Author's note: About the last chapter: I'm not sure if a pygmy owl would realistically want or be able to cram down two mice in a couple of minutes. Just imagine the mice are small and the owl is very passionate about food. Can you do that? Good. Thanks.
By the way, reviews are much appreciated! Just saying. *wink wink*
Now have a drink on me and let chapter nine commence.
Dean puts two forkfuls of rice wok into his mouth.
"A'ight, so 'ere's a lo' 'o do 'oday", he says in between chews. Kevin cocks an eyebrow at him.
"In English, please?"
Dean swallows.
"I said there's a lot to today. And tomorrow. I might come in on Sunday too to check things out before we open."
"Monday's the big day", says Charlie.
Dean points his fork at her.
"Two preschool classes have booked tours before lunch on Monday", he says. "Just FYI."
"All the noise will start up again", Kevin sighs. "I prefer the off season."
Dean takes another couple of bites of his food.
"'Eo 'ou woun' ge' 'aid-"
"ENGLISH." Kevin rolls his eyes. Charlie laughs.
Frowning at Kevin, Dean swallows.
"It's not my fault I've got to cramp all this food into my mouth in like ten minutes", he says. "It's that fucking owl."
Cas, who is sitting next to Dean, puts down his fork and looks at Dean.
"Don't blame the owl, Dean. Lou was the one who didn't close the door, and we all make mistakes sometimes."
"And you chose to go with him", says Charlie. She smiles knowingly. Dean raises his eyebrows at her as if he wonders what she meant, even though he knows exactly what she would say if he asked her to explain.
'You have a thing for Castiel. Why don't you just ask him out for a drink?'
And Dean would refuse, because he does not have a thing for Cas. Sure, the guy's attractive. And seems to have a pretty cool personality. And he's attractive. But it's not a thing that Dean has for him, it's, well, it's… Whatever.
"Anyway", he says, "I said: Well, you wouldn't get paid as much if it weren't for the people that make that noise, Kev."
Kevin shrugs.
"Still prefer the off season."
"I find it refreshing to meet new people and raise their enthusiasm about animals and the ecosystems they are part of", says Castiel. "Especially when they're children. It gives me hope."
"For what? That the world won't implode on itself?" Dean takes a sip of water.
"Yes", says Cas. He sounds so irrevocably certain, Dean has to pause to turn his head and look at him.
"Because kids like birds?"
Castiel just looks at him.
"Dude, kids like treehouses and Lego just as much. That isn't gonna save the world."
"Then what is?" asks Cas.
Dean pauses. He searches for a way to phrase it, something that doesn't make him sound so resigned, but he can't think of anything. So he takes another sip of water, puts the glass down and simply says,
"I don't know."
"Dean", says Cas slowly, clearly, not for a moment taking his eyes off him, "even the smallest event can change a life forever. All it takes is one perfectly worded sentence, a moment of absolute clarity, one second of indefeasible love. Such small things can come to save the world."
The silence that follows hangs heavy in the air. It's like that when you discuss environmental destruction with people that work closely with any component of an ecosystem – animals, plants, whole places – it affects them. It's a weight on their shoulders, chains they tug at that they can't shake off. It touches them, deeply, and it hurts. Everything they love is exposed and wounded, trapped in the trenches of a war they never chose to join, but had to.
"Yeah, whatever."
Dean can see Kevin and Charlie exchange glances, but he lets them be.
It's true that he doesn't know. And he doesn't know if it matters.
Dean turns the handle of the door to the lunch room and opens it. The sun is shining and the sky is a clear blue. It's nothing like yesterday afternoon.
Then it happens.
There are feathers everywhere, on his shoulders, on his head, in front of his eyes and when he gasps they're in his mouth, too. He shouts, spits, coughs and jumps away, spinning around as he wipes them off his vest and t-shirt. When he looks up, he sees Lou, standing beside the door with a bucket, doubled over, laughing.
"What the fuck did you do?!" Dean roars.
He tries to brush some of the small feathers from his shoulder and accidentally inhales one again. He yelps, jumps and spits it out, flailing and backing up until he hits the wall.
"They're fucking everywhere!"
"What's the matter, Dean?" Lou wheezes with laughter. "It's just some soft, cozy feathers! Don't you like them?"
"No, you asshole, you know I fucking don't!"
At that point Charlie, Kevin and Castiel come running out the door.
"What's going on?" asks Charlie. The three of them look between Lou and Dean, the realization dawning on them visible in their eyes.
Charlie and Kevin run right up to Dean and start to help him brush off the rest of the feathers.
"It's okay, Dean", says Charlie softly, patting his shoulder. She knows how creeped out he can feel when birds – or feathers – come close to him when he's not prepared for it. It's not a phobia, absolutely not, just a huge, huge discomfort. "Just stand still, we'll get them off you."
Dean takes a deep breath.
He sees Cas walk up to Lou. He doesn't stop until he's right up there in Lou's face and Lou isn't laughing anymore. Cas' hands are hanging at his sides but Lou still looks like he's trapped, fixed to the spot by an invisible force.
"What", Cas growls slowly, "did you do?"
Dean almost forgets about the feathers. Holy shit that voice.
"I-I-I, uh", Lou attempts an innocent smile. "Heh. It was just a little prank. Come on, it was funny!"
"I don't see anyone laughing."
"Uh, no, but… Maybe they're laughing on the inside?"
"Since you are so dedicated to making other people smile", says Cas, "you can wipe off all the glass and scrub the floor today before you go home. So the visitors will", he leans in a little closer, "smile at how clean and tidy everything is when they come on Monday."
"Uh…" It's like Lou contemplates it for a moment and decides not to argue. "Sure."
"And while you're at it, why don't you do the shelves in the back room, too?"
"A-absolutely."
Cas moves away slowly.
"Go, then."
Lou is on an ATV and driving off before Dean can even fully process what just happened. Lou is like an eel usually, able to slip away from any situation he doesn't want to be in. Dean has never seen anyone dominate him like that before.
Cas walks up to Dean.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine", says Dean, his voice a little high pitched. He clears his throat and says with his normal, lower voice, "Just fine."
"All the feathers are gone now", says Kevin happily. Dean pats him on the back.
"I'm sorry about that", says Cas. "Lou clearly needs to be kept in line."
"You see why I call him Lucifer?" says Dean.
"Well, I'd say that's a bit of an exaggeration", says Cas, "but yes." He smirks a little. "Although I doubt Satan himself would cower before me like he did."
"Oh, I don't know", Dean smiles, "you were pretty scary."
Cas huffs.
"I've had to be."
"What?"
"Oh. Um. Nothing."
"Yeah, anyway… We need to get back to work."
"Yes. Me too. Have a good day."
"You too."
