Title: Neutralize
Word Count: 666
Pairing: Wincest if you squint, Weecest
A/N: This was a request on Tumblr from aaaages ago. Anonymous prompt was 'Sam tries to talk Dean out of dropping out of high school.'
Summary: The first time Sam lies to Dean. Really lies to him.
The fight starts when Dean's truancy letter comes in the mail.
Sam's almost shaking, he's clenching the paper so hard. The apartment they're staying at is a studio, dad set them up before he took off about a month ago, and while Sam usually likes it when dad stays gone, here lately Dean's been distant and, it hurts Sam to even think about it, but Dean's almost been mean to him.
It's a Saturday and Sam waits around all day for Dean to get home. He left Friday, halfway through class, and Sam hadn't seen him since. He always gave Dean forty-eight hours before he freaked out. It didn't make him feel any better.
When Dean finally comes in, it's late, Sam's still up, sitting on his half of the pull out couch, legs crossed and chin in his hands as he stares across the room at Dean, eyes burning as he struggles to keep them open.
"What are you awake for, Sammy?" Dean asks, shedding his jacket and tossing it on the folding table in the kitchenette. "It's two in the morning."
"Exactly," Sam all but hisses, sending Dean an undisguised glare. "So where have you been all day?"
"Excuse me?" Dean rounds on him, leaning down to look Sam in the eye. "I think dad put one of us in charge, kiddo, and I don't think it's you. So knock off the tone, got it?"
Sam's mad and completely tired and Dean's been such a fucking dick, he can't help it when he leans back and swings his fist forward, catching Dean on the jaw.
Dean's startled. He wasn't expecting Sam to hit him and he can already tell he's going to have a nice little bruise in the morning. He's got Sam pinned on the bed and squirming beneath him in about forty seconds. Sam's panting and practically growling at him, and it's when Dean notices there are tears threatening to spill over in his eyes that he finally figures out something is really wrong.
"What's the big deal, Sam? What's your problem tonight? You're obviously looking for a fight."
"You, Dean," Sam chokes out, because he's crying now, body racking with sobs as he suddenly clings to Dean. "You're my problem."
"Jesus, Sammy," Dean sighs and wraps his arms around Sam, holds him close. "What'd I do this time?"
"You're going to be expelled. And you're not stupid and it pisses me off because everyone thinks you are and you don't care! You don't care that you're not even going to graduate high school! You'd have to try to fail and it's not like dad gives a fuck, he's not even here, Dean. Why don't you care?"
"Sam," Dean's voice is soft as he leans back and rubs a hand over Sam's hair, pushing it out of his eyes, "School is a joke for me. I'm not like you, you do okay, you can pay attention in class. I want you to do well. I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to hunt with dad and what do I care about Calculus when I've got werewolves on my ass? What's really got you so upset, because you knew for a long time this didn't mean anything to me."
Sam's quite now, the crying has stopped, and he's looking at Dean's face, concern lining his features, freckles visible even in the dim lighting, and Sam lies.
"I'm okay, Dean, it was stupid. I guess I'm just on edge because of finals. A-and I took it out on you. . ." Sam sniffles.
"It's okay, Sammy," Dean relaxes and wraps around Sam again, lays them both down.
He doesn't tell Dean he's planning on going to college. He doesn't tell Dean he doesn't want him to drop out because he wants him to go with him. Wants to at least try to get out of this stupid life. Because he knows Dean never will.
They fall asleep to the sound of each other breathing.