Jared takes care of Jensen; that's just how it is. How it's been since they were kids, Jensen shy and quiet, an easy target for bullies until Jared transferred to the school and started standing up for him. The taunting about being gay didn't kick up until high school, and Jared came out half to take the pressure off his best friend. Jensen didn't admit it was true of him as well until college, when they were both at least five sheets to the wind.

It's unconscious for Jared; Jensen even makes fun of him about it sometimes. How he'll stand up straighter, get even bigger. He looms around Jensen.

"You mind?" he asked once.

Jensen ducked his head, smiled. "Nah. 's sweet."

And Jared didn't ask again.

*

"I'm just saying," Jared grumbles, glaring at the guy who cornered Jensen on his way to the bar, "the guy looks like an assmunch."

"Isn't that good?" asks Chad. "Doesn't Jensen like having his ass munched?"

Jared rubs his forehead. "Your understanding of gay sex is stunning, Chad." He glances back over at Jensen. "Screw it, I'm going over there. He looks miserable."

"He looks coy. He's totally flirting with that dude. I don't know how Jensen has ever gotten laid in his life with you cock blocking him every time someone talks to him."

"I'm not cock blocking!" Jared protests. "Jensen needs me looking out for him."

"You ever think maybe you need to look out for him?" asks Chad, with way too much insight for someone who is as drunk as Chad right now.

"No," Jared mutters. "Fuck you," he adds, for good measure.

"Dude, I never got why you two didn't just fuck in the first place," says Chad, ignoring Jared. "Seriously, you're gay, he's gay, you hang out all the time, you're best friends. Come on, JT. You need to hit that."

"I need to go give him an out."

Chad catches his arm. "You are not allowed to go over there unless you're going to fuck him yourself."

Jared pulls free and heads over.

"Hey, Jensen," he says, casually leaning over Jensen, and even more over the guy, who's not even six foot. "Where's my beer?"

Jensen snorts, but he leans back into Jared subtly, a silent get me out of here. "Got sidetracked," he says. "This is Mitch."

"Nice to meet you," says Jared, wrapping an arm around Jensen's waist and pulling him flush against himself. Jensen's eyes widen, and he blushes, but he relaxes instantly. Jared usually doesn't play it like this, doesn't pretend he's really Jensen's boyfriend, but Chad has him feeling like indulging himself.

"You too," says Mitch. "I better go."

"You could have just peed on me," Jensen says dryly. "Faster way to mark your territory."

"Oh, are you into that?" Jared teases. He sees Mitch still watching, and he leans down to kiss Jensen's neck, feels Jensen's full-body shiver.

"Jared--" Jensen starts.

"You are, aren't you," he murmurs. "My territory."

Jensen tries to scoff, but he doesn't quite make it. Instead he relaxes against Jared, angling his neck so Jared can kiss it again. "Yeah," he says. "Pretty much."

it should obviously be called territory!verse. yum. ;)