Author's note: This chapter was going to be longer, but since it for some reason is a hard one for me to write, I decided that instead of making y'all wait I'd split the chapter so I'd have something to upload. That's where it ends where it does. Sorry if this one is a bit uneventful. But ey, it's better than nothing, right?

As always, reviews are highly appreciated! Thanks in advance. You may now read.

"Hey, Satan. Having fun with the floors?"

Lou glares at Dean from where he's standing next to the glass wall that separates the corridor from one of the exotic bird enclosures, swiping a mop back and forth on the floor. Dean snickers.

"Looks like you finally found your place in the world, huh?"

Lou stops swiping and shoots Dean a sinister grin.

"I actually don't mind it so much", he says. Dean raises his eyebrows skeptically. "I figure if this helps your true love by way of Castiel being the knight in shining armor that barged in to save Princess Deanie from the fearsome dragon that breathes fatal fluffy feathers, I'm more than willing to-"

"Listen to me, Lou." Dean advances, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides so they're standing face-to-face. His upper lip twitches. "There's nothing going on between me and Castiel. But something, though definitely pretty different in nature, is gonna be going on between you and your employer if you don't shut the hell up and get back to work."

"Oh, so dramatic." Lou rolls his eyes. "Really, Dean, you're like a teenager."

But he doesn't object, doesn't keep at it – just smiles and shakes his head to himself and gets back to mopping the floor.

Dean walks out and stands by the doors. He takes a deep breath, wondering why he'd snapped like that. Lou is always a menace. He teases everyone about everything, especially if he sees that he can get them riled up about it. It's like he thrives on seeing the world fall apart around him. He'd probably start the freaking apocalypse if he could.

Dean usually lets Lou's comments slide, retaliating simply by referring to him as the devil, so why did he get so worked up, and so quickly, this time? Sure, it had been a few slightly stressful days, with the zoo opening next week and showing Castiel around, but to be so affected by that that he would lash out at Lou, it doesn't make sense.

Unless he actually likes Cas.

Which he doesn't, of course.

But what if he did? If somehow he overlooked the whole bird thing and the slight social awkwardness, maybe he does kind of like the guy. Dean certainly isn't denying that Cas is attractive, but that's a whole other thing than actually liking him. Who cares about messy dark hair and practically shining blue eyes, full lips and sharp jawlines and a deep, a husky voice that can growl like a fucking wolf, long, slender fingers on hands that look like they were shaped by a master sculptor… Wait. Where was he?

Oh, right. Liking Cas. Well, he had come to the bird house after he'd finished just to see him, after all. Or no, he'd come to tease Lou, and to thank Cas again, because Dean wants to be polite because Cas is new. But well, okay, honestly, also just to see him.

Dean doesn't have time to continue his train of thought before one of the zoo's vans stop outside the bird house and Cas and Balthazar get out of it together with a woman Dean hasn't seen before. Balthazar gives Dean a wave before following the woman to the back of the van. Castiel stops.

"Hello, Dean", he says. "What are you doing here?"

"Came to watch Lou suffer." Dean grins. When Castiel doesn't seem to understand that it's a joke, he adds, "and you know, to thank you again, I guess. Most people just let the guy be because he's always like that. No one really tries to shove some karma at him. So… thanks."

A small smile appears on Cas' face.

"Don't mention it. He overstepped a boundary and as his manager I will not stand for that."

"So what's the van about?" asks Dean, gesturing towards the car.

"We have a new member in the garrison", says Cas happily.

Dean furrows his eyebrows.

"What?"

"There's a white bellied sea eagle in there. Stunningly beautiful", says Cas. "Sam asked if I thought I had time for her and I said yes. She just came in from a zoo a few states away. She's a bit of a special case."

"How so?" asks Dean, cocking an eyebrow.

"She's a little grumpy at times."

A horrible, piercing cry comes from the back of the van. It ends on a pitch high enough that even Cas winces. It comes again and again, like a machine gun firing short bursts of sounds to make you go crazy.

"Oh, shit", Dean whines, covering his ears with his hands.

"She's distressed", Cas explains when the eagle finally quiets and Dean lets his hands fall back to his sides. "Moving this far understandably takes its toll."

"How can you be so patient?" Dean wonders, upset. "That's like, a sound from hell. She's almost worse than those little… You know, the colorful ones."

Dean knows their name. He's just too annoyed to admit it.

"The lorikeets?" says Cas.

"Yeah, them."

"Just wait 'til you see her", says Cas. "She's gorgeous. I've always wanted to work with a white bellied sea eagle."

"Weirdo", mutters Dean.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing."

"Would you like to help us get her inside?"

Dean's eyes go wide.

"Uh… You know what, I think I should go home. Lots to do, you know…" Dean awkwardly waves his hand in the air. "Snakes…"

Cas sees right through him.

"Come on", he says, as if talking sense to a stubborn child. "You don't need to be close to the eagle. Just open doors for us when we come with the cage."

Dean fidgets, scratches the back of his neck.

"I-I don't know, man-"

"Does it help if I say please?"

With those blue eyes staring into Dean's and a puppy-dog look Dean didn't know Cas had in him, goddammit it, it does.

"Fine."