"So," Sam wasn't even going to give him so much as two seconds before he walked in the door, "That was Castiel, huh?"
"Sam, so help me I will wring your neck-"
"Dean, I think we both know you won't. Now, tell me, what's going on?" Sam crossed his arms over his chest and Dean didn't need to look up to see the smug little smirk on his stupid face.
"Nothing's going on, Sam. You sent weird messages to him but we're friends, that's all." Dean tried to get past Sam to go anywhere else that he could close and lock a door but his brother's arm unfolded and caught him in the chest.
"I don't think so. I remember how you acted after those texts were sent Dean, does 'I don't own anything good enough' sound familiar to you?"
"I think if you got any more smug you'd turn into a giant douchebag, oh wait." The sarcasm practically dripped from Dean's mouth, though that didn't make the situation go away. Sam was still looking at him and expecting some kind of an explanation. Dean instead shoved Sam out of his way and continued up to his room. "I said nothing is happening, Sam. Would you stop looking at me like that?"
Sam didn't answer and watched his brother disappear to his room, the door slamming behind him. "Alright then…" He shrugged his shoulders and smirked to himself at how good his slight of hand was. Dean hadn't noticed a thing while shoving him into the wall and Sam was about to walk away with his cell phone again. 'About to' being key because Dean reappeared almost immediately and snatched it back.
"You're too good at that."
"And you're hiding something." This time Sam tried to stop Dean from going but it was no use. "Dean! I'm not an idiot, you know I don't believe you right?"
"Shut up Sam! You tell anyone about this and I'll pulverize you!" Dean hollered back from his room, re-slamming the door for good measure. He sighed and flipped it open to text Cas, he knew that Cas said he was doing something in that part of town so he was probably busy but that didn't mean Dean couldn't sit there and send him messages.
Sam didn't bother him too much about it though Dean could feel it every time Sam looked at him, like there was something his little brother wanted to say or ask but just didn't do it. Dean wasn't sure if he hated that more than the actual questions he'd get, he knew Sam was building up for some kind of mass questioning spree but he also knew that Sam would find a way to answer them mostly on his own. Since Dean wasn't about to talk, anyway.
The rest of the time Dean enjoyed going to college, taking his classes and trying to get on top of things. The best part was that Cas actually knew a thing or two about some of his courses, the easy ones anyway. Dean was somehow surprised at Castiel for that, he was an amazing singer, funny, talented in most things, generous, kind, gorgeous and now smart too? It wasn't really fair for the rest of humanity.
Dean knew that if Cas had been a woman there would have been no hiding their relationship, it was because of the whole 'gay stigma' thing his mind continued to remind him of that he didn't say a word to anyone about it. Sam knew, every time Dean left the house on a Friday night Sam knew who he would end up seeing because he never came home the same evening. Saturday evenings were often spent over at Castiel's apartment or out with their friends. Dean couldn't believe that Jo had kept her promise that Cas would be invited, there were certain things they'd planned that he hadn't expected his boyfriend to show up to but lo and behold Castiel appeared.
They somehow always ended up side by side, Dean was certain it was because Jo knew Cas was gay and that Dean generally wasn't 'comfortable' around that sort of thing. He wanted to laugh because the joke was on her, he'd much rather end up in a crowded car with Castiel on his lap than anywhere else. Not that he could show his excitement to the others but he could share his secret with Castiel when the others weren't looking or where they couldn't immediately see. The number of times he'd felt up Cas' backside was immeasurable.
Though things were amazing Dean found that Castiel was actually very busy a lot of the time. He volunteered all over the place and once in a while took an extra shift at the café. To line their schedules up was nigh impossible some weeks, the only time to see each other was after Castiel's Friday shift. Dean would show up for the extra shifts but he couldn't really stay because he had classes the next day, Fridays were the only times he could drive Castiel home and stay over. Not that he didn't over look his next day classes every now and then, but that would only happen when he really missed Cas.
And he always missed Castiel, at least for the first while. It had gotten ridiculous to the point that he'd just sit in class and doodle Castiel's name on a scrap piece of paper. He was smart enough to throw it out after but that didn't mean he hadn't spent the time making it look as beautiful as he felt Castiel deserved. It was like paradise had come early for him, he'd found perfection in another human being that he was almost convinced was an angel in disguise.
As well and good as everything was, Dean also knew that they'd been together for over three months and he still hadn't taken their relationship further. Castiel was still a secret and the only one who even remotely admitted to knowing anything was Sam. Dean could have guessed that Castiel would bring it up at some point but that didn't mean he wanted it to happen, he didn't have a good answer ready yet. So he knew there was a tremendous problem in their relationship; he was putting Castiel in such an awful position, Dean had no idea how he'd feel if the same had happened to him. How did someone like Cas put up with him so much? How could he keep such an amazing person at his side despite how he was treating him? Dean had no idea but what he did know was that he'd find a way to make it right and fix it all. Just as soon as he was ready.
Castiel sat down on the backstage couch before his Friday performance; it was April and one of the last shows before the end of the term. He knew a lot of people would be procrastinating their studying, however he also knew that there were possibly just as many that actually buckled down to actually do their work. The weekend before had been hectic and the café/bar was full of people, this time it'd be significantly less. Those that did show up would most likely be anxious and possibly moody; meaning he'd have to kick it up a notch in order to entertain them.
As Cas tried to find his center and the best way to accomplish the evening, he felt smooth hands fold over his eyes and block his vision for the most part.
"Guess who."
A male's voice and one that Cas recognized, "Samandriel!" He spun around and wrapped his friend up in a hug. "Oh my god, I haven't seen you in forever!"
"Same! How have you been?" Samandriel grinned as he squeezed Castiel right back. They pulled apart and smiled at one another, patting each other's shoulder before letting their arms drop.
"Pretty good, how about you? What've you been doing?"
"Performing here and there, I'm with a band from a small town in South Dakota. They decided we should tour a little while one of our guys has the funding for it. We're not that big but we're doing well." Samandriel dropped down on the couch beside Cas, crossing his legs and getting comfortable.
"Really? That's awesome, what's the name of your group?" Cas was legitimately interested and that only made Samandriel beam with a tinge of pride.
"They call themselves S.I.H. Named by our guitarist, Adam."
"What's it stand for?"
"Still in Hell, kinda melodramatic but hey, it gets attention."
"Castiel you're up in five." One of the café workers peered into the backstage area, giving him a thumb's up before disappearing again.
"I have an idea," Cas lit up and stood, "Sing with me tonight!"
"What?" Samandriel's smile betrayed the fake shock he attempted to portray. "You think they'll let me?"
"Of course! Come on, it'll be just like old times. I do a lot of cover songs but I think you know the words." Castiel unfolded a paper from his pocket with the list of the night's songs, handing it over to his friend.
Samandriel chuckled and shook his head as he looked over the list, "My manager would be pissed if I did a free concert, but I can join you for one of your songs if you'd like."
"That's just as good, I'll call you up at the end?"
"Hell yeah, let's do it."
Everything seemed normal; the lights dimmed as the band finished their set up, people hushed a bit because dimming lights somehow commanded that reaction. Dean sipped at his beer, glancing around the familiar setting fondly. He liked it there, a place he could see Castiel shine like he knew he could. A place where they could share something no one else understood, each love song meant a little more, each break up song caused a little more stress, and all the happy moments that came up Dean tried to find a way to relate to it. Of course he knew that a lot of the time Cas would actually just be singing a song so really there was nothing to be said for it.
Dean was fairly relaxed, watching Castiel step out onto the stage as always, eyes nearly sparkling with excitement. "Heya, this seat taken?" An unfamiliar voice piped up next to him, startling him a little. Dean looked at a fairly young man, a bit goofy looking but not unattractive. He glanced at the empty seats around him and shrugged.
"Nah, go ahead."
"Thanks buddy, it looks like the best spot to watch the entertainment." The guy dropped down and smiled up at the stage with a sort of appreciation Dean recognized from his own elation. Whoever this guy was he wasn't at the bar to drink, he was there to see Castiel.
"Who are you?" Dean tried to sound friendly, smiling a little at the guy.
"Hm? Oh, people call me Alfie." The guy grinned right back at him, "You?"
"Dean, Dean Winchester."
They shared bit of a smile and that was it, both turning back toward the stage to watch Castiel's performance. It was tense; Dean didn't like this Alfie kid one bit. Why would someone show up out of the blue like that for Castiel? To take him away? Offer an amazing job of some kind? Dean swished his beer in his mouth for a second before swallowing, glancing at the other guy again to see the glee on his face.
"So you a talent agent or something?"
"Me?" Alfie looked at him again, big eyes blinking obliviously. "No, I wish though. Cas could really benefit from that."
Dean wanted to punch him for calling him 'Cas' and not 'Castiel'. It was too personal.
The evening ended and Castiel smiled brightly at everyone, a smile that often made Dean melt but not that night. He was too busy being pissed off about Alfie being in the crowd and receiving the same smile. What right did that guy have to see Castiel's smile? None. 'Stupid little pervert. Better stay away from Cas.' Dean thought bitterly, keeping an eye on Alfie in his peripheral vision.
"I hope everyone's been having a great night so far," Castiel addressed the room and people all but screamed for him. Dean hadn't been expecting it, most of the time Cas got the applause and half the attention of the café but that night everyone was into it. Dean had been a little busy being pissed off but from what he knew of Castiel's stage presence, that night had actually been pretty incredible. One of his best, really. "Thank you all so much, I love you all." Dean could feel his ears burning and a bit of pain from his tense jaw at that. Alfie was next to him clapping loudly with the rest of the crowd.
"Now I have one more song I'd like to do for all of you, but I have a question first. Has anyone in here ever heard of S.I.H.?" There were a few people that made some noise for him and Cas couldn't help the grin on his face. "Perfect, well tonight I'd like to invite my good friend to the stage to sing with me. Samandriel, will you step up here?"
People in the bar started to cheer, clearly more had heard of S.I.H. than they had let on. Dean furrowed his brow and looked around briefly before he saw Alfie standing up and hurrying to the stage, "Hey! You said your name was Alfie!" Dean shouted after him. The guy paused and smiled back at him.
"I said people call me that, sometimes Samandriel's too long for them." He called back before taking Castiel's hand and climbing onto the stage.
Cas smiled and hugged him again, only getting a loud cheer from the fans. Dean growled and sunk back into his chair, glaring up at the stage. "A little bit of trivia for you Still In Hell fans," Cas turned back to the café that had more sober people than usual at the end of the night, "Samandriel is also called Alfie because of his middle name, Alfonse. The more you know."
"Alright, alright Cas let's give them the show you've riled them up for." Alfie grinned, taking the second microphone given to him by a stagehand.
Castiel shared a look with him as the music started up, an old tune by what Dean recognized to be Queen. The star of the show started, "This thing called love I just can't handle it."
Alfie picked up immediately after Cas left off, "This thing called love I must get 'round to it. I ain't ready,"
"Crazy little thing called love." Joining together their vocals matched perfectly like they'd done it a thousand times. It would have been amazing if Dean hadn't been sulking in the back. The way they moved together boiled under Dean's skin as he watched, their chemistry was too electric and it was making him more and more uncomfortable as the song played through.
What did this Alfie-Samandriel-whatever guy have that he didn't? Dean could sing, he wasn't a slouch at it even though he'd never been trained. The whole thing pissed him off. Castiel was getting friendly with another person and so easily.
"Thank you everyone and have a good night. Designated drivers be safe, everybody else call a cab." Cas and Alfie gave a short bow before disappearing backstage. Dean bit his lower lip and stared angrily as most of the people left. He stood up and went out to his car, not bothering to help clean up this time or wait inside.