Well, this is something I've spent a little over half a semester writing when I had time. All but a few final scenes and one I have to go back and do are completely finished. It's not especially long and I plan to update either bi- or tri-weekly.
Scars on our Hearts
Castiel glanced down as his stomach growled. He remembered eating when he'd first gotten into town, but that had been that morning and the light through the window was steadily fading.
He glanced around the kitchen. The room was a mess of half-empty boxes and kitchen supplies strewn on top of the counters. And that wasn't including the food that he had yet to buy from the grocery store. He really had no choice.
Castiel stood, groaning as his back cracked and complained after not moving for some time. His stomach growled again.
The rest could wait an hour or two while he got something to eat. He took his keys from the counter and locked the door behind them.
Lawrence, Kansas was hot even at dusk in the middle of August. The days were long as summer was drawing to a close. Castiel opened the door to his little hybrid and sat down, the edge of the seat burning the skin behind his knees which his shorts had left bare.
As he drove through his new neighbourhood, he recognized some of the houses and businesses. Castiel wasn't exactly new to Lawrence, but it had been over a decade since he'd last set foot within the town limits. He remembered far more than he'd thought he would.
For his dinner, Castiel finally chose the bar that his friend had introduced him to when he was fourteen. The Roadhouse. Of course, the owner, Ellen, had let none of them drink back then, but the food was like nowhere else.
He was sitting at a table, glancing through his messages on his phone when he heard the server step over to him.
"Have you made a decision yet?" Castiel looked up and did a double take. The man in front of him looked so familiar, but it couldn't be the youngest Winchester. The waiter shifted and Castiel looked back down at the menu this time instead of his phone.
"A b-burger and beer are fine, thanks," Castiel stammered, tongue tripping in his surprise.
There was a scratching of a pen and the man muttered something and left the table. Castiel stared down at the table. It had been a decade! Surely the Winchester brothers had left for college!
The door opened once more and a group of men came in and sat at the bar. Ellen, behind the counter with her daughter, Jo, talked with them fondly. Especially one in particular.
There was no mistaking Dean Winchester. His hair was cut shorter and he was much taller, but he spoke and acted the same.
Castiel was tempted to bolt from the bar, but it would draw too much attention to himself. So, instead he stayed at his table and ducked his head whenever Dean seemed to look around, which wasn't often.
Sam (now that Castiel knew it had to be him) came back over with his dinner.
"Sammy!"
As he set the plate down, Sam glanced at Castiel with a smile and then looked up at Dean.
"It's Sam, not Sammy," he told him long-sufferingly. "And Ellen told me not to give you any more free beer, so don't even ask."
"Sammy," the elder Winchester whined. (Castiel could hardly believe his ears and ducked his chin to hide his smile.) "Why do you always think I want something—?"
"Because you do," Sammy deadpanned.
Dean snorted. "For your information, I wanted to know if you and Jess were coming to dinner Sunday night."
"Yeah," Sam replied as he walked away from Castiel.
The man relaxed as the brothers' attentions moved away from him. He ate quietly, trying to draw as little attention to himself as possible.
Sam had grown. When Castiel had been their neighbour, Sam had been much smaller than everyone else his age. Now, he towered over nearly everyone in the bar. The quiet boy had matured and found confidence, though Castiel noticed he was still quiet, but that might have been because he compared him to his brother.
Dean…he was the same, yet so very different. He acted so much as he did when they were kids, always the centre of whatever group he was a part of. He'd filled out, muscles apparent from across the room. His hair was shorter and lighter than it had ever been.
Castiel swallowed, relieved that he'd been able to finish his meal without being noticed. He left his table and walked over to Jo, who was sitting behind the register. She eyed him oddly as he paid. After she handed him his receipt, Cas turned to leave.
"Jimmy?"
Castiel cursed his habit of responding to his twin's name. "Y-yes?"
Dean smiled. He'd walked away from the other men he'd come with and stood only a few feet from Castiel. "It's Dean Winchester. We were neighbours about ten years ago. I thought it was you."
Castiel nodded, flush rising up his neck.
"How's your family?" Dean asked, shifting to lean against the bar. He sipped from the bottle in his hand.
"They're doing well," Castiel said, trying to imitate his brother. "They're all back east."
"Why'd you come back here?" Dean asked. "Not much has changed here. We're still in the middle of nowhere."
"I have a job here," Castiel admitted. "I've wanted to come back since we left."
Dean's smile grew. He brushed the hand that wasn't holding the bottle through his hair. "What've you been doing the past few years?"
"I went to school," Castiel answered. "Graduated with a degree in Literary English. What about you?"
Dean shrugged. "I stayed in Lawrence for the most part. Took a few courses at a community college an got a decent job. Sam graduated from Stanford last May. He's going to start law school at the University of Kansas in a few weeks."
"Your family must be proud."
Dean looked away. "Mom passed away," he said after a few moments. "Dad…he's getting there."
"I'm sorry," Castiel said. "I—"
Dean shook his head. "You haven't been here for a decade. How would you know?"
Castiel nodded, feeling uncomfortable.
"So how's your twin?"
He nearly bit his tongue. "He's doing well. We went to the same university."
Dean nodded, eyes far away.
"I-I've got to go," Castiel said, shifting his weight. "Still unpacking."
"Yeah. Of course," Dean replied and held out his hand. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well," Castiel said and grasped Dean's hand with his own. The palm brushing his was warm and calloused. Castiel suppressed a shiver as memories attempted to push to the forefront of his mind.
He quickly said goodbye and left, heart pounding. His hand shook as he unlocked the door on the driver's side. He sat down and shut the door behind him.
Castiel knew he'd eventually see Dean Winchester, but he hadn't thought that it would be the first night he spent in Lawrence. Dean thought he was Jimmy. He knew this was going to come back to bite him in the ass.
Dean looked at the yard next door from the window in his room. He'd so far seen an adult, a teenager, and a little girl about Sammy's age. He'd caught glimpses of two others, but hadn't really been able to see them.
"Dean?"
The boy turned from the window. His little brother stood by the door. "What, Sammy?"
"What are you doing?" he asked, crossing the room.
Dean turned back as his brother joined him. "They're our new neighbours. I'm trying to see if they have kids our age."
"Have you seen any?" Sammy asked. Two dark heads Dean hadn't seen yet dashed down the steps.
"There's a red-headed girl about your age," Dean answered. The two boys stopped by their father, who was holding the girl. "I think those two might be my age."
They watched as the father set the girl down and the children ran into the house. The man began to help the movers carry their belongings in.
"Dean?" their own mother called. "Sammy? Where are you?"
"Up here, Momma," Sam called. They heard her come up the stairs.
"Are you spying on the new neighbours?" she asked as she knelt behind them. Dean glanced away to see a smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled.
"What do you say we take them a pie tomorrow and we can get to know them?" she whispered conspiratorially.
"Can I pick the flavour?" Dean asked and snuggled closer to his mom as she laughed.
Please don't forget to drop a line! This fandom is still kinda new to me!