(A/N) I hope you enjoy this chapter and congratulations on struggling through over ten thousand of my fandom-related words. *applauds enthusiastically*
"So, boys, the photo that brought us here. What do you have to say about it?" Professor Chuck steepled his hands and rested his chin on his fingers. Dean stared at Cas meaningfully,
hoping that he would receive the same message that he was sending: Don't talk. Not under any circumstances. I can handle this. However, Cas looked like he was getting the message
'I'm hungry. Are there any chipmunks around here.' by the look on his face.
Dean took a breath and spoke. He told Professor Chuck about their Marvel marathon, Meg's photo and the gay-hating comments. He sat back, quivering with emotion. Cas knew the story
wasn't finished, so he covered his boyfriend's hand with his own and continued the story.
"We didn't think it was fair, so we decided to give them a taste of their own medicine. Some other students took photos of straight couples and Anna Milton and I twisted the hate
captions to apply to straight couples. We posted those pictures, most of the gay hate got taken down and now we've ended up here."
Chuck nodded gravely, eyes closed. He seemed deep in thought about the plight of his classics students. Eventually, he opened his eyes to deliver the verdict.
"I don't think that I can do any more in this matter. I appreciate you two telling me the truth, but maybe tone down your reactions if this happens again, yes?" Cas and Dean nodded
mutely. "But I'm afraid that I must refer you both to Principal Crowley to make sure the message gets across."
The students sat up in shock.
"Professor, please! Do we have to? Please-" Chuck stopped them mid-flow.
"I'm sorry, boys, but it's campus policy. It's already too late to go to him today, so you need to go to his office straight after our first class on Monday morning."
Ignoring the mutinous mutterings directed at him from the other side of the table, Chuck dismissed them with a flick of his hand.
"I apologise, Dean and Cas, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. I'll see you tomorrow for class." With that, the professor swept out, ending the meeting.
Dean spent the whole of classics wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing. Why was it always him that ended up dragging people into trouble? It used to be Sammy who was his sidekick, and now it was Cas. The only difference was that now he could legitimately be screwing up someone's future instead of their plans for the weekend. Dean hunched over as much as he could, trying to disappear. At least Anna, Gabe and Balthy got off without a suspension or permanent expulsion, he consoled himself. Mind you, who knew what was going to happen to him and Cas? At the very least, they would be suspended, he reasoned.
When the end-of-period bell sounded, previously a sound of hope and freedom, it now resonated like death knell inside Dean's skull. Cas took his hand and led him briskly to Principal Crowley's office. Dean didn't know how Cas could behave so normally in such horrific circumstances. Especially when Dr Crowley, the doctor who had saved Cas' life a few weeks earlier, turned out to be a cousin of the very man they were going to see. They knocked on the head's door and Crowley's secretary let them in. Dean leant his head on Cas' shoulder and tried not to think too hard about what was going to happen to them in the next few minutes.
Eventually, the secretary bid them entry to Crowley's office, an imposing room furnished with antique wooden furniture. The principal himself was seated behind a large oak desk, frown firmly in place. He gestured to the pair to take the seats directly opposite him, then began to speak.
"Well, Mr Novak. I am surprised to see you here. All I had ever heard about you before this sorry matter arose was an impression of a happy, well-rounded, dedicated student. It seems your relationship with Mr Winchester is leading you astray." That was when Dean knew he was screwed. Crowley continued to extol Cas' previously impeccable behaviour, with a big emphasis on the previously. Then he turned to Dean, with a face as hard and unemotional as a rock face. Dean thanked his lucky stars that Sammy had already been accepted, or the faculty would probably have had 'concerns' about his admittance.
"Now for you, Mr Winchester. I would like to make it clear that I have no issues with your sexuality or relationship with Castiel here, but I do have issues with your rebellious reaction to a photograph of you asleep with him posted by Meg last week." Dean slumped down in his chair, sadly accepting the verbal assault. The principal's voice ramped up a notch. "And was it entirely necessary to retaliate in such a brash manner? I gather you have caused rather a lot of hurt among your fellow students as a consequence of your actions. What do you have to say for yourself?" Dean attempted to defend himself, but soon gave it up as a lost cause.
"So, boys. I regret to say that I am going to have to suspend the pair of you for a week, beginning tomorrow, to allow you time to reflect on your actions. Good afternoon."
Cas downed another mouthful of beer, heroically trying to keep pace with Dean's self-inflicted, misery-fuelled drinking. He had already had several times over the legal drinking limit, which Cas had noted around an hour. He thanked God that they'd already assigned Anna to the role of designated driver, or they would be facing a long, drunk walk home in the bracing night air. But his attentions were soon turned back to Dean, who seemed more depressed than ever. Cas slid along the bench until he was right next to his boyfriend. After all, this was not a conversation one wanted to be having within earshot of dozens of drunk students.
"Are you feeling okay, Dean? You know I don't blame you for any of this. We got into this mess together, and we're going to get out of it in exactly the same way - together." Dean shook his head miserably.
"No, it isn't our fault. It's my fault, and mine alone. If I hadn't asked you out in the first place, or come round to your room, or agreed with your plan, we wouldn't be suspended right before exams like we are now. And I've basically just screwed up both of our futures in one fell swoop, so I think we should cut out this whole 'relationship' stuff and go back to how it was before. Before we were both suspended." Dean slumped on to the bar, head in his hands.
"Why, Dean? It's not going to change anything if we break up. We can't go back to how it was before and pretend all this never happened. We've got to learn from our mistakes, as a couple. And I for one am going to get a lot worse than suspended if you break up with me now after all this." Cas stroked Dean's hair comfortingly. "Come on, let's go back to yours. I'm bored of this, and I don't think your mindset is going to get any better with another round of beers inside you."
Reluctantly, Dean finished his beer and walked out of the bar to Anna's car. She drove them home, complaining about the stink of beer on their breath the entire way. She dropped them off outside their dorms and drove away.
"Now, Dean." Cas growled in a husky voice. "I have something rather special planned for you tonight . . . " Shivering with anticipation, Dean allowed Cas to lead him up to his room.
(A/N) To keep this K-rated, I'm just going to leave it at that. Allow me to imply that something definitely happened that night, but it is up to your imagination as to what exactly ;-)