raeschae | 100 Degrees in the Shade (prompt 11, table 04)

Title: 100 Degrees in the Shade
Author:

raeschae
Character(s)/Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Theme: Theme 04: Lover's Rock
Prompt(s): #11 - Heat
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own some stuff, but none of it is related to SPN or these folks I mention here.
Summary: When the air conditioner in Jensen's studio loft breaks, he has to find an impromptu place to cool down.

This isn't the way Jensen planned on meeting the hot coffee guy across the street. He's had a lot of time to think about it, but none of the scenarios ever involve him pissed off and sweating with his tee shirt sticking to his back because the damned air conditioner in the studio broke and won't be fixed until tomorrow. Still, he needs ice and this is the closest place to find a cool down quick.

The bell over the door dings when he steps inside and he sighs when the frigid air hits the moisture on his skin. “Fuck,” he moans, glad there's no one in here to hear him groaning like a porn star over cold air.

He runs his hand over the back of his neck, taking a second to enjoy the air conditioning on the hottest day of the summer. When he looks up, Hot Coffee Guy is smiling tightly and trying to pretend that he's not watching Jensen from the corner of his eye, like he hasn't been watching him work for weeks. His dark hair falls into his eyes, his hands sure and steady against the cup he's holding as he swirls whipped cream onto the top of an iced concoction.

“What can I get ya?”

Jensen startles a little at the sound of the voice, but he shakes it off easily. This is not the first hot guy he's ever talked to so there's no reason he should be feeling kind of jittery inside. “Uh, ice?”

“Ice?” Hot Coffee Guy runs his tongue along his lower lip. Dammit, Jensen was just starting to cool off and now his temperature is spiking again. It's a good tongue. Then the guy smiles, bright and wide. There are dimples. Jensen almost believes in spontaneous combustion. “You want it maybe blended into a smoothie or somethin'?”

Cursing himself for looking like an awkward teenage girl, Jensen steps up to the counter and taps his fingers against the smooth top, forcing himself to meet Hot Coffee Guy's eyes. “A/C broke across the street. I just need somethin' cold as soon as possible. I'll leave it up to your expertise.”

The bell over the door dings again and an older gentleman in a suit strides toward the carafes at the end of the counter. “Mornin' Jared,” he greets with a wave, and Hot Coffee Guy – Jared – waves back with the clear plastic cup in his hand.

“Here.” Jensen looks up when Jared hands him an ice cube. “To hold ya over.” When he winks, Jensen has the overwhelming urge to stuff the cube down the front of his pants.

He's not sure, but he thinks he hears a soft groan when he tips his head to the side and runs the ice cube over his neck and throat. “Jesus Christ, it's hot,” he says, even though it's the lamest attempt at a conversation ever.

Jared huffs out a laugh. “Can say that again,” he mumbles. The tips of his ears turn pink and Jensen is tempted to offer him what's left of the wet ice cube to cool them. It might be kind of fun to watch him squirm a little.

Of course, that thought evokes another of Jared squirming in a far less public setting. If Jensen doesn't stop letting his mind wander, the heat outside is not going to be his only concern. “So, uh, you worked here long?” he asks when the businessman lays a dollar on the counter and waves good-bye as quickly as he entered.

Surprised, Jared shakes his head. “Since May,” he answers before returning his attention to the syrup bottle in his hand. “Owner's a family friend.” He looks like he wants to say more, but instead sets a cup onto the counter. “Lemon Ice. See whatcha think.”

Jensen grabs the spoon and shovels a creamy bite into his mouth. “Damn,” he nods, smiling around the ice on his tongue. It's cold, which is enough for him, but also really fucking good. “Thanks, man.”

With a shrug, Jared turns to clean his station and if Jensen didn't know better, he'd think the guy was trying to avoid his eye. “You mind if I hang out for a minute?” It's a stupid question – this is a coffee shop, after all – but Jensen can't bring himself to step back into the summer humidity just yet. Flustering Jared a little bit more seems like as good a way as any to waste some time.

Jared surprises him by turning abruptly, his hands planted on the counter as he aims a full-on, dimpled smile in Jensen's direction. “You can stay as long as you want, Jensen.”

“You know my name.” He doesn't know why it surprises him.

Offering no explanation, Jared nods. “Yeah.” He looks like he might start working again, but stops himself to say, “I'm glad you came over here.”

He wants to make some quip, to come off sounding witty and charming. Jared's still grinning, though, so Jensen's brain goes a little blank. Lifting his cup, he settles back into the chair Jared was watching him from this morning and says, “Me, too,” with the same knowing wink he gave from the studio earlier.

Look, But You Can't Touch