Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

All day, Donnie had been acting strange, being extra skittish almost as if hiding something from Jensen. The nervousness was quite unusual to see as there wasn't any threat.
Jensen kept thinking about what could be happening, why was his boyfriend acting up like that but couldn't figure it out, and it was bothering him more than he would admit.

Donnie walked into their apartment, bags of groceries beneath his arms as Jensen was waiting for him next to the kitchen's door, leaning on the wall.

"Where were you?" His voice was sharp, almost accusatory, which startled Donnie who almost dropped the bag.

"Sweet m... Jensen?! Why scaring me like that?"

"I said where were you?" Repeats, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Donnie frowned, a bit confused by the cold greetings. He lifted hesitantly the grocery bag

"Getting groceries?"

Jensen grabbed the bag before looking inside, his face falling as he pulled out a bouquet. He looked up at his boyfriend.

"And what was that for then?"

Donnie's eyes widened a slight blushed appeared on his cheeks before he adds sheepishly.

"It was for you, it's our third year anniversary."

Jensen's eyes shifts between the flowers and Donnie's face, blinking as if the memories were coming back today. His features softened.

"Oh, it was today? I... I'm sorry, I completely forgot about." He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I'm sorry, I got paranoid, you were acting all secretive so..."

"You thought I was hiding something from you?" Donnie adds softly, patting gently Jensen's shoulder to reassure him. "Well in a way I was, but it was to surprise you with a little romantic night."

Jensen wraps his arms around his boyfriend's large chest, resting his head against it. He inhales deeply, the earthy smell reassuring him.

"Guess some fears never truly fades don't they?"

He tried to laugh it off but if wasn't really convincing at he feels that Donnie was definitely not convinced either. He hugged him tight, not letting him go anywhere. Jensen looked up, a little smile on his lips.

"Don't worry, I won't go anyway. I'll stay with you until I breathe my last breath."

Donnie replied, kissing softly the top of Jensen's head.

"I love you, don't forget that."

"I won't."

He simply replied, lifting his head to kiss his boyfriend.

"Happy anniversary."

Chapter Text

"And guys remember." Monday started, pacing around her apartment as the boys were standing still, looking at her. "Kitty food is in the pantry here and the litter in here."

She then grabbed her bag, walking towards Lena who was looking at their cat tenderly.

"See you later, take care of Hemingway for us !"

And with that they were gone, leaving the boys with a fluffy grey cat who was looking at them weirdly, as if he was judging why two strangers were disturbing his peace. Hemingway yawned, exhibing his little fangs before walking away from Donnie and Jensen, snobing them completely.

"Well if it isn’t the most pleasent cat." states sarcastically Jensen, while his boyfriend was already walking behind the cat, hoping to go pet him.

Hemingway kept trotting around the apartement, sometimes looking behind him, as if daring Donnie to come and get it before running away or jumping out of his reach. Jensen was watching the scene unfold from afar, a bit unsure of how to acts with pets as he haven’t interract with one in more than a decade. He just simply went to sat on the couch, staying comfy while watching his boyfriend running behind the cat.

Hemingway, apparently done playing with Donnie, decided to simply come and sat comfortably on Jensen’s lap, who seemed very surprised by the cat’s behaviour. He looked up at his boyfriend.

"Uh… Donnie, what do I do ? I’m not used to pets !"

He held up his hands, not daring to touch the cat as he was now purring on his lap, seemingly content with his nap spot. Donnie approached carefully, his hands stretched in front of him. But the cat wasn’t having it and the second Donnie was too close to him, he jumped out of Jensen before running away. The prince sighed.

"Noo ! Kitty don’t run, I’m not bad." He whined, almost disappointed by how the animal was running away from him.

Jensen stands up to go hug his boyfriend, comforting him.

"It’s okay, you’ll be able to pet him eventually."

"I surely hope so."

But during the whole week they were staying at the girls’ apartement to take care of Hemingway, Donnie couldn’t approach him, eahc time he was trying to make a move, the cat jumping out of the way, going to hide. But the thing that was driving Donnie crazy, was that the cat was constantly rubbing against Jensen’s legs, or sitting on his lap, meowing at him for pets.

On their last night in the apartment, the boys decided to watch a movie together, snuggled together so they won’t fall. But they never get to finish it.

The next morning, when Monday opened the door of her apartment, shortly followed by Lena after their trip, she found her two friends sleeping on the couch. Donnie was resting his head on Jensen’s chest while Hemingway was on top of the Prince’s back, curled into a fluffy little purring grey ball.
She gestures to her girlfriend to not make a noise and takes out her phone to take a picture of the three sleeping boys.

Chapter Text

Donnie knew he wasn't good with alcohol, but when Monday proposed to come over to eat at her place and one thing lead to another, one bottle to more bottles and before he knew, after only a few drinks, he was spread out in the couch talking incoherently. Monday wasn't long to join him, a bit wasted.

Jensen and Lena were still sat at the table, talking between them, keeping an eye out for their partners, who were engrossed in a deep conversation only them seemed to understand.

"Is it really safe to let them like that?" Asked Jensen, looking at Lena, as he wasn't used to see his boyfriend that drunk.

"Yeah, don't worry, as long as we're watching them it's fine, and we're cutting their drinks for tonight." She simply replied, taking a sip out of her glass. He shrugs, satisfied with her answered before finishing his drink in a singular gulp.

During that time, on the couch, Monday and Donnie were giggling softly, all cuddly together.

"You're the best friend I could've ever wished for... Really, I love you so much." Mumbled Donnie, almost tearing up.

Monday pulled him closer.

"No you're the best! A little sunshine in this world." She giggled back.

They both stayed like that for a moment, comfortable in each other's presence while the most sobre humans in the room were busy talking about some show they were enjoying, not paying a lot attention to their partners anymore.

"You know Monday..." Donnie started, a wave of emotions crashing into him. "Thank you for being there for me. You helped me so much all those years and ... I think of you like family."

He smiled softly, squeezing her into his arms as she smiles back, little tears running on her cheeks.

"Awww, Don, you're family too. Never doubt that. We're all family here."

Hearing the emotional sobs coming from the couch, Lena turned her head to see what it was about.

"Everything's alright Monday?"

"Yeah he's just..." She sniffs. "He's family."

Lena scoffs fondly, seeing her girlfriend in that state was always adorable, specially when she gets that emotional about something. She approached the couch, gesturing at Jensen to follow before she embraces them all in one big hug.

"Of course he's family, we're all family here." She smiles as everyone was fumbling in the couch, trying not to fall on the ground, all laughing and happy.

Chapter Text

Del didn't liked being back to their childhood home, it brought back too many memories. Memories that they would've preferred stayed buried deep inside them. But the point because, they didn't had the choice for today, they had to be there.

They wandered in the building, looking at the familiar walls and doors surrounding them before stopping on front of their brother's room.

Del stand in front of the door for a few seconds, not daring to open it, instead reminiscing the times where they were trying to be a good big brother to him, reading him bedtime story when their parents were too busy working, helping him chose clothes.

They opened the door, entering the room. It smelled clean and clearly hadn't been lived in in a very long time. Memories were now flooding their mind, mainly happy ones, but they were tainted with the nostalgia of what could've been if they never left, or worse, if they came back.

They approached from the bed, sitting on it before noticing a little figure watching them. They stretched their arm to grab the small plushie.

It was a bright orange kangaroo, who was once theirs but that they had gifted to Donnie after a terrifying nightmare he had when he was a kid. Del smiled remembering that memory, their little brother knocking on their door, trembling as he crawled into their bed before they tried to reassure him that everything was alright. And in that moment, the only thing that managed to reassure the little Prince, was that little kangaroo.

Del pressed the animal against their chest, closing their eyes.

"You kept it..."

Chapter Text

The heat inside the apartment was suffocating him. The long summer days weren't helping at all and the temperature never seemed to lower. But when he woke up in the middle of the night, Jensen could feel the fresh air coming from the opened window of the room. He lifted his head from the warm skin of his boyfriend, moving Donnie's arm softly so he could sneak out of his embrace. He walked towards the window, looking at the sleeping city below him. Not a lot of people there, only a few droids doing early work.

Jensen came back to the bed, almost tripping on some discarded clothes. He sat on the edge, picking up some of the clothes before putting them on. He wanted to make the most of the fresh morning air to take a little walk.

The movements must've had woken up his boyfriend, because Donnie started mumbling unintelligibly, as his head was buried in a pillow. Jensen leaned above him, taking a lock of hair out of his face.

"Shhh, don't worry, go back to sleep..."

Donnie frowned, not very content with that answer and grabbed Jensen into his arms, trapping him into a hug. He buried his face in his boyfriend's neck.

"Where are you going?"

"It's fresh outside, I wanted to take a walk."

He hummed, not letting him go.

"Wait a minute and I'll go with you."

He yawned and rolled his shoulders, stretching them, before opening his eyes. He smiled when he meet his boyfriend's hair and released him. Jensen rolled off the bed and grabbed a tee-shirt that he threw at Donnie's face.

"Get dressed then."

He walked out of the room, putting on his shoes on. He leaned against the wall, waiting for his boyfriend to come out of the room, which he did a minute later.

After Donnie puts on his shoes, they both walked out in the street. Donnie took Jensen's hand in his, walking slowly in the empty streets, the cold temperature soothing them.

"We never really had much time to walk by ourselves like that. Without being chased by some people." Comments Jensen, enjoying the fresh air in his skin.

Donnie nods along, not saying anything, just appreciating the moment, despite being still a bit sleepy.

They walked a long time, not caring of where they were going, simply enjoying each other's presence in that strange moment, before they climbed on top of a building, the one where they almost kissed a long time ago but where Del disturbed them. They leaned on the railing, watching the sunlight peaking in the horizon. The orangy pink lights were reflecting on the few clouds that were in the sky that morning.

Chapter Text

"Ugh, why did you had to beat him up?!" Del was on their last nerve, the lack of sleep getting to them.

"He deserved it! Have you heard the way he was talking about Donnie? U wasn't going to let that slide." Jensen was nervous as well, and it showed in the tension between their interactions.

The ambience was tensed and a single disturbance could've them both to snap and throw themselves at each other's throat. Jensen was the first one to snap after a can was accidentally pushed on the floor, making a loud metallic sound on its path. He jolts on his feetw ready to scream at Del, but contained himself, clenching his jaw. He sighs, walking to the door and grabbed the doorknob.

"I'm getting tea. Do you want some?" He tried, handing the olive branch with hope to smooth the situation between them, as he didn't wanted them to kill eachother before saving Donnie.

Del looks up from the computer.

"Yeah sure." They replied coldly before focusing back on their work.

Jensen walked to the kitchen, putting some water to boil. While the pot was heating up, the man was cooling down. By the time it reached the right temperature, Jensen had regain his temper. He poured the water onto two cups, a simple black one and another, hot pink with glitter and bright letters reading "hot bitch" on it. He came back to the datavault with the two cups of tea.

"Here." He said to Del, who decided, probably to piss him off, to take the black mug. "Are you serious?"

Del snorted, sipping the tea, appreciating the sight of Jensen with the bright pink mug between his hands.

"Very serious."

He rolled his eyes before sitting back on the chair he left earlier. He took a long sip of his drunk before looking back at them.

"Del?"
"Hm?"
"What was Donnie like when he was a kid?" He knew that Donnie was one of the only thing they had in common, and he wasn't going to bring up the Witch in the conversation, so bringing him up was the best way for them to talk calmly. Del looked up from their team.

"Don as a kid?" They huffed, diving back in their memories. "He was a cute kid, very joyful and full of life, even after losing his arms. We used to play a lot before the Aftershock 12, but it kinda stopped after they. I was too busy fighting our father to properly care for him." They stopped a second, gathering their thoughts. "When he was really young, not older than 5 or 6, we used to play videogames together, he never won of course. I'm better than him, but he always came back to play. Then I left and haven't seen him face to face before they night with you on the roof' "they stared coldly at Jensen. "Night where you stabbed me!"

"You were pointing a gun at me+ and I didn't knew you were siblings!!"

"But if you knew, would've you still stabbed me?" Accused Del.

Jensen looked away, half guilty, half mischievous.

"A gun's a gun. I see a threat, I stab." He shrugged, not explaining himself more.

"You sick bastard. But glad to see you're ready to go the extra mile to protect my baby brother." They punched affectionately Jensen's shoulder. "And how has he been when you were with him?"

"Well... He saved me. From you actually. And you shot him, accidentally of course, but still. But yeah. And he still like videogames, he tried to make me play one but..." He flinched, the bad memories of the illusion coming back. "I lost. He took me to a restaurant, to watch a movie as well. But then it was over. And now... Now we have to free him."

Del nods seriously.

"We're going to free him."

Chapter Text

Donnie usually didn't liked the grandiose events his father was forcing him to go to. But it was because usually he had to go alone, and this time, Orion had allowed him to bring someone with him. So of course it had to be Jensen.

One thing he hadn't realised, was that they will have to dress appropriately for the event and he hadn't planned that the sight of Jensen in a suit would make him shirt circuit. So when his boyfriend went out of the room, an elegant black suit on, with a fitted jacket hugging his waist and a tie matching his own dark purple suit, he was losing his words, too busy ogling the show that he was offering.

Jensen noticed how Donnie was watching him and smirked, appreciative of the way his boyfriend reacted to his appearance.

"Enjoying the view?"

Donnie looked up at his face, his eyes lighting up.

"Very much. Everybody is going to be so jealous when they see my boyfriend. The most handsome of all."

He went to hug him, both men giggling.

"Come on, you look way better than I do in a suit."

"No way you're saying that, you were made to look good in anything ! You managed to pull off my own clothes and still look like a God."

Jensen rolled his eyes, trying to deny it but a faint blush on his cheeks betrayed how the compliment touched him.

"Anyway, we should get going. Or we're going to be late and your father will have your skin."

"Yup, sure thing, let's go then. After you sir." He said, opening the door for Jensen.

After a short ride, they arrived at the venue, journalists coming to take pictures of them while they were walking towards the door. They entered the large hall where a crowd of people was gathered, everyone wearing fancy clothes, all different colours, but all strangely looking good together.

They walked to find Orion who was greeting some of the guests.

"Ah you're finally here Donnie. I was starting to think I'd have to come to get you myself. There's probably Monday somewhere waiting for you. She's surely near the buffet."

Donnie nods, taking note of the information before bracing to cross the crowd towards the buffet. He grabbed Jensen hand, leading him so they won't get lost and take ages to find each other's again.

They finally managed to reach the table where various foods were set up, people around picking up some little bouchées. He looked back at Jensen, a bright smile on his lips.

"And here is the best part. The food, here try some it's just the best!" He handed a little thing seeming to contain some carrot and probably some meat.

Jensen looked at the thing, intrigued but tried it anyway. It was a bit sour and spicy, but definitely worth it. He nods approvingly to Donnie, who gave him a lot of other little things to eat, each time Jensen nodding along, enjoying being fed that way but will never truly admit it.

Chapter Text

Nooo! Don't touch that it's..." Donnie tried to stop Jensen who was about to touch an antique piece of furniture but arrived too late. "...cursed."

Jensen turned to him, hand still on the wooden surface of the bookshelf, clearly skeptical.

"That? Cursed? Are you kidding me?" He deadpanned.

Donnie winced, clearly knowing more than he was saying in the moment. Hearing the commotion, Del came running.

"Someone touched Grandma's cursed bookshelf again?" They looked at Jensen. "Ah yeah, nobody told you that, but it is cursed. Don't worry it'll pass. Eventually."

Jensen looked confused at Donnie and Del then his hands. Then back at the bookshelf.

"You can't be serious. You're kidding me right?"

Donnie shakes his head, it wasn't often that he looked that serious about something, and Del had the same expression on their face.

"You're in it alone. We can't help you now. You have to lift the curse by yourself." Said Donnie solemnly, Del nodding along behind him.

The way they were taking this thing so seriously made Jensen worry slightly.

"What do you mean alone? Can't you help me with it?" A hint of annoyance was hiding in his voice, he didn't really liked this situation, this was starting to get him nervous even if he would never admit it.

"No one can help you now Jensen." Del was talking in an ominous voice who seemed almost absurd. "It's your mission to lift the curse that you placed on yourself."

He looked around, trying to figure out what to do.

"Did any of you had to do it before?"

Both siblings nods approvingly, not saying another word, then left Jensen alone in the room.

All day he tried to understand the situation he put himself in. He tried to look closer at the bookshelf, carefully not touching it. He inspected each tome, hoping for an information he might've missed getting more paranoid the deeper he was in.

Then after a few hours, Donnie came back and looked at Jensen, leaning against the doorframe.

"Oh? You already lifted the curse?"

Jensen was a mess by now and he turned his head to watch Donnie with the expression of a mad man.

"I what?!" He half yelled, completely drained.

"Yeah I can't see it anymore. Well done love, you're free I knew you could do it." He smiles warmly at his boyfriend.

Jensen seemed completely shocked and confused by the thing.

"You could see the curse?? And you haven't said it before?"

"Of course I can, anyone who's been cursed can. That's one good thing, or bad, depends on how you view it."

Jensen looked right at him, deadpanned.

"I'm going to sleep, I can't deal with that shit anymore." And with that he left the room.

While Jensen was leaving, Del entered and stood next to Donnie, waiting for their brother's boyfriend to leave before speaking.

"So? The curse is lifted ?"

Donnie smirked.

"Curse is starting you mean. I'm glad I wasn't the last one to experience it. And you were right, it's hilarious to see someone search for it."

"Are you going to tell him or do you want me to be the bad guy?" Del asked.

"Nah, let him wait a little, it gets only funnier from now on. Maybe we'll tell him in a few days. Or never, who knows."

Del snorts, proud of their little brother.

"Good, I'm glad you think that way, because when it happened to you it was hilarious to see you searching for days. You were going mad."

"I was 10, of course I was going mad. Going on a manhunt for something that doesn't exists. Though I wouldn't have guessed it would work that well on him."

They both shrugged, proud with their little prank.

Chapter Text

Jensen was sitting on the couch, a book opened on his lap and a bag of fruity snacks next to him. He did not had a lot of things to do that day, waiting for Donnie to come back from work. He'd spent the day cleaning some place in the house as they had hosted a dinner the previous night and the place, especially the kitchen, was a war zone.

Around 8p.m, he started to worry not to see Donnie coming back. It was unusual for him to come back after 7p.m, and even more not to text if he was late. So the combination of the two rang an alarm in his mind. He was pacing in the living room, trying to rationalize the situation, no one was out to get him anymore, nothing bad had happened to him, he was just being paranoid. He kept repeating that to himself.

He decided to try and call Briggs, asking her if something happened when he was working. She picked up quickly.

"Hello? Jensen? Is everything alright?"

"Yes, sorry to bother you, is Donnie still at the shop? He isn't back home yet."

His voice might've sound a bit more worried than he would've wished because Briggs tone shifted.

"Donnie? No he left at the same time he usually does. Have you tried calling him?" She asked, her voice soft. She'd always had the ability to calm people, and it didn't failed this time. Jensen took a deep breath, calming himself

"No I haven't, but it's not normal for him to not be home that late. And he hadn't sent a text. What if something happened to him?" He started to get nervous again, walking around the Coffee table, a bit too fast because he slammed his bare foot against the wooden leg. "Fuck..." He fummed.

"Jensen, calm down, go take a sit. It'll be fine. Donnie is a big guy, he can handle himself, there's no more threats here to get him, he'll be coming home soon, I'm sure of it. Take some time for yourself, drink some water, eat a bit and everything will be fine, okay?" Her voice was soft and soothing, reassuring the panicked boy.

He nods, knowing well that she couldn't see.

"Yes, sorry. I just... I get worried. I'll try calling him. Thanks Briggs, I'll text you when he'll get home." He simply said before hanging up, letting out a sigh.

He went to the kitchen when the front door opened wide, startling Jensen who was passing in front of it. In the doorway, was standing Donnie, flowers and take-out bags in hands. Jensen looked at him with wide eyes, completely shocked by this entrance.

"Where on earth were you? I've been worried sick you idiot!"

He punched him in the chest, not enough to hurt him. Donnie took a good look at the expression on his boyfriend's face.

"I was getting dinner and some flowers for you. But the place I wanted to go was closed so I had to go even further." He explained. It was making sense.

"And how about a text?" Reproached Jensen.

Donnie looked down at his pocket, unable to reach it as he had both his hands taken.

"Ah yeah, my phone died on the way back, my bad. Listen, I'm very sorry for it. But see, I'm fine. I'm back."

Jensen dived into Donnie's chest head first, hugging him tight so he wouldn't escape.

"Don't do that again okay? I had to call Briggs and make her worry as well. No more surprises please."

Donnie tried as best as he could to hug Jensen back without squishing the flowers or to spill the food.

"Ok love... I won't, I'm sorry."

He softly kiss the top of his head.

"Dinner?" He proposed, trying to cheer up the mood.

"Dinner." Jensen approved, relieved that his boyfriend was okay.

Chapter Text

"I'm sure it'll be fun, just give it a try!" It had been a week since some posters promoting a fair coming in town for the month. And it had been a week since Monday was trying her best to convince Lena to go with her.

"Darling, how many times are you going to ask me?"

"Come on, we have a day off, we could chill a bit. It's only good." Monday argued.

Lena rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but the supplication in the eyes if her girlfriend was making her weak, and she couldn't really resist her.

"Fine. But because it's you and I like to see you happy."

Monday's eyes lit up, a smile brightening her face.

"Thanks love, you won't be disappointed!"

Later that day, they walked into the funfair. Around them, the place was filled with colourful carousel, food vendors and various claw machines. The sugar smells of the candies and churros were giving to the fair an unique ambiance.

They looked around, deciding where and what to do first. They saw a shooting stand where you had to hit a certain amount of targets to claim a prize, so they approached it. There were already people lining in front of it, waiting for their turn.

Some commotion was coming from the front of the line, people were shocked by the performance of someone shooting without missing any target. Lena got curious and stepped out of the line, looking for the shooter. She could see voluminous curly brown hair and immediately knew who it was. She looked back at Monday.

"I didn't know Del was into funfairs."

Monday looked at her, half surprised.

"That's Del? I mean, yes they're good with guns, but why going to fairs?"

They both shrugged, waiting until Del finished their turn only to see them win a huge teddy bear, with a big pink bow. They walked away from the stand, and recognised the girls.

"Lena, Monday? What are you doing here?"

"We could ask you the same question." Said back Lena while Monday replied more gently.

"Chilling, it's our day off."

Del nods.

"Well, legal shooting, even though I have to pay. But I get to have those huge plushies instead of corpse to get rid of. So that's a win. Speaking of which. Kenna!!"

Hearing Del yell her name, the little girl came and when she saw the big teddy bear, her eyes widened in shock. Del handed it to her and she was barely even able to carry it.

"Here little goblin, happy birthday." They ruffled her hair affectionately.