Chapter 1: The Open Road
Castiel got lucky. The room that he'd been given was supposed to be for two people but they didn't have enough students wanting on campus housing for him to paired up with another person. They warned him that later in the year he might get a roommate but for now the entire space was his. It looked barren, nothing had been put up on the walls and there were boxes sitting in the hallway waiting to be scooted into the room. He brushed his hand along the edge of the door and took in his first personal space. His own space. Cas turned around and ran his fingers down the edge of the door until his fingers touched the lock. He pushed the small metal features in and and out; watched them pop out again before he tested the lock. His heart stuttered for a moment as he heard it click and attempted to push against those small bars again. They wouldn't move. He smiled, even though it was shaky, and clutched at the door handle. He finally had a lock between him and the world. This was his space.
"Fuck!"
Castiel jumped and let go of the door. He walked out into the hallway and bit his lip. He tried to keep from laughing.
Dean looked up at him and scowled, "Laugh it up why don't ya."
He bit the inside of his cheek and crossed his arms trying to contain himself. Dean had stumbled in the hallway, the box landing on his foot, making him fall down across it. Of course he imagined the edge of the box digging into his stomach hurt like hell but the flailing made an amusing sight.
"I'm not laughing."
"Sure you're not," Dean grumbled but there was a smile crawling onto his mouth. Dean laughed and shook his head as Cas walked over to try and help with the box.
"I got it," Dean protested as Castiel tried to touch the edges of the box.
"Sure you do," Cas said with a raise of his eyebrow.
"Yeah I do. Now march, there's only enough room in the hallway for one of us to shove this box up," Dean said as he stood up.
Castiel turned to go but before he could fully turn he felt a touch at his wrist. He turned around to Dean's bright and sly smile.
"Lean down."
Castiel bent over and Dean stretched himself over the box to press his warm lips against his.
"There are easier ways to get kisses from me than crippling yourself while moving me in."
"Shut up and kiss me again."
"Rude," Castiel whispered and leaned down, amusement lighting up his eyes even though his hands were shaking.
This was a new start.
A/N; I know this is short, but I've had this sitting on my computer for awhile, and while YES, I am still working on Alibi as my main project, and my entire world has kinda been crap so writing speed is super slow, it felt like the right time to start publishing.
The title comes from a weird moment I had on a friend's balcony. I was thinking of some not so great things, feeling real damn upset and depressed at the crack of dawn. I was also briefly thinking about Cardinal!verse and out of nowhere, right at the closest branch to the balcony (I wish I could've gotten a picture of it but I was so in awe) this bird just flew up, and stayed with me for about half an hour. Just sitting there as I had an emotional breakdown and started writing. I've never seen a Blue Jay in this area of where I live before in my life other than that one moment. 10 years of living here and not once have I seen one.