Author's note: There was some minor confusion, but this is the true chapter four! Please enjoy!
^Disregard that note if you have no idea what I'm talking about^
Castiel looked in the mirror one more time, hoping he looked good enough for his date with Dean tonight. After crashing the party at Michael's house, they planned to go to a movie. He had no idea what movie, but he was excited anyways. He had a deep feeling of fear combined with excitement when he thought about tonight's plans.
He was struggling to fix a small strand of hair that was beginning to poof out when he heard a knock on the door. He leaned over the counter, squinting hard at his reflection, smiling as if satisfied.
As he left the bathroom, he noticed his shirt was buttoned wrong, and he was blushing profusely as he opened the door. Dean stood there grinning, leaning against the doorframe. "You ready?" He asked, winking. Castiel swallowed back the fear of tonight, and replaced it with happiness.
"I can't wait!" He responded with excitement.
Dean's eyes ran down Castiel and he laughed a little, standing up from his leaning position to fix his shirt. Cas stood straight, his face turning bright pink. "Your shoes are on the wrong feet." Dean commented.
Cas looked down; he was sure he had put them on right. They weren't on the wrong- Dean flicked his forehead. "Gotcha." He laughed, swinging his arm around Castiel's shoulder, leading him down towards the impala.
Castiel rubbed his head in annoyance. "Not funny, Winchester."
Dean smiled crookedly. "Come on, Novak. We have a party to crash."
Sitting in the '67 felt warm and comforting, as Castiel leaned back in his seat after buckling up. He shut his eyes, listening to the music for a moment. "Styx?" Castiel guessed, and Dean nodded in approval.
"I've taught you well." He said, grinning with pride. "Finally getting into the classics, huh?"
Castiel nodded. "They're better than the crappy music i here on the radio everywhere." He said, staring out the window with his chin resting on his palm, his elbow resting against the closed door as Dean pulled off down the neighborhood drive.
The street lights passed by quickly, signs flashing in the light of the headlights as Dean drove towards the large mass of cars in a part of their neighborhood.
'Yield' 'Stop' 'Dead end'. The same signs Castiel had passed by thousands of times to reach the cul-de-sac of his neighborhood.
A two-story house was in view now, lots of people there for the party. People were already lying on the lawn, beer cans strewn around them, probably passed out, awaiting the morning hangover.
They parked someway down the street, the music pounding throughout the entire block. "How do they not get reported for this?" Castiel asked in wonder.
Dean laughed a little, though he didn't find the concept very funny. "His parents are rich, so he buys out the neighbors, making sure they keep quiet. It's also how he gets all his alcohol."
"Oh." Cas commented quietly, noting the multiple ethical and moral wrongs with that situation.
They entered the large house after pushing past the horde in the yard, and Dean pulled Cas off to the side. "Okay, Cas. You just wait here, all right? Don't move. I'm going to find Nicholas."
Castiel nodded. "Bye." He muttered, worry consuming him as Dean slipped into the loud swarm of people. The noise and sound of voices was overwhelming and confusing. Castiel looked around, but everything seemed to blur together.
A woman was stumbling towards him, and she looked to be a year or so older than him. "You're hot." The girl slurred, and he guessed by her stumbling and the impaired ability of her speech that she was drunk. Her breath and her entire self in general was pungent with the stench of a strong booze. He tried to ignore her, but her grip was tight as she dragged him off towards the staircase. He almost tripped as he tried to pull away from her and down the stairs, but now more people had come out from a room upstairs, and they pulled him into that same room. A circle of people were centered around a bottle, and Castiel was confused at first, wondering what the beer bottle was used for if not for drinks.
"Winner gets to kiss him." She laughed, throwing him into the circle of girls and picking up a green bottle marked with some sort of wine name.
He looked around in fright, his eyes wide and heart pounding. Each girl looked at him with strange hungry and feral gazes, and the one that had pulled him in spun the bottle. It landed on a girl, but no one seemed to pay attention. Instead they all crawled towards him, smiling.
Dean looked around for Castiel, frantic now. "Damn, Nick, he was right here." He pointed to the spot on the corner. His heart was pounding even faster, and he didn't stop riveting his head around in search.
"Dude, you need to chill." Nick commented, looking around calmly. "I see your brother. He's by the stair case."
Dean's head snapped to the staircase, and he spotted Sam and Jessica someways across the pit of elbows, alcohol and couples. He pushed by them, intent on getting to his brother. "Hey, Sammy. Did you see Cas anywhere?"
Sam looked away from Jess and towards his older brother in surprise. "Cas? He went upstairs with some chick." He reported, and turned back to Jessica.
"Are you sure he's your older brother? Because he's really short." She laughed, though Dean didn't have the time or patience to defend himself.
A burst of anger bubbled up in Dean. "And you just let it happen?" He asked, rage spilling out of his words. He pounded up the stairs, trying each door in turn.
Sam stared after his brother curiously. Didn't Dean hate Castiel Novak?
Most doors that Dean opened had things he didn't ever want to see again, and yet he had to keep looking for Cas. He swung open one door and looked down distastefully at one of his old friends rolling around with a girl. "Dude. Emily? You can do better." He said, then went back to searching for his boyfriend.
Castiel crawled backwards, away from the girls that approached him.
"Me first!" One complained.
"No, me!"
"The bottle landed on me." Another said, though Castiel was almost positive it had landed on that other chick.
He was pushed up against the wall now, their hands struggling to take off his shirt. He blocked them, forcing back there hands, but he only had two, and he wasn't as strong as he would have preferred. "G-Go away!" He said angrily, though his voice trembled in fear. "D-Dea-!" His mouth was covered by one of the girl's hands, and he was pinned down. The door swung open, and Castiel turned his head away as one girl's came towards his face.
She was flung off of him. "Get out of here, you skank!" A familiar and rough voice shouted.
"Dean!" Castiel said in relief as the girls retreated from the room like a scared pack of dogs. Nicholas shortly followed Dean into the room. Dean helped Cas up, and he wrapped his arms around his angel.
"You don't have a lot of good experiences at parties, huh?" He asked, and Castiel shook his head roughly.
"Thanks, Dean." He mumbled. He felt safe in Dean's embrace, and he honestly didn't want to leave that situation, the party music pounding quietly in the background, Dean's scent and arms surrounding him.
Nicholas ducked his head out of the room for a second. "Hey Dean, Mike is up for his speech thing."
Dean nodded, and his hand wrapped around Castiel's. All three of them left the room, waiting at the top of the stairs as Michael stood up on the table. He held a microphone, and looked proud as he turned off the music.
"Hey, everybody, listen up!" He said, raising his hands as everyone fell silent. "Who out there has a valentine already?"
Lots of people cheered, holding up their loved one's hand along with their own.
Dean pulled Castiel closer, signifying his claim that he had made the other day. He recalled it with pride.
Castiel looked up at the board for homework, writing down the instructions automatically. In less than three days, Valentines Friday would be here. The teacher had written under homework "find a valentine"
Castiel swallowed nervously. He had promised himself he would do all his homework that year.
He turned around in his seat, looking towards Dean, who was doodling on his notebook. "D-Dean…?" He started hesitantly, and Dean looked up, surprised that Castiel was talking during class.
"Mr. Novak, what are you doing that is so important for you to not be paying attention?" The math teacher asked, annoyed.
"Doing my homework." Castiel said automatically, and the class burst out laughing. He was confused until he followed the teacher's glance at the homework assignment. The only homework assignment. He had thought there had been at least a workbook page?
The math teacher looked slightly amused. "Okay. And who was going to be yours this holiday?" She asked, crossing her arms. She looked to all the girls behind him expectantly. "Well? Which one?"
A few of the girls blushed behind him, and Castiel sunk into his seat, not responding.
"I am!" One girl said, standing proudly.
"Sorry, I saw him first." Another girl added.
"He was looking at me, Madison." A new girl joining the discussion.
Dean stood suddenly, looking down into the bright blue eyes he adored so much. "Castiel Novak, will you be my valentine?" He said out loud, and the entire class began to laugh, most thinking it was a joke.
Castiel's face bloomed pink as the class continued to laugh, only him and the teacher seeming to realize it wasn't a joke.
"Well?" The teacher asked, smiling. "Will you accept?"
He felt more blood rush to his cheeks. "Yes…" He said quietly, and Dean lifted Castiel up from his seat.
The class then caught on that it wasn't a joke, and most 'awwww'ed when they kissed, while others were silently disgusted. Dean and Castiel didn't care though. They broke apart, both smiling, though Castiel's entire face and neck was a few shades redder than normal.
The teacher coughed a little. "Lets keep in PG in here. PDA, you know kids?"
"That only stops me while we're in school." Dean mumbled into Castiel's ear, and his face went red again.
Michael was standing up on the table, shaking his fist in the air. "All right!" He congratulated. "Well in two days, valentines day, there's going to be a valentines day dance. Instead of going to that lame event, come on over to Tori Vargas's house, for a real party!"
Michael continued. "Also, if you guys haven't heard yet, we have a big plan set up tonight! In fact it's going to start soon!"
The majority of people cheered except for the confused half.
Nicholas leaned over to Dean. "Let's get closer." He casually suggested. Dean followed Nick, leading Castiel through the crowd, his grip tight so as to not lose him again. Even though he could feel Castiel's hand in his, he glanced back at him occasionally.
"Actually, we have some honored guests here tonight." Michael said over the speakers, and Castiel looked up, mildly interested as to who the guest were. A band perhaps?
Nicholas stopped, and Dean looked at him in confusion as Nicholas gave a thumbs up to Michael.
Castiel and Dean looked up at Mike to see a smile spread across his face as he looked down at them.
"Here, they are!" He announced, spreading his arms out for emphasis. "The faggots!" He pointed to Dean and Castiel.
Dean looked to Nick in shock, and Nicholas simply smiled back, taking a step back from where the two were standing. The people behind Dean and Castiel dumped buckets of glitter and confetti over their heads, laughing. People were cracking up, and those who couldn't see still did, trying to fit in. People moved around them to get a better look.
Dean was pissed and embarrassed all in one, but he looked over to Castiel, who looked up in awe, obviously not hearing the insult. The room had fallen silent as they looked onto Castiel, who was bouncing up and down as if happy.
"Confetti! It's a parade!" He said, holding out his hands, smiling a little, laughing while he did. He turned towards Dean. "Dean, we're the honored guests!"
People began to laugh again, and Dean realized Castiel had heard the insult, but instead of getting butt-hurt, he was trying to cheer up Dean, sensing that he was upset.
He played along. "Whoa, Michael, we're so honored to be your honored guests!" He announced, and more people began to laugh. He picked off pieces of confetti and sparkles, climbing onto the table with Castiel. He dumped some over a surprised Mike's head.
Cas patted him on the shoulder. "We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you." He said to Michael. the sarcasm implied, but not enforced.
Dean smiled. "Funny story, folks. Nicholas and Michael were the ones that dared us to go out."
A few of the football team members confirmed it, and the crowd was laughing their asses off.
Tori looked up at Michael in disgust. "Seriously?" She asked, dumping vodka over his head and storming out of the house.
Dean and Castiel danced around on the table, while Michael fumed. He went to push Cas off the table, but Castiel ducked, then stood with a bundle of the glitter off the floor. He tossed it into Mike's face, who shook his head wildly, trying to get it off of him without messing up his hair.
Dean high-fived his tutor/boy friend, kissing him on the spot. People cheered, even the homophobes, at the display, and they started chanting.
"Faggots! Faggots! Faggots!"
People had been recording it, and now as they mad their way to the door, people high-fived them and congratulated them at the display.
People were cheering them on even as they walked out of the party, smiling at the Michael who glared after them, defeated. They had made that insult meaningless, the word now a good one in the minds of the students at FreeWill High school.
"Well Cas, let's get you home and cleaned up for our date."
Castiel laughed, wiping the shiny sparkles off of his face. "You have some on you too."
Dean hesitated once they got to his precious baby, and he looked down at the glitter.
Castiel dug in his pocket. "I've got it." He said, producing keys from his pocket. He held them up proudly. "Nicholas asked me to hold onto them yesterday, but I forgot to return them. His house is right over there, right? We can get Sam to take the impala to the movie theater and we'll leave Nick's car there." He smiled triumphantly.
He pointed two houses down, and Dean nodded, smiling. "For the goody angel you are, you're pretty bad-ass."
Castiel blushed. "No. I just am thinking logically. When someone does something wrong, they owe penance. This is his."
Dean nodded sarcastically. "Alright mister moral code. Let's steal a car."
Castiel's face turned pale when he said 'steal,' but reassuring himself, he followed Dean to the other car.
He took a shower at Dean's house after picking up clothes from his place. He washed his hair thoroughly, attempting to remove the small sparkles. Dean was in the other bathroom, and it was getting slightly annoying how hot Dean liked his showers, Castiel's water quickly going cold.
He climbed out soon enough, turning off the water completely.
He heard the other shower stop shortly afterwards, and he quickly dried his hair and body.
Tossing on his pants, he noticed he didn't have a shirt. He felt a small sense of dread as he stepped out into the hallway.
"Dean?" He said aloud, looking for him.
Dean was spiking his hair when he walked around the corner. "Yeah, Cas?"
"Do you have a shirt I can borrow?" He said, his face turning pink when Dean looked down at his bare chest.
Dean was smirking, his eyes on Castiel's abdomen, and he couldn't help but feel self concius. "Dean!" He called out again.
"Oh, uh yeah. I'll be right back." Dean said, going into his room, and to tease Cas, he did a few double-takes on the way.
He exited his room tossed Castiel a black shirt. Castiel tried it one, smiling. Blue lettered, Metallica was embroidered on the shirt. He knew it was one of Dean's favorite shirts.
Castiel followed Dean out to the impala, Sam having left the party early and dropping off the car, taking Nick's back to his house out of sympathy, that neither Dean, nor Cas approved of.
"Cas, do you work out?" Dean asked teasingly, smirking as he unlocked the impala.
Castiel sighed. "I, unlike others, do all my homework on Saturday. I have nothing to do on Sundays except for going to church, and so I signed up for gym. I don't do a whole lot though."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you had abs? That's a major turn-on." He joked.
Castiel felt the color in his cheeks grow, and he crossed his arms over his chest as the car pulled out of the drive way and onto the open road.
"I don't brag." He finally responded, upset that he had forgotten his shirt. "Why does it matter anyways? Let's just go to the dumb movie already."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Alright but I'm coming with you this Sunday."
Castiel practically jumped out of his seat. Dean seeing him like that? "Dean, it's like my study sessions. You distract me too much." He murmured, staring out the window.
Dean shook his head. "Can't stop me now, Cas. I wanna see you in shorts."
Castiel wasn't surprised, but his face grew darker. "W-what?" He asked, even though he had heard him just fine.
Dean turned up the radio in response, a grin on his face as they drove off to the theater.
"Hey Dean... You're okay, right?" Castiel asked a short while later.
Dean looked over to Castiel, confused. "Okay with what?"
Cas bit his lip, watching the road pass by. "It's just that after Nick betrayed us, you looked so hurt, betrayed. I wanted to know if you're good now?"
Dean nodded. He felt happy that Cas had noticed and cared. "Yeah. Thanks for the show back there." He chuckled a little. "I expected you to run out in tears, but you stood up all glitter-fied."
Castiel shook his head, looking over to Dean. "Not when someone's hurting my friends. I probably would have ran out if I were alone, but you were hurt by Nicholas. I had to help you."
Dean swallowed back a small lump in his throat. He was not going to go all sentimental right now. "Thanks, Novak." He said quietly, because he knew if he spoke too loud, he'd let his emotions out.
Cas nodded, grinning widely. "It was fun to get back at Michael though."
Dean laughed. "Is it that penance thing again?"
Castiel nodded in approval. "Glad you remembered such a big word, but no. This was simply an unexpected reaction that he got. He didn't plan for it, and so he was left confused. He was the cause of his own embarrassment."
Dean nodded in approval. "This is why I'm dating you." He laughed. "You're the smartest kid I know."
Castiel sighed. If he planned to be his class valedictorian, he might have made a big mistake dating Dean Winchester, and yet he was still happy with his choice. The corners of his mouth turned up. He was happy with Dean. He didn't need to be top of the class to get into a good college. He needed to keep up with his grades, and that, he could handle, even when he was dating the hottest and baddest guy in the school. He kissed Dean's cheek shyly, and Dean's response was a small pink tint to his face.
"Come on, no romance scenes." He complained, even though Castiel could tell he was holding back a smile.
They arrived at the movies with no problem, that is until Cas learned they'd be watching a horror movie. He tried to stay calm, planting a fake smile on his face, even though he was shaking inside. He had never done good with horror films, especially not creepy killer ones like the one Dean had just bought tickets for.
'The Ripper' a movie based on the Jack the Ripper stories. Castiel shuddered, knowing there would be bloody scenes and gore, and fear and-
Dean glanced over to him. "You cold, Cas?" He took off his jacket, tossing it over Cas's shoulders, and he felt slightly better as they approached the 9:00 movie room.
They were slightly late, and so they opened the door quietly, sneaking in. They sat down near the front, and Castiel couldn't stop worrying.
Almost as soon as they sat down, there was a bloody scene where a woman was being ripped apart. Castiel tried to convince himself it was just a movie, but he gave in.
"I'm going to get popcorn." He mumbled, rushing out I the room. He was almost running by the time he flew open the door, shutting it tightly. He was hyperventilating and shaking from fear. This is why he hated scary movies. The uncontrollable fear.
He stood away from the door, heading to the front of the movie theater for the food he had promised. He glanced around at the people beside him, extreme paranoia taking over.
Someone bumped into him and he almost took off running. He remembered it was just a movie. That had been fake blood and limbs, it was just an actor screaming and crying.
He bought the popcorn and headed back into the movie room, scared again. At least he had some time to cool off.
He found his seat next to Dean, shutting his eyes as the police began investigating the crime scene. It was a bloody mess, her limbs strewn across the wall and alley, and Jack's symbol written in the blood.
Dean took the food from him, grateful, but Cas was surprised he still had an appetite.
He tried to think about something else, look anywhere but the screen, but in a movie theater, there wasn't much for him to do.
He then tried to watch it, forced himself to stay in his seat. His knee began to bounce and he was gripping into the arm rests for dear life. He knew he wouldn't make it long.
As soon as he saw a lone woman walking down the street, he knew she would be torn to shreds.
He attempted to stay there through it, reminding himself that Dean was there beside him and so were all these other people. That Jack the Ripper only went after female prostitutes.
Jack had begun tearing her to shreds, and Castiel shut his eyes. It would be over soon... soon...
*gush* *drip* *squish*
He stood, unable to tell Dean where he was headed as he rushed for the restroom. He emptied his guts in a toilet, the graphic images and horrific noises haunting him. He was glad Dean was still enjoying the date, but he was over it. It was scaring him to no end.
He sat back down with Dean, but didn't have the guts to tell him he wanted to go home. "Hey, Novak, you alright?" He asked, brushing a stray hair from Castiel's face. "You look pale." He said as quietly as he could, looking away from the screen out of concern.
Cas nodded, a new smile plastered on his face. "Yeah I'm good." He lied.
He shut his eyes, and to hide that fact, he leaned his head against Dean's shoulder, ignoring the screaming of the movie goers as they were frightened by a jump scare. He focused on nothing, wishing that the dialogue didn't describe the scene perfectly. He wished the cop hadn't fell into the bloody mess, making that horrible noise.
After a while of this, he fell asleep, glad that he wouldn't have to deal with the movie anymore.
He was proved wrong when he was there, running down a cobbled street. He was knocking on doors, trying to get inside, knowing that he was going to be ripped apart, that he was a target of the ripper.
He was cornered now, a large wall stopping his progress. He turned, but he didn't even see the killers face. All he felt was the pain as he was torn apart. He watched it happen from a different point of view, the ripper's, but he still felt the pain. He felt fearful, even though he knew it was a dream.
He jolted awake, Dean shaking him gently. The lights had faded back on and eerie music played as words rolled down the screen.
"Hey Novak, sleep time is over." He laughed.
Cas looked around, his eyes wide and heart racing. He was back in the movie theater. He was fine...
"I'll be right back." He mumbled, and he could hear Dean chasing after him as Cas ducked into the bathroom. He threw up again, this time stomach acids flooding to his throat. It burned like hell, but he couldn't stop.
He hated the way he was frightened so easily, hated how easy it was to scare him. He wished he was strong like Dean, able to laugh off a movie like that.
When he came out of the stall, Dean was leaning against the counter. "You wanna tell me what's going on, or do I have to guess?"
Castiel simply shook his head, not wanting Dean to know he was that afraid of a stupid movie.
Dean wrapped his arms around Castiel, hugging him tightly while he shuddered in his arms. "You can't lie to me."
He led Castiel to the sink, aiding him to wash his face."Are you sick?" He guessed, but Cas shook his head as he rinsed his mouth out.
As they were leaving the bathroom, Dean guessed again. "Are you... Do you have that eating disorder thing?"
Castiel was surprised. "What? No!" He said, and Dean nodded.
"Were you afraid then?"
Cas froze, shuddering. He stopped in his stride, and Dean grinned.
"You were afraid!" He said, hauling Castiel to the exit of the movies. He allowed him into the impala, trying to hold back a laugh in the silence. "Was it nasty, or scary to you, or both?"
Castiel kept quiet, ignoring Dean. "It's not funny!" He said angrily, remembering how much he had been trying to hide his fear earlier.
Dean frowned. "I know. Just trying to lighten the mood."
Castiel sighed. He felt bad now. "Dean, I'm sorry this date didn't turn out like we planned. I get this stupid fear tremor thing and I-"
"Cas." Dean cut in. "You don't have to apologize. It's not like it was your fault." He pulled the car into drive. "Let's get you home. We'll chill at your house for a while."
Castiel nodded, smiling. Dean didn't mind the problematic movie disaster. Castiel felt immensely grateful for the fact that he had become Dean's tutor.
The interior of the car was warm, the leather comfortable, and for the first time in a while, Castiel felt secure.
Dean's jacket still rested around his shoulders, and he pulled it tighter. "Hey, Dean?"
He glanced at the boy as he stopped at a red light. "Yeah?"
Castiel bit his lip. "Er, never mind."
He looked over to him skeptically. "No, seriously, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. And that's the best part." He smiled, sinking into the passenger seat. "By the way, what do you plan doing for college?" He was curious as to what Dean had in mind for a career, and eager for a sudden subject change.
Dean had noticed the obvious topic avoidance, though, as the light turned green, he pressed on the accelerator and accepted the new discussion. "Whatever I do, I want to travel. I don't want to stay in one place for too long." He responded.
"A flight attendant?" Castiel suggested, but shook his head quickly. "Never mind. You're too mean." He joked.
Dean nodded. "I want to stay in the country. How 'bout you?"
Castiel considered. "Well I wanted to go to medical school, but I'm thinking about maybe doing something else. I've always wanted to go into politics..."
"Like, lawyer work?" He asked, and of course he thought about Sam.
Castiel pondered that thought. "No. More like government. I think it would be cool to rule under a president. Maybe like... A governor?"
Dean took a left at the next light. "Like angels under god, the government under the president."
Cas looked to him in surprise. "Good analogy. You're really learning. But where did that weird similarity come from?" Castiel asked, slightly confused as to what would make him think if that first. What about bees? A queen bee and the workers...?
Dean shrugged. "I dunno'. So this politic stuff. Doesn't that involve a lot of moving around and stuff?"
"More or less." He responded. "But you'd have to pick up your grades a lot if you'd want to go into political careers."
The corner of his mouth turned up. "That's a lot to ask of me." Dean said sarcastically. "I went from D's and F's to straight C's." he declared proudly. But then his smile disappeared. "But Dad wants me to take over the family business. At least Sam has a choice. He's becoming a lawyer, while me and dad are stuck together."
Castiel felt sympathy tugging at his heart. "Dean, maybe I should talk to John."
"No use." He mumbled. "Ever since mom died in the fire he grew really distant. He's been obsessing over keeping her company up and running."
Castiel nodded sadly. He agreed not to approach John about it, even though he would try.
Dean sighed in relief.
Castiel felt guilty for lying, so he tried to make up for it. "Just imagine: I could be governor, president, a secretary. I could be any of those things. I'd just have to get into law school and a decent college."
Dean pulled into the driveway of Castiel's house. "Decent? You wouldn't settle for that."
He nodded, thinking. "You're right. Decent colleges aren't even worthy of my thoughts." He joked.
Dean opened the door for Castiel, who went up to the front door with Dean, joking about his strict beliefs about education.
Castiel turned the key in the lock, though he was surprised to find that he had ended up locking the door, which meant the door knob had been unlocked.
He stood still, his breathing coming in short but slow gasps. Someone was inside his house?
No... Maybe I didnt lock it properly. He hoped. He unlocked the door again, opening the white door as slowly and quietly as he could. Dean had taken the obvious hint to be silent.
His face paled, and he was about to tell Dean to run when he heard the clicking of familiar stilettos as his mother walked around the comer to greet him. She took one glance at Dean. One.
"Who is this?" She smiled, and it was obvious the smile was fake. Venom poured from her every crevice of her fake smile, a definite dis-welcome to him.
"M-mother, allow me to introduce Dean Winchester, son of John Winchester. He's our neighbor." Castiel explained, a certain grace to his voice.
Dean was confused with the sudden formalities. He stood silent, feeling out of place.
"Did I just hear a stutter at the beginning of that sentence, young man? Also, I'd like you to explain to me what you're doing coming home with him at ten o'clock at night."
Castiel fidgeted, and she smacked him. "I'm sick of your nervous habits, Castiel, and all of your lies. Go upstairs immediately, and do not remove yourself from that situation until you can properly speak to your mother."
He looked defeated and depressed as he left for his room, a bright red mark across his face. His shoulders were sunken and his eyes were radiating sadness. Was this what Cas had to deal with in his life everyday?
Dean swallowed back his anger. He was ready to lash out at Cas's mother, but he held himself back, not wanting Cas to be upset.
As soon as he was upstairs and in his room, his mother turned towards Dean.
"You're his boyfriend." She guessed, and he knew she had figured it out almost immediately.
"How did you-"
"Know that? Simple. The lost look in his eyes when he looked towards you. He saw hope." She said the word with disgust. "He believes that a god exists in this world, but there is none. He believes you can make him happy, but there's no chance. He'll lose any sort of sense he has in this world with you." She accused.
Dean ignored her insults towards her son and himself. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you." He said, offering a hand to shake, though he had intended with his tone to be uninviting.
She looked down at it distastefully. "Charmed." She grasped his hand lightly, as if afraid to touch it. "I'll have you know that if you distract Castiel from his studies, you will lose any hope of advancing in this world. He is to become a doctor and that is final."
Dean remembered the conversation they had earlier in the car. "What if he became the president?" He asked, hopeful that Castiel would be able to amount to such a thing. What was he thinking? Of course he could... Castiel could do anything.
She nodded slowly. "If he became the president, he'd quickly destroy the world with his mindless and careless actions. He's stupid and deliberately moronic."
Dean stared up at her in surprise. "Castiel is the top in all his classes." He had never seen a mother that was so mean to her child, hateful and ashamed of him."He's smart... He may graduate Valedictorian!"
She met his stare with a stern annoyance. "He may be getting A's, but I have no way of knowing if someone is changing his grades. Maybe they take pity on him, or he's been printing fake report cards. He disgusts me, in every way possible in this small and grotesque world." She looked down to meet his defiant green eyes. "I'm sure your mother would be disappointed as well. But what would you know? You're a child, and as I recall, your mother is dead."
Dean's confusion became rage as she mentioned his mother. "My mom died, trying to protect my little brother. Don't you even think her name. You can't even take care of your own family, so don't try talking about mine. That boy upstairs is my family now too, so you won't hurt Cas."
Her eyes blazed with curiosity. "Cas? You gave him a nickname?" She asked, slightly bemused.
Dean was confused by her interest. "Yes...?" He wasn't sure where she was going with this.
She looked completely shocked and in wonder. "Do you really care about him that much? You try to defend his actions and you love him thoroughly? It's so naive!" She exclaimed, laughing breathlessly. "He's incompetent, incapable of the most simplest of tasks. What would ever influence you to care for him?"
Dean didn't understand half the words she had used, but he got the gist. "He's not stupid. He's amazing in every way. Cas is better than me, and far better than you."
She glared down at him, and if he was her child, she would have smacked him. "You should respect-"
"No, I shouldn't. I shouldn't respect someone who won't return it. I love Castiel, and he loves me. I care about him, unlike you. I wonder how he got his low self esteem, his study-hard attitude, his uncontrollable fears, everything! Every little flaw!"
She held up a hand to her chest, as if hurt. "And you accuse me of this?" She felt slightly in awe the boy. She wouldn't have minded having him for a son. He was persistent and confident, unlike the blubbering idiot she had birthed that was upstairs.
He clenched his fists again, trying to ensure they didn't fly out at her. "Good day, miss Novak." He quickly fled the house before he could drag her out by her hair.
She closed the door quietly behind him, and he stormed off to the side of the house. Up he climbed, first using a trash can to reach the window sill of the second story. He couldn't be sure if it was Castiel's room, but the light was on so he assumed it was.
He pulled himself up, and he was precariously holding on to the shingles of the roof while his feet sat on the window sill. He felt himself slipping as he tapped the window with his foot. As soon as he heard it slide open, he kicked his foot in, sliding down until he sat on the inside of the house's window.
Castiel heard a small tapping on the window, and he rubbed his eyes. He was confused when he saw the blurry image behind the glass, and when he slid open the window, he felt a burst of hope when he saw jeans and a pair of brown shoes.
"Dean?" He whispered, and soon he was sitting on the inside of the window, smiling brightly. "How's it going, Novak? I promised you we'd hang out."
Castiel glanced at the door. "Not here though, right?" He was glad Dean was here, but at the same time he was fearing the wrath of his mother.
"She won't bother me." He mumbled, and he felt smug as he remembered her face.
Castiel doubted him, but he hoped it was true. "It takes a lot to keep her down." He said skeptically.
Dean rolled his eyes. "Well let's bomb this place." Castiel's eyes widened and he tried to correct himself. "Bomb as in leave, Novak." He laughed, starting to crawl out the window again.
"D-Dean? I can't crawl out of the window, it's just... I've never done it before."
Dean smirked. "A first time for everything." He took the frightened boy's hand, leading him until he sat by him on the window. They both kicked their legs out. "Okay. So you go like this, and then drop." Dean slid around, his arms latching tightly onto the window sill. He then released his grasp, and Castiel grabbed his hand.
"Dean!"
He laughed. "Cas, it's alright. I've done this before." He loosened Castiel's grasp, dropping to the grass below.
He gulped, even though Dean seemed unhurt. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Relax." Dean said, and Castiel tried to take calming breaths. He was about to lower himself down when he slipped, falling towards the ground.
Dean watched Cas falling, and he practically dove for the side of the wall, catching Castiel as he fell from above. The impact almost knocked him to the ground, over a hundred pounds being thrown into his arms, but he stood his ground, glad for the football season training.
Castiel's eyes were shut tight, but he opened them a little, seeing Dean. "Y-you caught me?" He asked, hugging Dean's neck tightly. "Thank you." He mumbled, shaken from the scare. "I thought I was going to die!"
Dean laughed a little. "Die? From a 7 foot drop? Probably not."
Castiel stood after being placed down, wiping himself off. "Well, where to?" He asked a little shakily.
Dean thought about it. "There's that one 24-hour mini-mall place. I need to get some things anyways." Including a valentines day gift that he had procrastinated on.
"Okay." Castiel grinned. "I haven't been there before. Let's do it."
They were in the Impala, driving away when Dean checked his rear view mirror. Castiel's mother stood outside, holding up something. Dean squinted, but he couldn't make out what it was.
"Cas, did you forget anything at home?"
He checked his pockets. "No. My phone, wallet, keys. Why?"
Dean shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe I forgot something."
He checked the mirror again, but she was gone.
Carry on my wayward son
A song began to play, coming from Castiel, and Dean glanced over as Castiel looked down at his phone. "My mom is calling..." He said, with a little pain in his voice.
Dean took the phone from Castiel's hand as he accepted the call and raised it to his ear. "Hello?" He said, waiting for the woman's cruel voice.
He heard her take a deep breath on the other line. "Tomorrow take Castiel to the Abaddon amusement park. Meet me by the entrance when he's not with you. I... Have something for you." She hung up.
He closed the flip phone, confused and slightly scared. It made him anxious. Should he bring a weapon? What was she planning? He didn't know this woman and she had been rude to him. Could he trust her?
"Hey Cas, we never got to go to Abaddon. You want to go tomorrow?" He asked, trying to convey his dissolution.
Castiel smiled, seeming to not notice. "Sure!"
Dean wished he hadn't been so eager to go.
