theron09

Title: The Small Things Matter When Things Are Bad

Fandom: RPS

Pairing: Jared/Jensen (more like pre-slash, really, but it’s definitely there)

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 811

Summary: Jared doesn’t really mind having to share with Jensen.

A/N: Written for runwildflower who asked for a post-apocalyptic J2 fic with a side of Chad included. I've never really written anything in this genre before so I hope this is something along the lines of what you were thinking of!

They only have two sleeping bags. Jared isn’t exactly a fussy guy; he hasn’t even been able to afford himself the luxury of being picky lately, what with the whole apocalypse thing and everything. But even he has to draw a line somewhere and sharing a sleeping bag with Chad after his friend has just had sex is definitely somewhere. Which means the sleeping bag he’s going to be sharing at night is Jensen’s. Which wasn’t going to be awkward at all. It’s not like they’ve only known each other for three days or something.

Realising that he can’t avoid it forever, Jared takes one last look around at the empty landscape and, upon seeing nothing untoward, steps inside the barn that’s going to be their home for the next couple of days, thinking about how much the whole apocalypse thing sucks. It means he has to spend days on the road with Chad, has to put up with Chad being extra Chad just to make sure he annoys Jared enough before –if – they all die, and he has to become close to random hot strangers they befriend along the way quickly because there’s no room for embarrassment when it comes to survival.

“Everything clear?” Jensen looks relieved to see him and Jared wonders just what story Chad’s been telling him.

“Yeah, it all looks good. Think we’ll be safe here for tonight, at least.”

“Good.” Chad speaks over the top of Jensen. “I never want to have to hike through the night again.”

“Great. Next time we’ll just go on without you, then.” Jensen smirks, pulling at a piece of straw.

“You wouldn’t last five minutes without me.”

“Of course. Because the urge to kick you is all that’s keeping me going through life.”

Jared holds up his hand to stop them because he knows they’ll go on forever if he lets them; he thinks it’s some sort of coping technique they’ve got going. Chad annoys Jensen as much as he can and Jensen uses sarcasm constantly in his conversations with Chad. Jared would point it out so they’d stop but he thinks the distraction is actually the only thing keeping him from freaking out.

“Man, I wish that chick had come with us.” Chad sighs, looking wistful. “She’d have been fun to share a sleeping bag with.”

He wrinkles his nose. “Yeah, well. I’m not sharing with you tonight. Not until you’ve found somewhere to get washed up.”

“You can share with me.” Jensen smiles.

“He stealth snuggles.” Chad shakes his head. “You won’t like that.”

“I don’t mind so much – desperate times and all.”

Jared catches Jensen eye and smiles. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“It’s for a good cause. Saving you from Chad is the least I can do after you let me come with.”

Chad snorts. “Well, Jared’ll let you come any-”

“Shut up, Chad.” He says it at the same time as Jensen and they crack up laughing. It’s been a while since Jared has laughed and it feels good, like everything looks better if you can find humour in it, even the apocalypse.

“You think the owners of this place are still around?” Jensen swipes his thumb across his bottom lip, a nervous habit that Jared’s seen a lot of since he met the guy.

He looks around at the barn; there are no animals, no stores, no sign of life. “Maybe they moved on to somewhere more safe, like we are.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“I’m going to turn in.” Chad stretches, yawning and then stands up. “I’m really tired for some reason.” He winks and walks off into the corner of the barn where they’ve set up their makeshift beds.

“He gets more and more smug by the day.” Jensen shakes his head, moving to sit closer to Jared.

“He’s just trying to be confident facing all this, you know?” He can’t help but defend Chad; he’s known the guy too long, seen him do too many nice things to let Jensen think the irritating comments are all there is to Chad.

“Yeah, I know. He’s not all that different to someone I used to know, before.” Jensen coughs and plays with the button of the torch he’s holding, making it go brighter and dimmer, brighter and dimmer.

“Trust me, he’ll grow on you. He’s the type of person you have to get to know, you know?”

Jensen smiles. “Not like you – we just hit it off straight away.”

“Easily. I’m glad.” And he is glad. It’s nice to have another companion on the road, someone who is calmer than Chad, makes the balance nicer. They’re a funny little family but it’s all they have at the moment and Jared’s going to make the most of it.

“You ready to hit the hay?”

Jared nods. He’s quite looking forward to stealth snuggling with Jensen.