Castiel had lost his cat.

It wasn't that it had gone gallivanting (after all there wasn't much left to gallivant with), as Castiel always kept it indoors. He lived in a big two-stairs loft, with plenty of soft things to nap onto and he even had a wall covered with planks that the cat could use to get some exercise of. It did, frequently, and sometimes Castiel was attacked by a lose furry canon ball, launched from this convenient platform.

All in all they were happy together. When the front door was opened, the cat raised an uninterested head, looked for a second, then went back to licking the rest of its groin area. Castiel admired him and wished he didn't have to take showers or bath either. Doing your ablutions in your bed was far preferable, but he didn't have the right tongue. He knew, for the few times when the cat licked Castiel's hand, that it was a thick, raspy tongue. Cat's spit wasn't very agreeable, though, so he would run to the sink to wash it.

But yesterday, his hand stayed clean and his pants hair-less, which never happened. And today, as he conducted a full research of the place, he came face to face with a full food bowl. It made Castiel so worried, he sat down on the wooden floor in shock.

The problem was, his cousin, Gabriel, had just stayed over, left the day before, and he was... childish. Castiel wished he could be so frivolous all the time, but then, who would face the consequences like he did? They always came. For example, cats disappeared.

It was a while before he gave up. The cat was small, it could fit anywhere, even in a drawer or a small cupboard. Or on top of the wardrobe maybe... ? No, still nothing.

So, the next day, Castiel ignored the sense of lead dripping down his guts and headed to the vet, well, to his hall at least. He stapled the ad (with a photo on it that made the cat look like an angry demon with red eyes) and his phone number on little pre-cut notes. The vet secretary was very helpful, even proposing she tells him of any litter he could be interested to look at (it didn't help at all to lift Castiel's mood of course, but he still smiled politely.)

In the evening, he got a text from an unknown number:

'Ur cat looks creepy'

Castiel frowned and typed a lengthy response as always, using two texts at once

'I beg your pardon, but who are you? How did you get this number? I do indeed look for my cat, would you by any chance, have seen it?'

There was a long silent moment, that Castiel wanted to fill petting some fur. He tapped his fingers on the mantelpiece instead.

'lmfao man! u rite like a teacher'

'I am a published writer. You haven't answered my questions yet. Shall I type them again?'

'okay, okay, sure name's Dean and no I've just seen the picture on the ad.'

Castiel was frowning even more.

'May I ask why you're sending texts, then? I did not put my cellphone number so that strangers can harass me.'

'im not a stranger and i'll show u creepy if you want cose that was me being friendly'

'I don't recall meeting any Dean so you'll have to explain that to me.'

'i'm wounded'

Castiel put down his cell. This was getting absurdly useless. He should go write a chapter. Or look for the cat again, maybe in the building's corridors.

So that's what he did. To pass the time, he practiced disowning Gabriel. He should make a brand new acquaintance, someone that would care for him for a change and not just ask for money. He was so immersed in it that his butt bumped into another butt in the hallway:

"Shit!"

"I am very sorry, sir. I should have watched where I was going."

"Shit, shit, shit, I had it and now it's left again."

Castiel looked up at the man. He was familiar. He was also beautiful and for a moment, Castiel forgot about his search. In fact, he forgot everything, including his own name.

He tried to stop gaping and say something. What he did remember was the man's remark:

"Can I ask what it is you just lost?"

"Your cat, man!"

Cogwheels starting turning in Castiel's slowed-down mind. Yes, he had lost his cat, but how did this man... Oh yes, it was Mr Winchester, the new tenant at 12 B. He had helped Castiel carry his groceries inside once and another time, a few weeks ago, he had taken out jumper cables out of his car trunk and started Castiel's car. He had meant to find a way to thank him for that but had forgotten. Which didn't seem credible right now. How was it he hadn't noticed the man's gorgeous handsomeness, his emerald green eyes, his freckles... Maybe because it was the first time they had been so close to each other. In fact, the grocery thing had taken place on an evening and the starting-the-car-or-Castiel-will-be-late-for-an-important-meeting had been, of course, very early, so both time the man's features had been in the dark (and boooooy, what a waste!)

Such a line of thought led Castiel to realize he was still too close to the face in question and he took a step back:

"You found my cat?" The hope was kindling his heart. Mr Winchester scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed for some reason:

"Yeah... I think so... I saw this long-haired tabby and I was about to grab it, when it ran to the stairs."

"Oh... Hum... My cat is short-haired. I think it was Mrs Talbot's cat."

"Oh, shit! I'm sorry man!"

Castiel fidgeted, then asked, shyly:

"I appreciate you helping though, would you mind... I wouldn't want to impose... If we search together, it might be more efficient."

The man grinned, blinding Castiel with perfect white teeth. Suddenly, he remembered something:

"You sound a lot like... Would you be the one who texted me numerous times earlier?"

The smile fell and the eyes dropped. Castiel felt like a fool.

"Yeah. I saw your name on the ad and I remembered you and I thought I would offer to help but you didn't seem to know who I was and you wrote about harassment and all so I let it go."

"I do remember you, but I only know your last name Mr Winchester."

"Oh, then, okay." He held his hand to Castiel: "Dean Winchester, happy to be of assistance."

"Castiel Nov..." The handshaking was proving charged with sparky electricity. Castiel gulped and finished: "Novak."

"Yeah, I know. I've looked you up after you texted you were a writer. I mayyy have purchased a book."

Castiel beamed. Dean smiled again and they stayed there for a while. After 10 minutes of staring and 0 minutes of cat-searching, Castiel shook himself:

"So, my cat..."

"Oh... sure..."

They canvassed the building, but nothing. Castiel felt sad again. He loved his companion, he couldn't envision writing on his laptop without a purring nuisance lying on the keyboard and blocking his hand. Dean looked at him with compassion:

"I'm sure it'll turn up. Cats need to eat, don't they?"

Castiel nodded and headed to the main stairs. Dean yelled at his retreating back:

"Cas... Wait!"

The unusual nickname didn't make him react right away. Dean jogged to him and he gratefully turned to the amazing sight, drinking him in.

"Would you like to come to my place and have some coffee or tea, or whatever? That way, you won't be alone missing your pet."

"That is very thoughtful of you, Dean. I accept with pleasure."

Dean smirked and led Castiel to his apartment:

"My brother must be in. Don't mind him. He's a freaking green giant, filled with lettuce and all but he's as nice as a puppy. Hey Sammy, I brought a visitor!"

Dean's description was accurate. Castiel instantly wanted to befriend Dean's brother. He didn't want to befriend Dean himself though. What he wanted to do wasn't printable.

Sammy had a bag in his hand and a coat in the other:

"Hey!"

"This is Castiel, he lives on the third floor at 26A."

"Nice to meet you, Castiel. I'm on my way out but I won't be long."

"Where you going, little bro?"

"The rooftop. To feed the wild cats."

Both Castiel and Dean stared at Sam. He frowned:

"What? Do you hate cats?"

"No, no! It's just that I lost my own cat so maybe you have seen it?"

"Oh, okay do you have a photo?"

Castiel was ready to run to his place to print the photo again but Dean nodded and walked away. He came back with the whole ad, minus the cellphone numbers.

"Why did you take it off?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you. The vet secretary saw me grab the last number and she told me the vet had asked her to remove it after that. Apparently lots of people lose their pets and he doesn't want them to invade the board. So I thought I'd take it and look for the cat and then, if I found it, you'd be..."

"Grateful?"

"Relieved?"

Sam snapped his fingers:

"Enough with the eye sex, you two. I thought you wanted to find your cat? I think I saw it by the way."

They ran upstairs. Castiel had never been to the top and he realized his balcony had a ramp leading to it. The cat wasn't allowed out, but maybe Gabriel had thought the balcony wasn't really "outside" the apartment. Castiel would still kill him but he might dispense with the torturing.

The rooftop was empty of any feline. Sam put down some enormous food bowls and started filling them. Three seconds after (No, Castiel wasn't exaggerating), some enormous tomcats appeared out of thin air.

They ran to the bowls, hissing at each other. Dean looked at them with a scowl. Castiel was busy looking at Dean's forehead (and head in general) so he forgot to look at the cats.

Dean knelt and grabbed one:

"It looks less creepy in person. Especially compared to those ones. It's as if I spotted you amongst Hell's angels. We'd better take him in."

So, they left Sam with the scarred, gigantic monsters. He was looking at them with a tenderness that might come from being enormous himself. Castiel's cat was a little scratched around the eyes. He planned a visit to the vet, to get him up to date with his vaccinations and also to complain about the ad board politic.

"Glad you've found it, Cas. I'll leave you alone, then."

This time, it was Cas who yelled at a back.

"Wait!"

Dean turned:

"Yes?"

"I would like to thank you for all your timely interventions. Can I cook dinner for you and your brother?"

Dean bit his lip and nodded:

"Sure, Cas... You want me to bring something?"

'You' Cas wanted to answer. Instead he said it with his eyes.