to the register for this?" asks Jared.

"Because you need exercise. What's Prince Charming's name?"

"Jensen."

Adrianne nods. "Have a seat. If I see any lost-looking gay boys, they're all yours."

"You're too good to me."

Jared sits down and gets out his crossword book, figuring he doesn't have to look like the world's most absolutely awkward person while he waits. A few minutes later, the redhead leaves without her hot date, so he guesses that one's not going to go anywhere, and then Adrianne brings him his coffee.

He's just settling back down when someone clears their throat and says, "Jared?" and the voice is definitely familiar.

He looks up and--hot guy. With the redhead. He looks nervous--rubbing the back of his neck and shifting on his feet--and there's a couple butterfly bandages on his forehead that Jared hadn't noticed before.

He swallows hard. "Yeah, um." He stands up and wipes his palms on his jeans. Jensen watches, clearly surprised at Jared's height, and Jared gives the strongest smile he can manage. "Hi. You must be Jensen." He extends his hand.

"Yeah," says Jensen. He licks his lips, and Jared hopes he's not too obvious tracking it. It's not--it's just--yeah, Jensen is really hot. "Nice to meet you. You know, in person."

"You too," says Jared. "So, uh, have a seat! Unless you wanna go back to your table--I mean. Um." He laughs. "Sorry, I just thought you were on a date with that girl."

Jensen sits down, and Jared does the same. Jensen takes a sip of his coffee before replying. "No, that's my roommate. She was a little worried about me--" he laughs. Jared likes the laugh even more in person. "I dunno."

"No, I get it. My friend Sandy thought you were gonna be an axe murderer or something."

"Who just so happened to get in a car crash?" asks Jensen, a smile playing around his lips.

Jared laughs. "Yeah, you know. I figure you're working the long con. Step one, get in a car crash, step two, pretend to be gay, step three--"

"Stab you at a coffee shop," Jensen supplies. "Yeah, you've really got my number." He looks Jared up and down again. "I'm pretty sure I couldn't beat you up if I tried."

"But you're not trying, right?"

"No," says Jensen. "I mean, I kind of owe you."

"All in a day's work. And you're the first one who's ever offered to get me coffee."

Jensen flushes. "Yeah, um, sorry I--"

"Hey, don't worry. Seriously, I would've asked you, but, you know, I was on the clock, and it's not exactly what I'm getting paid for."

"I don't usually do this," Jensen admits.

"You mean you don't ask guys out when you're concussed a lot?"

Jensen smacks him lightly. "I don't get concussed much, dumbass. And I didn't get concussed last night, anyway."

"Glad to hear it. How're you feeling, anyway?"

Jensen shrugs. "Not bad. Little sore. I was kind of out of it this morning, but I think it was just stress."

Jared nods. "So, you're good?"

"I'm not just out with you due to brain damage, if that's what you're asking," says Jensen, amused.

"That's not, actually," says Jared. "But I'll stop being worried about you. Jerk."

Jensen grins. "Hey, did you eat?"

"Not really." He ducks his head. "I was kind of waiting to see how this went."

"So, want to finish off the coffee and get dinner with me?"

"Yeah," says Jared. "I know a place."

*

It's a weird first date, because they covered a lot of the small talk during Jensen's crash, so he already knows a lot of the random details they'd usually cover over dinner. Still, it isn't actually awkward. Jensen asks him about his job, and Jared starts telling the greatest hits of his awkward OnStar calls.

"Swear to God," Jared is saying, "he was getting head when I called him. I told him the ambulance was on the way, and he asked me to give him like five minutes, and then told the girl he didn't ask her to stop."

Jensen is laughing, but he looks kind of horrified too. "Dude, was it a hooker?"

"I don't know! It's not like I could ask him. What was I supposed to say? 'Of course, sir, I'll let them know. How much does she charge?'"

Jensen snorts and nearly spews wine out his nose. "So, getting asked out by a random guy really isn't that bad?"

"Dude, are you kidding? So far getting asked out by a random guy is going really well."

"What about you?" asks Jared. "Any really weird physical therapy stories?"

"Mostly people who don't want to admit how they got injured in the first place. One guy was trying to do the whole Kama Sutra. He wouldn't tell me which one fucked him up, but it was bad."

"You don't get, like, weird stuff stuck places, right?"

Jensen raises his eyebrows. "Usually everything gets removed by the time they get to me."

"That'd probably make the job more fun."

"This is more ass talk than I usually get to on the first date," says Jensen, with a playful smile.

"As long as it's other people's sex problems, it's not moving too fast," Jared says. "Or sex weirdnesses, I guess."

Jensen glances at his watch and grimaces. "I actually better be getting going. Not because of excessive sex talk or anything, just I have a really early meeting tomorrow."

"Oh, no, it's fine," says Jared instantly. "It's getting late. Sandy probably thinks you stabbed me and left me to die in a ditch."

"Dude, not cool. Now you ruined the surprise for the second date." Jensen seems to realize what he said belatedly and flushes. "Uh, I mean, not that--"

"Are you busy tomorrow night?"

Jensen lets out a little relieved laugh. "Not at the moment."

"Want to catch a movie?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"You can shiv me after," Jared says.

Jensen laughs, and argues over the check with him, naturally. Jared finally lets Jensen cover it, and he'll cover the movie tomorrow.

Outside, there's an awkward moment where neither of them knows where to go. Jared sticks his hands in his jacket pockets and bounces a little on his feet. "You need a ride? Since your car's a little--"

"Yeah, that'd be great."

They're quiet on the way home, except for Jensen giving him directions. He doesn't live that far from Jared, and Jared tries not to examine about how awesome that makes him feel.

He pulls over in front of the apartment, and Jensen swallows loudly.

"So, tomorrow?" asks Jared. He really doesn't want to pressure the guy if he's so nervous.

"Yeah," says Jensen. He licks his lips, leans over, and kisses Jared, quick and dry. "See you."

*

"So, did he kill you?" asks Sandy.

Jared flops down on the couch and grins at the ceiling. "Are you kidding? I think I'm in love."