Cas woke up on Saturday feeling like hell, for no reason other than the physical labor of the past week had caught up to him. He hadn't had much sleep or a proper meal yet either, still getting used to the neighborhood and trying to find a routine. He figured next week would be better for him.
At around two in the afternoon there was a solid double knock at his front door so he answered it to see his neighbor standing there, his left arm on the door frame and his smirk devilish as his eyes lifted from the floor up Cas, who had just happened to answer the door in just jeans. No t-shirt, barefoot and hair untamed.
"Wow," Dean said.
Cas stuttered as he ran his hands through his hair. "Dean, I apologize, I wasn't thinking when I answered-"
Dean shook his head. "No, don't apologize, man." His eyes flickered down to where Cas' jeans were open at the front, zip pulled up but button unhooked. "Not complaining."
Cas hastily buttoned up and ran hands over his arms as if willing fabric to appear. "What-uh. What can I do for you?"
Dean's smile indicated he was thinking about something he couldn't say. "Uh, I was wondering if you were free to have that welcome to the building dinner tonight?"
Cas' eyebrows raised. "Oh."
Dean seemed a little disheartened as he moved his arm from leaning on the door frame. "You can say no."
Cas shook his head. "No, it's not that. I just didn't realize you were serious."
"Thought I was just bein' polite?" Dean asked, somewhat amused. "Nah, I just thought you'd wanna." He shrugged.
Cas smiled. "Yes, I would."
Dean's smile returned. "Awesome." He gestured up and down Cas. "Don't change." He winked and began to walk away. "Six okay?"
"Yes." Cas nodded and closed his door. He heard Dean's door close a second later and he looked down himself. "Don't change." He laughed to himself and pushed off of the door.
Cas couldn't understand it. He'd been nervous all day, he'd had this restlessness in his stomach, like bees buzzing around, waiting for something. He'd gone in the shower and come out, towel around his waist. One drop of water periodically found its way down Cas' scalp and running down his back. He pulled the towel from around his waist and roughly rubbed at the back of his hair.
"Stop it, I don't have the time." He was talking to the droplets but he looked at himself in the mirror. Completely naked. He ran a hand over his stomach and tensed it. "I need to find a gym around here."
He thought about Dean and wondered if he would know one, if he worked out. Cas imagined that he did. And then Cas imagined that he did. Running on a treadmill with earphones in and blowing air from his mouth as he thought about whatever he liked in life. Megadeath and sarcasm was all Cas could offer up. And Cas. Well, he seemed to be taking a good look at Cas, seemed to be flirting. Was he flirting? Cas ran a hand through his hair as he thought about Dean doing using the bicycle machine and standing up, really going for it as if chasing something or running from a monster. Cas turned and looked at his back and down to his buttocks as he thought about Dean using weights and eventually taking his t-shirt off, wiping his face with it and still pushing.
Cas grabbed at his pale skin, thinking about how he'd definitely need to join that gym.
Weirdly he hadn't agonized over what to wear. If it had been a date Cas would have tried a million things on, those jeans with that top but then maybe these jeans with that top or this top with those jeans. He had briefly considered a suit but the thought of spending all week in one then Saturday night in one too made him nauseous. He'd reminded himself, over and over again, that it wasn't a date.
In the end he wore his AC/DC t-shirt and jeans that hung to his hips. He figured that, if all else failed, the t-shirt might give them all something to talk about. Cas assumed his brother must have similar music taste, or he hoped. Then the three could converse jovially about the genre and preferences over whatever they were eating and have a pleasant evening. Or that was the plan.
Cas decided that Dean was not a bottle of wine person so he took a bottle of scotch with him next door. He turned it over and over in his hands, trying to decide how to hold it. Holding it like a wine bottle might give Dean the idea that he was putting on a front for Dean's benefit and he was actually a wine person and that would set a precedent for an awful evening. But if he didn't hold it like a gift Dean might think he brought it for himself rather than an offering. In the end Cas held the neck in his right hand and knocked with his left.
He had planned to hold the bottom in his left hand and lift it to gesture to Dean or his brother - this is an offering but we can all enjoy it.
Instead he almost dropped it.
Dean answered the door and the bottle began to slip from Cas' hand, both of them dipping to catch it. They stopped and stared at each other, Cas' hand on the bottom of the bottle and Dean's under his.
"I brought scotch," Cas explained.
"To paint the floor with?" Dean chuckled.
Cas closed his eyes and smiled as he laughed a little. "Sorry, it's just you-"
Cas didn't know what to say as his eyes drifted over Dean. What was he meant to say? You look so good I forgot how to operate the muscles in my hand.
Dean was wearing an army green shirt, sleeves rolled up just below his elbows, over a black t-shirt which was tucked in at the right side of dark jeans. Cas didn't see the rest before Dean spoke.
"Me? All I did was open the door." Dean chuckled again, the both of them straightening up and Dean dropping his hand from Cas'. "You look good."
Cas' mouth was dry. "Uh, tha- thank you. So you- So do you." He exhaled, annoyed. "You look good as well, Dean."
"Come in." Dean stood back and gestured inside and Cas stepped in, looking around. "I forgot to ask," Dean continued as he closed the door behind them, "you're not allergic to anything or one of those veggies, are you?"
"I don't eat fish." Cas turned to look at Dean who looked back questioningly. "It's not an allergy, it's-" He sighed. "It's more of a childhood trauma at the hands of my brothers." He shrugged. "But no, I have no dietary requirements."
"But finding Nemo on your plate is a no go?" Dean asked.
"If you don't mind." Cas smiled.
"Well, I must be psychic." Dean walked ahead, turning left into the first room, which was the living room of the open-plan living room and kitchen area - the apartment mirroring Cas'. "Because I made burgers."
"Sounds perfect." Cas followed him.
The living room, on the left hand side of the door, was a little different from Cas': it was filled with two brown leather couches, a big, dark-wood coffee table in front of a large TV fixed to the wall the room shared with the hallway. Behind the door was a desk with a folded up chair leaning against it in the corner with two laptops on it, one closed and straight and the other nearly closed and just thrown there. Where Cas' kitchen was made up of light-wood cupboards and white marble worktops, this kitchen matched the coffee table in wood and had dark green worktops with the same small breakfast area jutting out from the wall, this time from the right. However Cas noticed it was covered in unopened and junk mail rather than actually in use while the stool nearest the wall had magazines piled up it. On the wall opposite the door was a small motel-esque dining table; there were two chairs tucked in at the sides but indents in the carpet where it looked like a third had been used until recently, Cas would make a guess that the desk chair was brought in as reserve when they had a guest.
Dean went to the fridge and opened it before dipping to check the oven as he spoke, "Beer?"
"Yes, thank you." Cas gestured to the scotch. "What would you like me to do with this?"
Dean looked up as he closed the oven door again. "Oh, sorry." He stepped forward and reached out to take it. "I forgot. Would you rather have-?"
Cas shook his head. "No, thank you. It's a little harsh for during a meal, for me."
Dean nodded. "Yeah." He put it on the counter, near the wall. "Save that for later. Burgers will just be a couple of minutes. Have a seat." He gestured to the living room area and then to the small table. "Or we can sit here now, if you want?"
Cas walked towards the dining table and pointed between the chairs. "Which? Or-" He looked to the folded up chair and wondered if he should bring that over.
"Either one." Dean gestured and held out a beer for him, bringing it back to his chest to twist the top off for him then held it out again. "Here ya go."
"Thank you." Cas took a drink as he sat down facing the kitchen. "So, what is it you do for a living, Dean?" Cas asked.
Dean chuckled again as he checked the burgers and then turned the oven off. "I'll give you three guesses."
A smile threatened Cas' face. "Okay." He looked over Dean who was taking the burgers from the oven and closing the door. He had no idea where the spark of confidence came from but Cas' mouth said the word before he could stop it, "Model."
Dean burst out laughing and turned to the left a little, looking at Cas. "You serious?"
Cas glanced down Dean and then looked back to his eyes. "Yes."
Dean hesitated for a second before turning back to the counter. "Strike one."
"Mm." Cas watched Dean put the burgers onto buns and indicate cheese. Cas stood up and walked over, leaning over the breakfast bar. "Yes, please." Dean stepped to the right a little so Cas could see what he was doing. "Chef?"
Dean smiled and put the towel he'd used to open the oven door with down on the counter. "Wait until you taste it to make that guess." He shook his head. "Strike two. Salad?"
Cas shrugged. "I don't mind either way."
"Good." Dean looked up. "Because I don't have anything green."
Cas laughed. "What about red?"
Dean opened the cupboard and turned to put a bottle of ketchup down on the bar in front of Cas. "Done."
"Definitely not a chef." Cas picked up the bottle and walked to the table, sitting down as Dean carried the plates over.
Dean walked back to the kitchen to turn the oven off and pick up his beer. He sat back down and gestured. "Dig in."
Dean watched Cas settle the burger in his hands and take a bite. "Mmm." He nodded, chewing. "Could be a chef," he mumbled.
Dean smiled and looked down to his burger and picked it up. "I'm glad you like it but you've still got one guess." He took his own bite, looking at Cas.
Cas chewed as he considered Dean. "Not a model." Dean shook his head. "Not a chef." Dean shook his head again. "Could be both." Dean smiled a little, with food in his mouth. Cas watched as he used one hand to pick up his beer. "Strong hands." Dean looked at his hands then back to Cas. "Something hands on." He tried to read Dean's face but all he got was chewing and something mischievous. "Mechanic."
Dean chewed a few more times and then shook his head. "Strike three. Out. Thanks for playing."
Cas gestured to the door. "Should I just let myself out?"
Dean considered him a second then shook his head. "I'm a cop."
"Really?" Cas picked up his burger, thinking about his tucked in t-shirt. "I should have seen that coming."
Dean paused. "It doesn't bother you?"
Cas looked up, confused. "Why should it?"
Dean shrugged. "Most guys-"
Cas interrupted, "I don't have anything to hide." He looked up to the side. "As far as I know. Not a murderer, or a pedophile, don't do drugs, don't deal in stolen goods." He looked to the side. "And all other crimes have just gone out of my head." He looked back to Dean and they laughed.
"Is that your defense, Mr...?"
"Novak," Cas said. "Do I need to defense, Officer?"
"Lieutenant Winchester," Dean corrected. "And no, no you don't."
They stared at each other until Cas remembered that his wasn't a date and he really shouldn't be thinking the things he was. So he broke eye contact and looked down, opening the burger to put ketchup on it. "I feel bad beginning our meal without your brother." Cas looked back up. "Is he late?"
Dean paused, watching Cas pick up the bottle. "Uh, no." He cleared his throat and looked at Cas, who looked up. "I thought I was obvious." Cas looked confused. "When I asked you over, it was-it was a date."
Cas squeezed the bottle and a blob of ketchup landed on his burger and on the table. He looked down quickly. "Oh, shit!" He put the bottle down, noting the ketchup all over the surface. "I'm sorry, I've made a mess." He stood up to walk to the sink.
"Cas, it's okay." Dean stood up too. "Leave it."
"No, I should get that." Cas walked to the table and began wiping it up. "I'm sorry."
Dean rubbed his forehead. "I thought I made it obvious."
Cas looked down at his top, it had smatterings of ketchup on it too. "Damn it." Cas sighed.
"Told you not to change," Dean said.
Cas looked up and saw that smile looking back, less cocky and somewhat downtrodden. He closed his eyes and laughed, looking down at his shirt while he tried to get the ketchup off. "Earlier, I was trying to decide what to wear, and I had to remind myself it wasn't a date."
"Really?" Dean asked.
Cas nodded and looked up. "But I think I've messed it up." He gestured to the ketchup. "Literally."
Dean stared at him for a few seconds, Cas' eyes twitching, wondering what he was thinking. This strange man that had climbed out of nowhere into Cas' life, who had asked Cas out after not knowing him more than a few seconds, this man who could have done so much with his life but spends it righteously.
And then Cas wasn't thinking about splattered ketchup or damp clothes or any job, they hadn't even got to his yet. All he could think about was the man standing there, the man who stepped forward and took the cloth from Cas' hand, leaning to his right to dump it on the table. Cas watched him, not moving at all except his head, as he stepped forward and stood in front of Cas, looking over his face while he leaned in, tilting his head to the right and- stopped.
Just before Cas' lips, looking over what he could see, aware that Cas hadn't moved. He pulled back to look at Cas, just enough to see him. Cas' eyes moved over him, unintentionally letting his lips part. He hadn't moved forward but he hadn't moved away either. So, Dean moved back in, kissing Cas.
He'd intended on just the one, quick kiss but as soon as their lips met Cas' arms moved up and around Dean's neck and Dean's around his back. Dean hadn't felt anything like it before; they seemed to melt into each other, the lips against his were so soft but firm, their hips slotted together and tongues were dancing as if they'd done this routine a hundred times now.
"Mmm," Dean spread his hands up Cas' back and found out very quickly that he wanted to feel his skin so he alternated rubbing his hands quickly up Cas' back until the t-shirt moved and he could tuck his hands underneath, feeling the warmth and softness against his rough palms.
"Mm," Cas said in reply to the feeling and ran his hands through Dean's hair. Dean made noises like Cas knew all of the right places to touch, to scrape and to pull. Dean's arms rubbed up Cas' back further, bringing Cas closer to him. That's when Dean felt Cas move his hips against his and he felt the need to grind against him. And when Cas moaned into his mouth he felt like he could have came right there, which was ridiculous. He just wanted to lift him onto the table and screw him right there or pull him into the bedroom and let him do whatever he wanted.
Dean suddenly pulled back, the both of them panting and looking at each other. It was clear they both knew where this was going if they didn't stop.
"We should probably cool it," Dean croaked.
"Yes." Cas nodded.
"Gettin' a bit heated," Dean admitted, clearing his throat.
Cas nodded again and Dean felt Cas lightly twist a group of hair on his head. All he wanted to do was exactly what he had been doing five seconds ago. He felt his fingers twitch, just itching to dig in and fuck the consequences. But they pulled apart slowly, putting a step in between them and tried to look anywhere but at the other person. But it didn't last long. Dean licked his bottom lip looking at Cas' own and Cas swallowed, his eyes dropping to Dean's.
"The food- food is getting cold," Cas practically whispered.
They continued to stare at each other, both unsure what to do. Could they sit down again, as if nothing had happened? Could they continue even though they barely knew each other and lived next door?
"Do you care?" Dean asked and Cas heard those questions tied together in that one sentence. Saying yes would sit them back down, saying no would let the burgers go uneaten.
Cas just reached out and pulled at Dean's t-shirt. "No." He let go as Dean got closer to him and wrapped his arms around Dean's neck again.
Dean smiled as he kissed Cas, pressing his hands against Cas' back and feeling them slot together once again. Dean felt Cas move his hips slightly and push against him.
"Cas..." Dean mumbled against his lips. "Do you want to-?"
Cas just nodded, not taking his lips from his. Dean wasn't sure he was going to make it and decided that they could get to the bedroom later, for now the sofa would do, so he tried to back them towards the couch against the window. However, Cas' tongue wouldn't give up and as a result Dean lost his bearings. Images popped into his head of pushing back against him, calling out his name or pushing into him and looking at Cas in ecstasy. He tucked his hands under Cas' t-shirt at the sides and stroked up his sides as he inadvertently walked Cas too much to his left, towards the couch against the wall instead of the other.
By the time he'd figured out his mistake and tried to correct it it was too late the back of Dean's left leg caught the side of the sofa and sent him backwards, landing diagonally on the far arm of the couch. Cas fell with him but Dean broke the kiss to let out a groan of pain as the cushion puffed down under his weight and revealed the hard wood underneath.
"Sorry!" Cas said, putting his hands to the leather and pushing himself up. "Are you okay?"
Dean nodded and strained as he spoke, "Yeah." He arched his back and moved over a little, taking Cas with him. He used his hands on Cas' sides to pull Cas' hips towards him. "Let's just stay here." He leaned and kissed Cas' neck while he thrust up to grind Cas against him.
Cas let out a groan and closed his eyes. "Yeah, okay."
He felt his belt being tugged at and heard it rattle and gripped the leather in one hand.
"God, Dean." Cas moaned and Dean completely stopped.
Dean lifted his lips to Cas' ears while Cas' eyes opened, worried he'd done something wrong. "Haven't even touched you yet," Dean whispered, sounding as cocky as he did aroused. "Do you want me to touch you?"
Cas shuffled on his hands, making sure he wasn't going to fall on him and pursed his lips together. "Do you want to touch me?"
Cas heard a breathy chuckle leave Dean's lips, felt the warm air on his ear and heard the belt buckle click open. Cas felt the zip slowly open and Dean press his hand to Cas' abdomen, tucking his fingers inside Cas' boxers and curling his fingers around Cas' hard dick. Cas groaned softly.
"Oh, yeah." Dean touched left cheek to Cas' at an angle so that the side of his lips dragged across the skin. "Yeah, I want to touch you." He began stroking Cas, up and down, slowly but firmly. "When I saw you in the hallway I could have dragged you inside right there and then."
"Really?" Cas asked, barely able to hold himself back from thrusting into Dean's hand, thinking about what would have happened if Dean had, wanting to hear every dirty idea he had about it.
Dean nodded. "Yeah. And when you opened the door this morning-" He groaned and Cas felt him lift his hips briefly. "It's all I could do not to push you inside and do everything I was thinking about."
Cas shifted his weight to his right and started using his left to undo Dean's pants. "And what were you thinking about?"
Dean grinned a little and moved back to kiss Cas' neck as he pulled at Dean's button and zipper. "Oh baby, are you sure you're ready for that?"
Cas hung his head. "No." He groaned. "But I want to be."
Dean's hand stopped and Cas looked up. "Should I stop?"
Cas shook his head. "That's not what I meant." He thrust a little and Dean slowly started stroking again. "I meant that I don't think I could keep up with you." He moaned and pulled at Dean's jeans before pulling Dean's boxers down and rubbing his palm up Dean's length.
Dean bit his lip. "I think you're doing just fine." He looked down. "C'mere."
Cas re-positioned himself so that Dean could take them both in hand and Cas thrust into his hand, making them both close their eyes and groan deep - the thought of protection not managing to find a single space in their now lust-clouded minds. Dean lifted his left hand to Cas' jaw and the man leaned forward to kiss Dean, electing to abandon that quite quickly as he thrust harder and quicker while Dean moved his hand, finding himself thrusting up too. Both of them looked down periodically, their brows dipping and panting into the otherwise quiet room that still had the smell of burgers and beer lingering in the air.
Cas looked over Dean's face and down to what they were doing before looking back up. "How in holy hell are you single?" he asked, barely managing to strain the words out against the moan rising in his throat but it was taken over by a smile when Dean let out a laugh.
"Could say the same about- shit- about you." Dean moved his hand back to thread his fingers in Cas' hair, tightening his other around them. "Cas, I think I'm getting close."
Cas nodded. "Good, I've been there since you asked me for dinner." Cas smiled again when Dean laughed.
"Stop making me laugh when- when I'm about to cum," Dean breathed. "Jesus, Cas, I'm gonna cum." He closed his eyes and rolled his hips, furrowing his brow as if he expected it to hurt.
"Go," Cas thrust harder, "cum, Dean." Dean groaned, Cas pulled his t-shirt up quickly. "I'm right behind you."
"Yeah?" Dean's head tipped back and Cas dipped to kiss his neck. "Cas- I'm-"
"Dean-" Cas' left hand went to Dean's hip where he held on and rocked harder against Dean.
Dean let out a soft groan as he shot over his own stomach, Cas felt the member pulse beside his and watched Dean's face as he came, words swallowed by some need to be as quiet as possible that Cas would have to consider later because he was right behind Dean, as he'd said.
He hung his head and moaned the man's name as he came, adding to the pile on Dean's stomach and hand.
As he panted he heard Dean's own breaths beginning to calm and felt the hand in his hair loosen, he looked up and they smiled.
"Not exactly what I expected," Cas said.
"Me neither," Dean admitted. "I thought I might get a kiss but I didn't expect this."
"Oh, did you?" Cas smirked as Dean let them both go.
Dean shrugged. "Well, you know..."
Cas looked over Dean's face and couldn't tell if he was kidding or being serious. He wondered if that hint of smile was bashful or not. And then he wondered why he would be expected to. He only found out the man's full name five minutes ago. Until then he was a complete stranger. And then Cas realized that he still was. He realized what he was doing. With a stranger. A stranger that he had to see every day.
"Uh..." Cas moved back, tucking himself in and feeling the panic rise up. "I should go."
Dean made to sit up then looked at himself. "Some help?" he asked as if what had said was a completely normal reaction in that moment, as if he'd expected nothing less.
Cas looked at him and then around the room. "Em..."
"Bathroom, towel or something?" Dean said, looking a little annoyed.
Cas stood up and found a towel in the bathroom. He stopped and looked at himself in the medicine cabinet mirror; his hair was all over the place, he was still breathing heavier than normal and his lips were red and swollen. He dipped his head, returned to the sitting room and handed it to Dean. "I don't usually do this and I- I have church tomorrow."
Dean nodded. "Okay, yeah, course." He began wiping his stomach. "Don't let me keep you."
Cas looked to the burgers. "Dean, I really thought-".
Dean looked at Cas. "Yeah. But then, what was this?"
Cas pursed his lips together. "Honestly? I don't know."
Dean exhaled and looked back to what he was doing as he folded the towel and shook his head. "Just get out, Cas."
Cas looked confused and stood there.
"I said, get out!" Dean shouted, not looking up.
Cas' brow dipped as Dean finally looked at him with an expression that told him he was waiting for him to leave, then he made for the front door, walking out of the living room and pulling the apartment door closed behind him.
He didn't understand anything that had happened. Since when did ridiculously attractive men ask him on dates, since when did he do more than kiss on the first date and since when did it feel like he'd done nothing wrong? Nothing until the end, that is. Cas had freaked out, all of those previous questions swimming in his head along with a man beneath him who had been moaning his name, grinding against his hips and sucking on his lips. It was all so... not natural, that Cas had freaked.
And then Dean had thrown him out.
Cas got ready for bed while Dean put the burgers and beers in the trash and threw the dishes in the sink.
They both walked into their bedrooms, that shared a wall, and lay staring at the ceiling, Cas inside the cover and Dean on top of his, wondering what had just happened.
