Noticed

It's easy to notice things if nobody notices you. You can covertly witness a couple having their first quarrel. Nothing big, just a spat, really. You can also see a baby's first words being spoken. And, if you're lucky, you can view the bonding of two souls as they meet for the first time.

Castiel realized that he was not like other humans when he was young. He could see things, souls, he liked to call them. They didn't do anything extravagant, just changed colors when something life-altering happened. Like dying or meeting your soul mate.

Castiel didn't really care that he was different. He liked being different. He just didn't want to be noticed. He could see everything as long as nobody paid any attention to him. Every day, he would find himself at a busy coffee shop. And every day he would just watch. He saw a lot of firsts, yes, but he also saw a lot of lasts. The last coffee a man would have with his wife. The last time a child would say 'Mama'. And, the last time two people would see eachother.

It was on a day that he saw many firsts and lasts that he was noticed. He was in the corner of the shop, a window to his left, a wall to his right. He was wearing his tan trench coat, like always, his dark brown hair sticking up in all directions. Then suddenly, he couldn't see the souls anymore. No colorful mist surrounding anybody. Castiel began to panic, thinking that he was dying. Well, until he caught sight of two emerald green eyes staring into his deep blue ones.

"Can I sit here?" a deep voice asked.

Castiel hesitated, looking the stranger up and down. He had shorter brown hair, a tight shirt, a steaming cup in one hand, and the brightest eyes Castiel had ever seen. He nodded carefully, and the man sat down.

"Sorry to intrude, but this place is packed. Couldn't find a place to sit," the man said.

Castiel looks around. "There's an empty table over there," he blurted out.

The man smirked, crinkles showing up in the corners of his eyes. "Oh well. I'm already here." He took a sip of his drink and sighed. "I'm Dean," he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

"Castiel," the other said, taking Dean's index finger between his index finger and thumb and gently placing it by Dean's cup.

Dean chuckled, shaking his head. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm not sure how it is, we've barely talked. How can you be so sure that you will be happy having met me?"

"Instinct," Dean shrugged.

The two fell silent. Castiel searched for souls again. He saw none. In fact, he no longer could tell if a baby was saying its first words, or soul mates met. All of his powers were gone.

"Strange," he muttered.

"Hm, what was that?" Dean asked.

Castiel jumped, forgetting he was there. "Nothing." Seeing that he had no purpose there, he said, "Well, I'm heading home. Goodbye, Dean."

He started to get up. "Wait!" Dean interrupted, "do you need a ride?"

Castiel shook his head. "I usually walk."

"How far away do you live?"

Castiel calculated the distance in his head. "Ten miles."

"Jesus, man. Come on, I'll give you a ride," Dean insisted.

Narrowing his eyes, Castiel shook his head. "I take this trip twice a day, I'm capable of walking."

Dean walked out with him. "Come on. Just let me give you a ride. Then you'll never see me again."

Castiel considered this, thinking hard. "Okay."

Dean smiled, saying, "Great! Here, my car is over there."

Inside the well-kept black 1967 Chevy Impala, Dean started the engine. Castiel sat awkwardly straight, not touching anything but the seat. "You can sit back, you know," Dean said. Castiel carefully reclined until his back was touching the fabric.

The whole way to Castiel's house, Dean was joking and making goofy one-liners, finally making Castiel smile. "There you go!" Dean exclaimed. "You know, you're much more attractive when you smile," he said casually, making Castiel blush.

"Here it is," Castiel said a few minutes later. The house… wasn't a house. It was more of a park.

"Dude, you live here?" Dean asked, astonished.

Castiel nodded. "With the bees."

Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't leave you here." He started driving away.

"Where are you taking me?" Castiel asked.

"Back to my place. You can crash there until we figure something out. Don't worry," he said when he saw Castiel's panicked look, "my brother Sammy doesn't bite."

At Dean's apartment, Sammy finds a strange man in a trench coat sitting awkwardly on his couch. "Dean?" he called.

"Yeah?" the response came from his brother's bedroom.

"Are you aware that there is a crazy looking man on our couch?"

"Sammy," Dean sighed. "Look, the dude's a mess. He's homeless and confused. I can't just stand by and watch an innocent man struggle."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Also, you probably think he's hot."

"Besides the point," Dean barked. "Come on, man. Just until I figure something out for him?"

"Fine," Sam said. "But if I wake up and you're dead, I'll laugh."

"Nah, this guy isn't a killer. He's just like a little kitten."

"Here you go," Dean said, handing Castiel one of his AC/DC shirts and a pair of flannel pajama pants. "You can sleep in the guest room. There's a built in bathroom and everything."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

As Castiel lay down in that unfamiliar, but comfortable, bed, he smiled. For the first time, he liked being noticed.

This is my first fanfic ever! Please be nice :) Reviews welcome