"You're doing great buddy, just a little bit more."
Dean exclaimed, pressing the needle to the teenager's arm. He could tell it was his first tattoo. The boy winced as Dean's hand moved, almost rhythmically, across his arm, swirling as Dean added the final touches to the words.
"Trapdoor." Dean announced, grinning as he examined his work. "Like the twenty one pilots song?"
The teen's eyes widened as he attempted to sit up with excitement.
"You like twenty one pilots?"
"Of course, they got me through a lot when I was your age."
"I'm sorry. But it's glad to know you're doing better now."
Dean chuckled.
"Why do you think I became a tattoo artist, I can vent my frustrations out on suckers like you."
The boy laughed before getting up to look at his tattoo in the mirror. He smiled at Dean, who tensed up as the teen wrapped his arms around him.
"Thank you- I love it!" The boy shouted, handing Dean the money before listening to Dean's quick instructions on taking care of his new body art,before he left the shop.
Dean took a quick break and decided to grab some lunch from the café next door.
He walked through the door.
"Afternoon, Dean."
The barista replied, flashing him a smile.
Dean's eyes brightened up as he approached the red head by the counter.
"Hey Charlie, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine Dean- same as everyday- the usual?"
Dean nodded, before asking Charlie about her day and taking a seat by the counter. She handed him his croissant and cappuccino.
"You are an angel."
Dean said, proceeding to take out his wallet. But put it back as Charlie held out her hand, gesturing for him to stop.
"No. I will exchange money for gossip. How's your love life."
"Charlie, nothing's changed since yesterday- nothing's going on. There's no gossip, so I might as well pay you."
"Dean. Stop. On the house today."
Dean sighed.
"Charlie, it's your café, I'll feel bad."
Charlie rolled her eyes.
"Dean Winchester, I've known you since were like five, and now you're concerned about eating my food?"
Dean and Charlie burst into a fit of laughter.
"Now," Charlie continued, practically shoving Dean out the door, "Go out there and find someone."
Dean pinched the bridge of his nose.
"There's nobody out there- who's gonna want me?"
"Everybody. That guy who owns the florist down the street seems pretty cute. You should ask him out."
Dean rolled his eyes.
"If I do this- will you get off my back."
Charlie dramatically placed a hand on her chest.
"I solemnly swear that I will get off your back."
"Solemnly swear you're up to no good, more like it."
Charlie smiled.
"Was that a Harry Potter reference?"
"No."
"Are you sure-"
"-I've been spending too much time with you."
"I never made you watch Harry Potter."
"Okay, so maybe I read a book."
Charlie folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.
"...or seven..."
Dean admitted, running a hand through his hair.
"So, I'm gonna go talk to him."
Dean said, quickly changing the subject.
Charlie let out a small squeal of excitement.
"Okay, tell me everything!"
She squealed returning to her shop.
Dean took a deep breath before crossing the road. He could do this, he thought to himself, it had just been a while. Come to think of it, he hadn't been with anyone since Lisa...he didn't need to think about that right now.
He opened the door to the shop, cringing as he heard a bell ding. Crap. The guy was bound to notice him now.
Dean looked around until his eyes fell on a figure that was bending over some blue orchids. Dean loved orchids- not that he would admit that to anyone.
Dean cleared his throat, startling the man by the flowers, who stood up and turned to stare at Dean.
Dean immediately noticed his deep blue eyes; eyes that made the orchids look grey. They were the colour of a clear blue sky through a broken prison wall; the colour of a perfect raindrop on a blue aster; the colour of a river hurrying to join the great ocean. He let his eyes drift to the slight stubble that rested on the man's chin, and his apparent dark brown sex hair, hair that should definitely be illegal, Dean thought to himself- hair should not have this kind of power.
Cas looked up at the stranger. There were little words to describe him other than blatantly beautiful. His eyes. Eyes the colour of deep forest pools, the colour of springtime ferns, the colour of freshly cut grass, the colour of autumn carrot tops, the green of the first spring leaves on a plum tree, sea green, mossy green flecked with the colour of pecan shell, as green as summertime water trough. He let his eyes travel to the man's perfect bone structure, and his pink, pouting lips.
"Hi...I'm Castiel- can I help you with anything?"
Dean stared blankly at him for a few moments before it occurred to him that he hadn't said anything yet.
"Yeah, sure, I was wondering if you could do an arrangement with some orchids."
Cas smiled.
"Sure."
He went over to collect the orchids he had so that Dean could take a look at them.
Dean grinned.
"I'll have one of each, in like a little bouquet type thing...I don't know what they're called."
"Buying for your girlfriend?"
Dean chuckled.
"No, no I don't have a girlfriend."
Cas eyes widened, he probably didn't swing his way- maybe he was just single- but it wouldn't hurt to ask- right?
"Boyfriend?"
"No, I'm not seeing anyone at the moment. I'm just looking around, I guess."
Cas nodded.
"Found anyone?"
Cas asked, raising his eyebrows expectantly. Dean didn't answer, he was too engrossed in watching Cas delicately wrap his flowers with plastic and ribbon.
Dean smiled.
"I love the blue ones," he said "but they're nothing compared to your eyes."
Dean thought to himself. His eyes widened as he realised he had just said that out loud.
"Shit- I'm sorry...I..I"
Dean was panicking, flustered, he clumsily took out his wallet and scrambled to pay for the flowers.
"How much do I owe you?"
Dean stuttered, tripping over his own feet and gripping the table. He was afraid to look up.
Cas grinned before handing Dean the bouquet.
"It's on the house."
Dean looked up at Cas, confused.
"No, I have to pay you- these are great."
Dean ambled over to where Cas was standing, almost knocking into him.
Cas chuckled before producing a piece of paper from the small notepad in his pocket. He wrote something down on a piece of paper before handing it to Dean.
"Why don't you take me out to dinner some time and we'll call it even."
Cas said with a low, husky voice; a voice like gravel, but Dean found comfort in it.
Dean opened the piece of paper and saw, what was presumably Cas' number written on it.
"O-okay..."
Dean stammered, he laughed nervously before stumbling out of the shop.
He returned to the café, with a grin on in his face and a bouquet of orchids in his hand. Charlie squealed with excitement as soon as she saw him.
"So...did it go well?"
Dean smiled and proceeded to tell her about the whole meeting, before drinking another coffee.
"I better get back to work."
Dean said, walking back to his shop.
He smiled to himself, things would be different this time. He snapped back to reality and opened the door to greet the next customer.
