Castiel was a 90s mix tape jammed somewhere underneath the Impala's passenger seat, probably wedged right up next to the console, just out of dean's reach.
If there was anything that Dean Winchester knew about- minus hunting, because his understanding of that was vital, -and Sam Winchester, because his understanding of that came and went like hot flashes- it was music. Or rather, the music dean knew was more than just a catchy song on the radio or an old classic that you just couldn't get out of your head. Music to Dean was a second language and it spoke to him so furiously that he had no other option than to make it his own.
It had been obvious early on that Dean had a particular taste in things. He liked toy cars and all things loud, fast, and eye-catching. Dean liked his women with spirit and flattering curves. He liked his wheels vintage, he liked his drinks strong… in a line… with little space for a devil's advocate, he liked his music with guitar and sex appeal. Give him a jam with some soul and his inner savant took off like a rocket ship.
The stars were barely there streaks of light in a tunnel of face melting rock god goodness.
Oh, Dean knew music.
Of course, he also had his own style, which vocalized itself often at Sam when a request for a radio station change appeared somewhere between hours six and eight in the Impala. The younger of the Winchester brothers had learned that it was impossible to negotiate when it came to what was listened to during their hunts, but god if he had to listen to Renegade one more time without complaint, he might just throw himself out the passenger door to speed his painful death up a little.
What Sam was unaware of, however, was exactly how far Dean's musical tastes reached. Because in Dean's opinion, If one was to speak in a lyrical language, one must also have a diverse vocabulary. In order to understand the people around him, he had to understand their tune as well. For the most part, this was unbearably easy. People practically looked their part, lived their genre, and sang their songs straight at him. They were born into a world of hummed refrains and chanted choruses. Music was as familiar as wallpaper. He could pick up a girl easily at the bar with a well-placed Billy Idol lyric. From there it was all Rebel Yell.
And then there was Cas.
Castiel, with his trench coat at varying stages of dirty, his tie all askew, and his unholy –or maybe it was too holy- blue eyes. Castiel with his soundless disappearances and his wordless glances. Castiel who was completely and totally off tune.
Dean found himself lost.
And then he found himself- wedged under the passengers seat, tucked tightly against the console- one afternoon whilst digging Sam's healthy trash out of his precious baby's belly. He didn't even remember that particular mix tape. It was a foreigner amongst his collection, but he popped it into the mouth of the cassette player as a temporary holding place until he could figure out what else to do with it.
The impala's speakers flared to life with a song Dean wasn't so well acquainted with, a song he couldn't name, but could place around '93. Sam's laughter came from the direction of the gas station convenient store, followed shortly by, "Dude! That's kind of an odd pick for you."
And Dean knew, well he didn't know, know, but he got the bright glimmer of hope that he could figure it out. Somewhere in the music world, there was something as foreign to him as Castiel was to the waking world. Somewhere, wrapped deep in the 90s alternative scene was the missing circuit.
Dean grinned to himself as his brother slid into the passenger's seat once more.
"Sammy," He said, his tone matter of fact. "How about a change of pace."
I should specify now that Mixtape will be a collection of Destiel drabbles and oneshots that are inspired by the songs of my choosing. They will NOT be song fics. (I can honestly promise that you will not see song lyrics written between lines of any of these stories) nor will they be sequential or related to each other unless I write to a second song from a previously used band. I fully intend to use this is as a way to play with writing styles and character development without worrying too much about plot. As of this moment I have no idea what kind of story a song might inspire so anticipate seeing some AUs and a range of seriousness.