What was awesome about Dean's new janitor job at the University wasn't that there wasn't that much to do (The place was in a decent condition. It was just that to the question "How many professors does it take to change a light bulb?", the answer seemed to be "An infinity". So janitors were essential). Nor was it the two guys he was working with: Ash, with his mullet that made Dean smile whenever he saw him and Benny, large, tall, friendly. It wasn't the fact that everyone he met was quite nice to him (but for Professor Masters, but everyone said she was a bitch).

No, the kicker was that the position came with lodgings. Dean could hardly believe it and the absence of rent or electricity and water bill (which explained why his showers got much longer now)was something he reveled in. It quite made up for the fact that the pay was not that high.

Dean had chosen not to have his mail forwarded. If his dad wanted his debts to be paid, he'd have to find the money elsewhere.

Sam was taking to the University atmosphere like a fish in tropical water. He had asked someone (maybe the college actual 'dean'?) if he could be allowed in the library. Of course they said yes, to Dean's relief. Sam had messed up quite a bit with Ruby, so him focusing on studies and knowledge was perfect. Sam barely mentioned her, now. The happy face he wore every day made Dean's heart swell.

The other very, very good point was that Castiel could visit him. They still went to the docks now and again, Cas' arm around Dean's shoulder, Dean's head against his chest, but when he was working, he found routes that passed next to Dean's door even when he had no reasons to be around. If Dean was somewhere else on campus but Sam was in, Cas would stay and talk with him.

Sometimes, Dean got a call saying he was needed in the administration aisle, for faulty wiring or defective heating. He got there, knowing fully well that nothing was broken. Cas was seated at his desk, beaming, looking just a little guilty and Dean kissed him and asked him about his day.

He didn't dare invite Castiel to his place, though. Cas wasn't a professor, but still rumors could be nasty. Castiel hated seeing him go at nights, but Dean wanted to be there for Sam when he got up. It was his brother's last year of high school and he wanted Sam to make the most of it.

Truth is, Sam was done acting out and that was a relief. He seemed to have taken a step back with Ruby, which was also good but on the other hand, he was so focused on grades and college application, Dean was worrying. He knew Sam was brainy and needed to find a job where he could use that, as he wasn't that good with his hands (a point Dean loved to make) but he would need a full ride to any college because however hard Dean could work, it wouldn't be the beginning of enough.

So, when the first refusal arrived in the mail, Sam was crushed. Dean felt so down, he broke down his rule and asked Castiel to come in reinforcement. It turned out to be a really good idea. Cas was quiet and sweet, yet persistent and he boosted Sam into trying again with other places. Dean gave him a grateful kiss, then, with Sam's silent permission, asked Cas to stay so he could thank him more...

The next morning was unsettling. Castiel was still asleep in Dean's arms, looking like an angel that had dropped during the night and forgotten to leave. He also looked like he belonged there. When he woke up and kissed Dean, Dean wanted for an emotional moment, to ask him to stay, forever. He didn't and felt diffuse disappointment run through his veins.

Castiel was blissfully unaware and happily greeted Sam. Dean took his hand as they headed out but dropped it when he closed the door. Cas didn't say anything but Dean still hated himself.

Still, the pattern was broken and Castiel turned up at Dean's door, a few days later, with a bakery box in hand and wearing a hopeful smile that made Dean open his arms and his door in full.

But somehow the gossip machine must have been broken in the campus because wherever Dean went during the day, plenty women, college students as well as teachers, tried flirting with him. It was getting difficult to fend them off. It wasn't as if he wasn't vaguely attracted at times. He was quite fluid in his sexuality and had slept around a lot before.

So, when professor Masters herself walked to him with an intent expression, trapping him in the little garden, where he was fixing some fountain plumbing, he felt like a deer in the headlights for a moment. It even allowed her to make a few more steps But after she said:

"I don't care what kind of Neanderthal you could be, you're still nice meat on leg. Let's get this over with and have some quick fun.", Dean started grinning widely, trying not to laugh out too loud at the ridiculousness of it.

He heard the staccato of a breath on his left, a beige trench coat in his line of vision. Relieved, he got ready to call Cas to his rescue from the terminally bizarre, but hesitated when he noticed the frown. Meg turned too and her feral smile got even more predatory:

"Looks like you've got competition, sweetheart, and this one seems to have a brain as well..."

Dean was so offended, he didn't know where to begin. The only thing he agreed with her, reluctantly was that Castiel was hotter-looking than he was.

But before he could tell her to fuck off (with enough diplomacy not to get fired on the spot for disrespecting a professor) and stop bothering his boyfriend, Castiel had turned around. Dean could have sworn some smoke was coming out of Castiel's nostrils. It was weird seeing that pissed off and Dean kinda liked it. He ran past Meg who was looking puzzled and grabbed Cas' arm to talk to him before he could hide in his office.

Cas shook his arm free and crossed it with the other in front of his chest, like a child ready to pout the hell out. Dean felt hurt. He hadn't done anything and had just been insulted on a sensitive subject, his intelligence, yet Cas was the angry one?

"What is the matter, Cas?"

"..."

"Oh, come on! It's not the first time we fight but this is over nothing!"

"Nothing!" Cas had a venom streak in his voice "How many times have I witnessed females making advances to you? And you always beam and smile."

"What do you want me to do? Yell at them so I can get fired? I don't give them my number or take theirs! I am faithful and it's not even hard. I mean you're the one I always think about..."

Cas was shaking, either in anger or shock and Dean quit being angry, wrapping him in his arms, until he surrendered and hugged back.

"You meant that...?" Cas asked in a little voice "I thought that, maybe, we've been dating for two months so it's too early to tell."

"Tell what?"

Cas stayed silent. His heart was beating against Dean's chest, through the fabrics, fast and trustful.

"Cas...?"

"... that I love you..."

Dean stopped giving a fuck. He kissed Cas until he felt faint, mumbling "Me too..." in his ear.

Masters passed by them, whispering "Of course, just my luck, two hot guys and they fuck each other."

Cas got the full monty that night, Dean was wild with desire. For the next few days, though, he waited for the other academic shoe to drop and tell him to get out of his lodgings. But it never came. So he relaxed and focused on Castiel. He had him meet Benny, who said he was "not to stuffy for an office guy", which seemed praise enough and Castiel began hinting at his brother coming to visit one of this day. Dean was preparing himself psychologically for a "meet the family" evening, when he got a letter in the mail.

It was addressed to him and Sam and contained a legal-looking paper. Dean opened it while seating next to Cas, who was tutoring Sam in math. When he read the document, he blanched...