CHAPTER 10

Castiel resolutely turned and walked in the direction of Dean's building. He knew where it was but had never been inside. The gate was open and he went in to see a courtyard with gravel and a small fountain in the middle. The rooms overlooked the courtyard and an outside balchony on the upstairs floor ran the length of the building all the way around. Castiel didn't know which room was Dean's. He walked around for a while not knowing what to do. He could hear people shouting, a dog barking and a cat suddenly jumped in front of him making him start.

He heard a gentle laugh behind him and turned around to see Dean.

"Dean!" he said.

"Master Nova. I hope the cat didn't frighten you too much." He laughed again.

Castiel smiled awkwardly. "No, I just wasn't expecting it."

"Were you looking for me? Do you have a message from Master Guido?"

Castiel felt his heart sink. It said a lot that the boy thought of Guido first. The image from before of Guido taking Dean from behind while Dean exclaimed his pleasure flashed before his eyes again. He felt his hands tighten into fists.

"Uh, no, there's no message I, uh," he thought quickly. "I wanted to ask if we could start an hour later tomorrow. It's gone late now and I've had a bit of wine."

Dean smiled. "Of course. That will be no problem."

Reluctant to let him go, Castiel asked: "So this is where you live?"

"Yes, up there," Dean pointed to an upstairs room, the third on the right side of the building.

"Ah," Castiel said.

They stood for a moment and Castiel, though dying to see his rooms, thought that Dean would probably not ask him up.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said.

"Good night," Dean smiled and went over to the stairs.

Castiel cursed at himself all the way home. He was too old to have a crush. Especially on a boy who belonged to someone else, and was apparently happy to do so.

Castiel woke up the next day just in time for Dean's sitting. Gabriel had tried to wake him up with no success. Finally he dragged Castiel out on the floor so he landed with a bump.

"Ouch! What are you doing?" Castial said angrily.

"Guido's lover boy will be here in ten minutes. It wouldn't be good if I had to send him home again. Guido might cancel his order."

Castiel looked up at him from the floor. He sighed and said: "I guess you're right." He got up with a groan and threw a robe on before he went downstairs.

When Dean arrived, he smiled as usual not making anything of the fact that Castiel had gone to his lodgings the night before.

"My Master will be here later. He wishes to speak with you."

"Oh?" Castiel said. He hoped nothing was wrong. It turned out Guido wanted to ask Castiel for a reduction of the price of the painting.

When Castiel gave him a questioning look he excused himself with the fact that business hadn't been that good recently. Prices went up everywhere. Castiel didn't understand. If prices went up everywhere then surely so did Guido's. He thought for a moment trying to decide if he could afford to lower his price.

Should Castiel tell Guido he won't take a ducat less? Go to chapter 12.

Should he let Guido have a reduction? Go to chapter 13.