Did I really write a 2000 word AU for a 20 second video? Yes. Yes I did because fuck it, they deserve to be happy in a least one reality out there: A Bar Song
The air in Texas was thicker than in California, heavy with humidity in the way it never could get out West. Each breath was moist, coating their throats and burning their lungs. Ashton had forgotten the feeling, used to the crisp winds and earthy scents of the woods that surrounded their cabin. It was just over a year and a half since he’d left Texas, and he really hadn’t thought he’d be home so soon, but fuck, after the winter they’d had, a spring break back home sounded like heaven.
Ashton’s fear of flying forced the six of them to squeeze into two vehicles, caravanning across the western states of the country to reach the heart of Texas. They split the drive across two days, pit stopping and swapping passengers and drivers every few hours. Ashton and Jade were always in the same car, Blake and Sabrina inseparable as well. Murphy and Jensen would cycle through the couples, taking turns driving or napping in the backseats. Blake was forbidden from driving after Murphy woke from a nap with his head smashing against the window as the car veered back into their lane, Sabrina wiping at her lips and Blake struggling to shove his dick back in his jeans—both sharing sheepish looks in the rearview mirror. Murphy refused to ride with them after that, not that Ashton minded sharing the backseat with Jade as his friend chauffeured them around. As handsy as he liked to get, they were the safer option of the couples. At least Ashton kept his dick in his pants.
At a pit stop just shy of the Texas border, Jensen pumped the gas to Ashton’s Jeep with his cousin sitting on the trunk—gaze turned to the setting sun. Blake and Murphy were fighting over which snacks to get inside, the girls using the restroom. “How’d you convince her to stay behind?” Jensen questioned in a low voice, eyes on his cousin but ears tuned in to where the bathrooms were. Ashton’s shoulders went rigid, head cocking towards Jensen and eyes dark with warning. Jensen didn’t talk to Ashton about what he did with Erin
ever. He pretended he didn’t know, but in that moment, he couldn’t fight the curiosity from forming the words. When they’d pulled up to the Little’s house to pick them up and only Jade traipsed out with her luggage, Jensen had been confused but was careful not to show it.
“Made it clear to her that I chose Jade,” Ashton said bluntly, daring Jensen to question him further. He wasn’t afraid of Ashton, but respected the answer. After the rogue pack was handled, things were different between him and the girls. He couldn’t remember the last time Erin had been over when Jade hadn’t also been, or when Ashton last came home smelling of her. It had only been a month or so, but that was
something. Jensen didn’t like that the affair was swept under the rug and he wasn’t sure Ashton would remain faithful, but he had to hope.
“I like seeing you two together. She’s good for you,” Jensen hummed, turning his eyes to the pump as it clicked, placing it back in its holder and declining the receipt. Ashton hopped off the trunk, stretching his arms above his head before rounding to face his cousin. They looked so similar recently, both of their hair growing longer and the beginnings of beards shadowing their jaws. So alike, and yet, polar opposites. “Don’t fuck up again, Ash,” he pleaded and Ashton frowned.
“Don’t plan to, Jen,” he promised, and he could hear the girls making their way over in a fit of giggles, Blake and Murphy behind them grinning. Ashton’s eyes trace Jade’s smile as she spoke with his family, eyes alight in a way he never thought they could be. “She’s everything I ever wanted and I see that now. I’m not afraid anymore,” and he’d do everything he could to keep her. As soon as they could, he needed to get away from Erin. Not because of temptation, but the threat of her vindictive nature destroying the relationship he was repairing. One day he’d sit Jade down and be honest with her, but not yet.
They made it to Texas in the late evening, Ashton footing the bill at a luxurious hotel in downtown Dallas—just south of his hometown. A suite with three rooms and a pullout couch that Murphy and Jensen played rock, paper, scissors to avoid (Jensen won, Murphy tried to fight him for it but Ashton put his palm on his forehead and told him to settle down). After a round of showers and redressing in flashy, yet breathable outfits, (and if Ashton stood breathless in the doorway to his room as Jade stomped her feet, the sparkles of her dress reflecting off the lamplight and onto the wall, well, that was for them to know alone) they squeezed into one car for a night at a bar Ashton had frequented with his Texan boys before he’d moved.
They’d parked around back, Ashton hopping out and skidding across the hood to grab Jade’s door before she could open it—grinning from ear to ear as he dipped in a bow, her laughter making his heart soar and he couldn’t remember why he ever thought there was anyone else for him. Hand in hand, they made their way towards a beat up pickup at the back of the lot where Ashton let go of Jade to step ahead and hug his old pal, Benny, who was waiting for them. He was a few years older than them, but had been a friend for as long as he could remember. Benny was the one who got him in to the bar way back when, a true fucking artist when it came to fake IDs. He dished one out to each of them, winking at Jade and earning a punch in the arm from Ashton. He didn’t join them inside, promising to see them all tomorrow afternoon once their hangovers cured. Ashton was going to bring them home, something he was terrified of with Jade as not only a human, but as a hunter, but he knew it would mean more than words—a display of absolute trust.
But for tonight, they were getting fucking wasted.
One by one, they filtered in—Jade tucked under Ashton’s arm as she grew nervous in the line, almost blowing their cover as she turned beet red as she handed over the fake ID. Ashton slipped the man a fifty, nodding in thanks as the last of them piled into the bar. Harvelle’s Roadhouse had a western vibe to it, which was to be expected in the center of Texas. Horseshoes hung on pillars and paintings of cattle and cow print napkins tucked under glasses. There was a karaoke stage on the far end and a mechanical bull bucking in the center. The group of teens crowded around a table near the stage, beer bottles and shot glasses decorating the tabletop in mere moments. The music was loud and the lights were low and their bodies were warm. Jade was tucked between Ashton and Jensen, eyes ping-ponging back and forth as they told tales of them as kids at the Sanctuary, before Jensen moved away. Sabrina was on Blake’s lap as Murphy and her boyfriend asked her a series of trivia questions—Sabrina somehow growing more and more intelligent with each shot, silly little facts she’d learned spilling forward with every breath.
Ashton’s head was bobbing to the beat of a hip-hop/country hybrid, nursing a beer as Jade reached across to cheers Sabrina as she answered another question correctly (Murphy now had his phone out in disbelief, fact checking Blake’s little genius as he was fondly calling her). Jensen returned with another round of drinks, downing shots of whisky as a group before they dispersed—loose enough now with the liquor burning in their veins to drop their inhibitions.
Jensen and Jade had merely blinked and Ashton was already on the stage, bossing the poor DJ around—demanding a Luke Bryan song to serenade Jade with and the pair couldn’t keep their laughter contained as they cheered him on and clapped along. Murphy downed his beer in one fell swallow, taking to the dance floor in a twist of character and Blake was quick to follow, beckoning a tipsy Sabrina with a curl of his finger and a flick of his tongue across his lips. She’d refused for only a moment, blushing at the display of both Murphy and Blake’s ridiculous dancing before joining them in the crowd (if she couldn’t tell him no sober, like hell could she now).
For hours, they floated from the table to the dancefloor—Ashton finding himself on the mic more than once more and Blake on the table swinging his shirt above his head as Sabrina and Jensen fought to get him down before the bouncer made his rounds.
It was pushing 2 AM when they lost Ashton again, eyes turning to the stage but finding it empty. Just as they started to stand, the music lulled and a microphone sparked to life. “Good evening ladies and gentleman!” The voice was that of an older woman named Ellen, someone Ashton had drunkenly admitted used to date Jensen’s dad before he met Jensen’s mom. She had once been a member of the Pines Pack before settling in as an omega and opening this bar. She was why the werewolves could get drunk here at all (wolfsbane laced their drinks, carefully dosed by a wise old wolf who rolled her eyes at the sight of the clearly underage kids having fun). She knew Ashton and was familiar with what happened to his parents. Ellen was keeping an eye on them, making sure they weren’t taking it too far, and couldn’t say no when Ashton pointed at the mechanical bull and begged to ride him. “It looks like old Cletus is taking another victim for a ride! Let’s see how long this cowboy thinks he can hold on!”
And before she could say his name, Ashton appeared in the ring.
“Oh my,” Jade whispered in a mixture of awe and shock.
“God Lord,” Jensen groaned as Blake pulled out his phone, ready to film for blackmail.
“Give it up for Ashton!” Ellen shouted, the music cranking up once more as he settled into the saddle. He shot a wink towards the table, the timer above the bullpen ticking as the bull shuttered to life. He held onto the saddle with one hand, the other thrown out to his side to keep his balance. He could pick out Jade’s howling laughter among the crowd, eyes catching hers with every turn of the bull in that direction. The seconds dragged on, the crowd growing louder and louder with each passing one until Ellen cried over the mic, “He’s broken the record!” It was well over a two minute ride, Ashton flailing around like a ragdoll, but those damn bow-legs were good for something. Cletus hummed to a stop, never bucking the rider off.
The crowd roared, and Ellen flashed him a dazzling smile that reminded him of his mother’s. She bought them a final round on the house, her motherly stance making it clear they were cut off after this.
Ashton stumbled back to the booth, his family erupting in different strings of conversation but all he could manage was to cradle Jade’s cheeks in his sweaty palms, pulling her in for deep, loving kiss. The boys cheered, Sabrina smiling to herself in contentment at how her alpha had grown—happy to be back home.
They couldn’t remember getting back to the hotel, waking up with ringing ears and churning stomachs. Ashton was spooning Murphy, having mistaken him for Jade—who was sprawled out upside down on the bed, arms snug around both of their legs as she snored. Blake was butt naked in his room (thank god) and Sabrina was on the floor. It was only Jensen who was lucid, cooking up breakfast and humming along to the tune of the last song Ashton had sang on stage.
As they all filtered into the kitchenette the suite had, Jensen couldn’t help but laugh, “I guess we got a little bit more than tipsy.”