Summary: Dean and Castiel explore their relationship through four seasons.
Four Seasons - Chocolate Kisses (Winter)
Lights twinkled from every available surface, draped through the branches of every tree, very window pane, and hung suspended and glittering across every street. Dean stood by the side of the road, seemingly transfixed by the merry twinkling lights reflecting on the hood of his car, as they caught the dark surface and threw back reflections into the air. Snow fell to the ground, filling the air around the hunter in their cold embrace, falling flake upon flake upon flake to the ground, turning the world into something pure, innocent, perfect.
Dean watched the shoppers as they walked past him, not paying him any attention, as they went about their Christmas shopping and related errands. Dean dodged through the crowds thronging the sidewalk, heading for the nearest gift store, as the sounds of Christmas carollers floated through the air, along with the smell of cakes, candy, cinnamon and apples. Dean could have done without the singing, but the smell of food was making him hungry, travelling to his stomach and making it grumble loudly.
Dean disappeared into the gift store, wandered around the aisles, choosing his gifts wisely, taking his time over one in particular - because he wanted to get it right. For Castiel, he wanted to get the perfect present.
A half hour later and Dean was back out on the sidewalk again, walking briskly through the frigid, snow filled air, heading towards the nearest diner, craving hot food and an even hotter drink. He was not surprised to see Castiel already there, waiting for him at the door, eyes downcast to the sidewalk.
The angel didn't appear to have noticed Dean at first, lost in a maze of angelic thoughts that were way above Dean's head, and the hunter took the few moments afforded him to take in the sight that Castiel made. In amongst the bustling, harried shoppers, the angel looked the prefect picture of calm and serenity, peaceful, with snowflakes caught and melting slowly in his dark hair. His face was pinched with the cold, his coat huddled around his slim body, but still, his strength shone through, despite the show of frailty.
Dean walked forward, clearing his throat as he approached the angel, and Castiel looked up, his eyes startled for a moment, wide, innocent, Christmas lights caught in those blue depths making those eyes look more mysterious somehow.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel said, quietly, walking forward, steps muffled slightly by the snow beneath his feet, before he stopped just two feet away from Dean.
His gaze pinned Dean with its intensity, driving the breath from Dean's body the longer the angel stared.
"Hey, Cas," Dean said, gruffly, voice catching in his throat, as Castiel blinked slowly at him, snowflakes catching on his eyelashes, and making them glitter in the light.
Castiel, looked down at the ground, before his gaze fell on the paper sack that Dean held tightly to his side.
The angel tilted his head to one side, before asking - "What's in the bag, Dean?"
Dean felt a blush of embarrassment creep across his cheeks, before he said - "It's a present. For you, actually. I was gonna wait to give you it, but I might as well give you it now."
Dean took the package he'd been hoarding in his paper sack and gave it Castiel wordlessly, feeling slightly embarrassed by the gesture, but too far gone into commitment to back down now. At first, it didn't seem as though Castiel was going to take the gift, and Dean's heart sank slightly in his chest, feeling deflated. Finally, slowly, the angel reached out with both hands, to take the gift wrapped present in both hands, plucking off the bow, gently.
He slipped the bow into his pocket, almost reverently, eyes darting up to meet Dean's, eyes hopeful, touched. Dean smiled at that, knowing that at last he'd done something right. At last, he'd given Castiel sentimental proof of how he felt about him, and he only hoped it was enough.
"Thank you, Dean," Castiel said, without even opening the box still held between slender fingers.
"You don't know what it is I've given you yet," Dean pointed out, a little hurt that Castiel didn't seem interested in the contents.
"For the gesture. No one's given me a present before. You are the first," the angel corrected him, before his eyes left dean's, focussing instead on the box in his hands.
Dean watched as Castiel skimmed fingertips over the box's sleek surface, unmarked, unblemished by anything apart from faint specks of snow gathering on its surface. He watched as Castiel removed the lid, blinking slowly at the chocolates laid out in ranks before him.
"I didn't know what to get you, so got you chocolates," Dean said, feeling uncomfortable, feeling as though he should apologize for his inability to pick another present, something more meaningful.
He started wishing he'd picked something else instead, until Castiel popped one of the chocolates into his mouth and chewed slowly. His eyes closed in appreciation and he murmured out a satisfied little noise that brought a smile to Dean's face. He'd done it - he'd pleased Castiel with his simple offering and that was all that he'd dared hope for. He continued to watch the angel, even when Castiel's eyes opened, locking onto his own as he continued to chew on his mouthful of chocolate.
"You don't get this in Heaven," the angel said, amusement flickering to life in his eyes, making him seem more human for an instant, lively, lovable.
Dean smiled at Castiel's attempt at a joke, before he looked away, feeling touched, embarrassed, happy; only looking back when Castiel stepped closer, closing the distance between them, warming the air with his peaceful presence. Dean felt transfixed by Castiel's presence, his intense stare, the love, the peace, the protection that wrapped around him like a shield against the worst of all weathers, the worst that life could throw his way, and Dean closed his eyes against it, smiling happily.
"Thank you, Dean," Castiel said, tone dropping lower, before leaning in to press chocolate stained lips to Dean's , not caring just who might be there to see, and the thronging crowds surrounding them.
Dean paid no attention either, just lost himself in that kiss, gave himself, gave everything that he was to Castiel, tasting chocolate and Castiel, knowing that from now on, the two tastes would forever be entwined. He would never taste chocolate without being reminded of Castiel.
His heart, which had never quite known peace before, found it in that one instant, as Castiel's lips shifted, moved, worked against his own. Dean threaded eager fingers into Castiel's hair, as the angel moaned into Dean's mouth, deepened the kiss, and made it more intense than it already was.
It seemed to Dean in that one instant, that Castiel himself, was drowning, as much as he was, had found peace as much as he had, and Dean smiled against Castiel's soft lips. Feeling Dean smile, Castiel broke off the kiss reluctantly, turning questioning eyes onto him, making Dean smile grow wider still.
"Merry Christmas, Cas," was all he said, never dropping his gaze from Castiel's.
"And a Merry Christmas to you, too, Dean," Castiel replied. "What gift do you want?"
"None. I already have mine. You," Dean said, reaching out to play with Castiel's tie absently.
Castiel actually blushed at that, and seemed robbed of speech by Dean's last statement. Dean smiled again, before leading him into the nearby waiting diner, where it was warmer, where food beckoned to hunter and angel both ....
tbc