"Why didn't you just club him over the head and drag him to your cave?"
Chapter 2
"Son of a bitch." Dean murmured angrily, shutting the fridge door in frustration.
"Son of a bitch!" Dean grumbled loudy, throwing cupboards open only to find cans of vegetables and crackers. He ripped a can from the back and studied it, turning it in his hands as he found the label. When he realized it was green beans, he recoiled in disgust and let it fall to the floor with a deft clunk.
Sam, hearing the irritated cursing and slamming all over the bunker, hesitantly walked in the kitchen. Raising an eyebrow at a clearly irked Dean, Sam asked, "Dean? Everything okay?"
Dean whipped his head around and placed his hands on his hips, "Sammy, where's all the food?"
Sam rolled his eyes. So that's what this is about. "Well there's this device called a fridge-"
Dean groaned, "Not the time for your sass, Samantha."
Chuckling, Sam opened the fridge. However, as he took in the contents, or lack there of, he understood his brother's frustration. "Oh I see."
Giving him a tight lipped smile, Dean said, "Yeah, no shit. We're foodless and I'm hungry."
"Foodless? Okay you know what I won't even go there. I don't know, Dean. I guess it's time to go grocery shopping again." Sam said as he shrugged. He walked past Dean, heading towards the door.
Dean grinned. Great, now his little brother would go buy food and he would be fed within the hour.
A thought occurred to him, however.
The last time Sam went grocery shopping, they ate vegetable this and brown rice that and Dean's stomach churned just at the thought of it. He patted his protesting stomach and grimaced, "Oh baby, never again."
He turned around and chased Sam into their dining room, almost trampling Kevin and Cas on his way. Catching up to Sam, he thrust his hand out stopping Sam from moving towards the door.
"Whoa there, Sammy. I don't think so. I kinda feel like doing the shopping today."
"Are you kidding me?" Sam asked, clearly annoyed. "What's wrong with the food I buy?"
"It's bland, for one." Castiel murmured casually, showing Kevin a location on a map. Dean looked behind him and shot him an appreciative grin. He turned back to Sam and snatched the keys.
"Sorry Sammy, looks like you're staying home. Relax. I'll bring you back some grass." Dean teased and grabbed his jacket from the couch. He looked at Castiel and Kevin, "Hey, you guys should come. Pick out your own food for a change."
Kevin perked up and slammed his book shut, "Anything to get some fresh air."
Castiel looked hesitant, he played with the edge of his map, "Should I venture outside? I don't want to attract any… unnecessary attention."
Dean's expression softened. He knew how much Castiel feared putting Sam, Dean or Kevin in the pathway of an angel with a violent agenda, but Dean thought he could handle a trip to a grocery store a couple miles away.
"It'll be fine, Cas." Dean assured him. "Besides, you can finally pick out your own cereal, none of that granola crap Sam keeps cramming down your throat."
Sam cleared his throat, glaring pointedly at dean.
"What's that, Sam? Granola in your throat?" Dean said, continuing to poke fun at his brother. He chuckled and turned back to Cas. "How about it, Cas? You coming?"
Castiel muttered in acceptance; he stood up and joined Kevin at the door. He paused before going out the door, as if he forgot something of importance, and looked at the young prophet before resolutely proclaiming, "Ahh.. Shotgun."
Kevin raised his eyebrow and chuckled, "Didn't even know you knew about that, but okay."
Dean smiled, "Alright boys, let's go shopping."
As Dean reached the door behind Castiel and Kevin, he heard Sam shout out something along the lines of 'plenty of greens' but decided to pretend he hadn't heard the useless request.
"Bye Sammy! Have fun with your vegetables!"
"Can we get this?"
"Cas, that's lipstick." Dean deadpanned.
"Oh." Castiel frowned, "Well the bright packaging and assortment of fruits are misleading."
Dean chuckled, "I bet you're not the first."
When they arrived, Dean had to play the nagging mother role; continuously telling Kevin no to sweets with ridiculous names, scolding Cas not wander off, all while controlling a complicated shopping cart with a squeaky wheel.
"I don't know anything about my food preferences, Dean." Cas grumbled, watching as Kevin enthusiastically put in an armful of items into the cart and ran off again.
Dean raised an eyebrow, leaning against the car. "What are you talking about you don't know anything about your food preferences? You've been eating us out of house and home for the last few weeks."
Cas shrugged. "I ate what you and Sam provided."
"Okay. Well, out of what Sammy and I provided, what was your favorite?"
"My favorite?" Castiel asked, scrunching his eyebrows together.
"Yeah, I mean what'd you look forward to eating the most?" Dean asked, nudging Cas' side.
Castiel furrowed his brow and smiled slowly, "I suppose your burgers. And the apples Sam made me eat. He said one a day would keep the doctor away. I asked him if it was laced with chemical enhancements but he explained it was just yet another saying humans have."
Dean snorted, "Sam's such a dork."
Over the past few weeks, Sam had become mother hen of the household, especially to Cas. Once he even walked in on Sam trying to help Castiel with his hair. Dean would never in a million years admit it, but he found it kind of precious.
"He's very helpful." Castiel said, defending him. He paused and added, "You are too. After many years of friendship, I never imagined Dean Winchester would take me shopping for apparel."
Dean felt his face heat up. A few days after Cas came to the bunker, he felt bad having to see him always borrow clothes from Sam and Kevin, even though he didn't mind seeing Cas in his shirts. So he took him shopping. It was no montage, and Dean found himself laughing more than he had in months. He remembered a few choice moments of helping Cas in the changing room that he hadn't shared with anyone but himself, late at night when he was alone with his thoughts.
Clearing his throat and smirking, Dean added, "Well you were basically drowning in Sammy's pants, so someone had to. Besides, if I sent you with Sam, you would have probably come back with the same shirt in five different colors."
Cas nodded, "Possibly. I rather like what you picked out."
He turned to look at Dean and smirked before looking away again. Dean could appreciate what the fitted blue shirt did for him. He found himself staring until Cas started walking in the opposite direction.
"I'll be in the fruit section." Cas called out.
"Uh. By yourself?" Dean asked pointedly, ready to follow him with the cart.
"I don't need a baby sitter Dean. I'm thousands of years old." Castiel said over his shoulder.
Dean huffed. He had to get Sam away from Cas and Kevin, otherwise he'd be drowning in sass within the month. Although, he had to admit, Castiel had always been pretty mouthy. It was usually more amusing than annoying. He pushed the cart down the aisle, looking for Kevin. He found him around the corner, near the cereals, chatting up a cute employee. A young blonde girl, probably around Kevin's age. She was clearly interested, judging from the way she couldn't seem to stop smiling and the second time within a few seconds she touched Kevin's forearm. Dean grinned and pretended to study a box of Lucky Charms while he surreptitiously eavesdropped.
"Yeah, I really like physics." Kevin said, laughing nervously. "It's an enticing subject."
Dean groaned inwardly. Physics? Come on, man. You can do better than that. However to Dean's surprise, the girl continued smiling and leaned into Kevin, whispering something he couldn't hear. Dean turned his head and saw Kevin gaping like a fish, while the girl simply smirked at him.
Alright, that's a 'ask me for my number' smile I ever saw one, Dean thought, silently urging Kevin to say the magic words. Come on buddy, you can do it.
"Wow, um that's-I've never heard that before." Kevin stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck and looking everywhere but the girl. He looked like wanted to say something else but simply cleared his throat and kept laughing nervously.
Unfortunately, the girl seemed to run out of patience; she shrugged and started to walk away, smiling softly, "I thought you'd appreciate the joke."
Dean turned his body to fully look at Kevin as he waved good bye to her. Dean rolled his eyes and pushed the car over to Kevin.
"Hey." He whispered.
Kevin jumped, "Shit. You know maybe you're the one that needs a bell."
Dean chuckled, "We'll discuss that later. Now, what the hell dude? I don't know what she whispered in your ear, but I don't think it was all that innocent. You should've gotten her number."
Kevin rolled his eyes and grimaced, clearly finding the idea appalling. "What? No way."
Dean tilted his head, jaw dropping. He gave Kevin a pained look.
It took Kevin a few seconds, but suddenly he smacked himself on the forehead. "Fuck, you're right."
Dean smirked and clicked his tongue; he lowered his voice and leant in "Hey, what'd she uh… whisper in your ear?"
Kevin shook his head, "I'll tell you later. Where's Cas?"
"He went to get some fruits." Dean said, "Sammy's been feeding him apples without my permission."
Kevin snorted, "I want fruits. Let's go find him."
"Don't you want to go look for your girlfriend?" Dean asked, throwing a box of Cocoa Puffs in the cart. Cas would probably like those.
"Yeah, sure. Excuse me Miss, I'm a Prophet of God, wanna go catch a movie sometime?" Kevin grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Dean clapped him on the shoulder, "Sounds like a plan. Ladies love a prophet."
Dean understood. Sometimes he forgot Kevin was just a kid. That a few years ago, his biggest worry was scheduling in sex time between cello practice and study time. And now he was basically in hiding with the most dysfunctional family in history, pouring over books and maps on a daily basis. Even TV writers couldn't write that stuff.
Kevin forced a smile, "I guess."
Dean cursed inwardly; he kept his hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Kev, you know I hate chick flick moments, but don't worry alright? One day, all this will be some bad memory and you'll be shacked up with some nerdy hot chick, where the only demons you'll have to deal with are on Halloween."
Kevin's expression softened. He snorted. "Thanks Dean. I like the hot nerdy chick thing you threw in there. But I doubt this would be a bad memory. You, Sam and Cas are family."
Dean smiled. He cleared his throat and began pushing the cart again, "Alright, alright that's more than enough feel good moments in a grocery store for today. Let's go find Cas, I'm sure he's stocked up on all the fruit he needs by now."
As Dean, pushed the car lazily into the produce section, he craned his neck looking for Cas. Kevin smacked his arm and pointed towards the section where lemons and limes were. Dean followed his finger; there was Cas, but he wasn't alone. There was a tall, tan guy with deep brown eyes talking to him. He had an apron on so Dean assumed he was an employee. The guy was gesturing at the lemons and talking animatedly to Castiel, who seemed totally engrossed in the conversation. Dean quirked an eyebrow; who the hell gets that excited talking about lemons?
He maintained his distance, watching the interaction. Castiel hadn't seen them yet, seeing as Dean and Kevin were directly behind him, hidden behind a 'fresh tomatoes sign'.
"Dean?" Kevin began, "Should we go get him?"
Dean didn't take his eyes off the pair and nodded. He put his finger up and mumbled, "In a sec."
Kevin watched Dean as he continued watching Castiel and the employee. Unsure of how to react, he simply observed.
The employee suddenly said something that made Castiel chuckle. Dean heard the gravely laugh come from his friend, and he suddenly found himself annoyed. He squinted his eyes and felt his body tense as he noticed the employee throw Cas what he supposed was intended to be a dazzling smile.
In Dean's opinion, he looked constipated.
When the guy placed his hand on Castiel's forearm and continued smiling, Dean found himself unable to stay rooted to the spot.
He grabbed his cart and began pushing it with renewed purpose.
Kevin swore he heard a growl.
Dean all but shoved his cart between the employee and Castiel, the front of it coming to a stop right between them. Dean cleared his throat and abandoned the cart to stand next to Castiel; he caught the guy's eye and sneered, then looked at the location of his hand and back to the employee, holding his gaze and raising an eyebrow.
"You all done, Cas?" He asked, refusing take his eyes off the employee, who slowly removed his hand from Castiel's forearm. He looked from Dean to Cas, and nodded slowly in understanding.
"Ahh.. Sorry." He said apologetically. Dean looked at his nametag. His name was Julian. "I was just.. um explaining how to make lemonade."
Castiel nodded and smiled at Dean, "It really is an interesting process, Dean."
Dean stayed silent, still glaring at Julian, who seemed to take the hint. He smiled at Castiel before quickly taking off.
"Good luck with the lemonade, bro." He said as he briskly walked away.
Castiel lifted his hand in a quick wave before turning to Dean and shoving a few bags of fruits in his arms. He quirked an eyebrow, "I think that was a successful interaction with a human that isn't you or Sam."
Dean snorted, "Successful interaction, right. You should be careful. He could have been working for the angels or something."
"If he was, I don't think his topic of choice would be lemons, Dean." Castiel said, taking control of the cart and pushing it towards the registers.
Dean was left standing by himself, arms full of fruits. Freaking mouthy angel.
He heard chuckling. And turned to find Kevin watching him, clearly amused.
"What?" he grumbled.
Kevin rolled his eyes, barely containing his laughter.
"Why didn't you just club him over the head and drag him back to your cave?"
"Fuck me, not you too." Dean groaned, rushing away to find Castiel before he made anymore 'successful interactions'.
Hello!
So after getting into supernatural (hardcore) like 3 months ago, once I started getting into Destiel it was over for me.
Their interactions really pulled me in and made me a total supporter.
I do have one more chapter half way written and I'm excited to finish it.
I'm gonna keep this light and even though they'll be interconnected, it's okay to read them as standalones. I'll try to update as regularly as I can, it's been a long time since inspiration struck and I haven't been able to stop writing for the first time in months.
So again, thanks for reading, let me know what you think and if there's anything you'd like to see!