Decmeber 2006
It had been exactly two months since Castiel had met Carmen and Marcus, Marcus being the preferable one as their drunken night together went onto many more nights as they exchanged numbers. Castiel was inwardly and outwardly delighted over these circumstances. Marcus was good looking, charming, humorous, and more than willing to listen, see him, and spend time with him. He found his "freaky" likes endearing and cute that it made Castiel flush when he complimented him. In Castiel's eyes he was too good to be true and in fact he was.
It was a week and five days after they started dating that Castiel hesitantly informed Dean as they had dinner he was dating Carmen's long-time friend and the shock was worth it as he spluttered and narrowed his eyes.
"Marcus? I didn't…I didn't think he was your type"
"Well…my one night stand with him turned out to be…more" he said sticking a fry into his mouth chewing slowly. "I like him, Dean, and you keep telling me I need someone, I need to loosen up and let myself go so that's what I'm doing. I thought you would be glad"
"I am, Cas, I am…it's just…I wasn't expecting it" Dean said with a swallow. "So this has been going down since I dragged you out?"
"Yes, how's Carmen?"
"She's good, more than good, she's a little busy lately so I haven't seen her in two days" he said sipping his drink. "Are you seeing Marcus tonight?"
"Yes" he said with a nod looking at the television screen. "I'll be staying at his"
"Oh" Dean murmured suddenly not wanting his dinner now. His stomach felt twisted and he really didn't like it that Castiel was dating Marcus. Dean didn't like Marcus, he didn't like his smug attitude and he didn't like he was now dating his best friend.
Dean watched from narrowed eyes when Castiel's phones rang and he jumped up walking out of the room with a secret smile. He brought his thumb chewing around the skin and walked into the kitchen dumping his plate in the sink and started to clean to distract himself from the low tone from Castiel in his bedroom.
"Are you coming around here tonight?"
"Yes, I told Dean"
"You…you told him?"
"Yes, I needed to"
"I thought we had discussed we wouldn't tell anyone" Marcus said slowly.
"Well…Dean is my best friend and he told me about Carmen" Castiel said with a shrug pacing up and down his bedroom slowly. The silence was slow and torturous as Castiel paused with a furrowed brow.
"Fine" Marcus said with sharpness in his tone before hanging up.
That was the start of the change in character from Marcus. It wasn't noticeable at first as they spent time together but when Castiel did something Marcus didn't like, he would make it clear to Castiel who could only listen or watch in confusion before apologising over and over again. It disturbed Castiel that he gave in so easily but when apologies were given the change of character went back to the one he knew, the one he was starting to really care about.
It was now December and two months into their relationship as they classed themselves "boyfriends" and were out in the open. While their relationship was pushing on, Dean and Carmen's was ending in a raging argument that had Castiel stuck in his room as they shouted and screamed at each other in the living area.
"Oh so she just happened to land on you, kiss you, and rubbed herself all over you so you smell like a fucking rosebush?"
"It was…nothing!" he shouted back.
"You're a fucking liar! You've been acting odd for months! The moment Lacy arrived and you stared at her ass, yes I saw, you've been drooling all over the plastic slag!" she shouted shoving him back. "Do not even bother and deny it!"
"You're deluded" he shot back.
Carmen scoffed shaking her hair and shoved him out of the way as she stormed out.
"Slags belong together, take her, fuck her, and get yourself riddled in diseases because me and you are so over, you dick" she hissed storming out and slamming the door behind him. Dean swallowed hard rubbing the back of his neck moving around and dropping on the couch with a hard sigh. Castiel pushed up opening the door and looking at Dean who stared up at him with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dean"
"Don't be, it's my fault, I was eyeing Lacy because she's gorgeous and…I didn't stop the kiss" he said running a hand through his hair. "Sorry"
"Why are you apologising?"
"You were listening"
"I was ignoring it" he murmured sitting down and resting his head on his shoulder. "Marcus is coming around tonight"
Dean grimaced looking away and knew the world was out to get him and make him feel worse about himself.
"Great"
"You don't have to sound so thrilled" Castiel murmured sarcastically. "I wish you two would get along…it is very awkward that my boyfriend and best friend don't like each other"
"He gives me a bad feeling" Dean murmured with a snort. "But fine, I'll try for you"
"Thank you" Castiel murmured and glanced around. "Christmas soon, we'll need to get a tree"
"Oh shut up, it's not Christmas to tell I say it is" Dean said shoving him away gently and grinning when Castiel tackled him onto the floor for a fight. He laughed kicking at his feet till Castiel faltered landing on the floor with a huff and a broken moan at the pain spreading across his lower back.
"I win" Dean muttered sitting on his legs.
"Yes, get off me" Castiel murmured with a chuckle when Dean relented. Castiel winced sitting up and holding up his elbow in shock.
"I have carpet burn"
"Poor baby" Dean cooed and smiled when Castiel flushed looking away. "You'll be fine, rub some cream in"
"You hurt me"
"Come on" Dean said holding out his hands for Castiel who took them and stood with a small smile. He smiled when Dean rubbed the side of his neck with his thumb before moving away.
"You can always cheer me up, Cas" he said looking over to him. "Never leave me"
"I promise" he called over to him before looking down and pulling out his ringing mobile.
"Where are you?"
"In the apartment"
"I'm coming over"
Castiel opened his mouth confused when the phone clicked and he heard the dial tone. He frowned shoving it in his pocket but shoved it in his pocket walking over to Dean rooting around the fridge.
"Marcus is coming around now"
"Is that your subtle hint of telling me to fuck off and now" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"No, no, no, you don't have to leave but be nice?" he said leaning his chin on his shoulder.
"Fine" he muttered narrowing his eyes and pulling away. Castiel turned heading to the door when Marcus knocked heavy and demanding. He pulled it open and blinked when he came in all smiles and peered around.
"Is Dean here?"
"Yes"
"But I told you I was coming around"
"Um…yes but this is his apartment too" Castiel said swallowing when Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"I don't want him here, you know how I feel about him, and your…friendship, you're too close, far too close for my liking" he said slowly staring into his eyes. "I want him gone"
"I can't ask him that, Marcus, this is home too and he's…Carmen and Dean have broken up" he whispered shaking his head.
"Do it…now" he hissed moving into his personal space before moving away and heading into his bedroom. Castiel swallowed unnerved and moved slowly heading to the kitchen to see Dean munching on a burger he had thrown in the microwave.
"Dean, I know I said before about you not going for a…"
"I get it, I get it" Dean said with a snort. "You want me gone"
"Only for a bit"
"It's alright, I'll go get a drink and see a few friends" he said with a roll of his eyes but it was all in good humour. "I'll see you later, don't get pregnant"
"I'm sorry…"
"Cas, it's fine, you did it for me when Carmen and I wanted peace" he said with a smirk poking his nose and leaving. Castiel watching as he picked up his jacket and walked out, he sighed moving to his bedroom to see Marcus holding a picture of him and Dean from three years ago at the beginning.
"You've always been close I see"
"We're best friends; he's always been there for me…you know this"
"Yeah" he said and let it go from his hand so it fell to the floor and the glass cracked over Dean's face. Castiel gasped shocked moving quickly forward to scoop it up and stared at him aghast.
"Why…?" he said and gasped softly when Marcus tugged it away putting it on the side and moved into his personal space cupping the side of his cheek.
"Forget about it" he ordered and eyed the bed. "I'm in the mood"
"I'm not…"
"Come on, we haven't had sex in two days" he said cocking his head at him. "I'm in the mood, Cas, and you don't want me to be upset with you…do you? I mean, I don't like being upset with you"
"No" he murmured gasping when he covered his mouth in a hard kiss going for his belt buckle. "I just…"
"It's fine, it's okay" Marcus whispered pushing him on the bed. "You are, come on"
Castiel nodded underneath him as they pulled at each other's clothing and he tried to ignore the disturbed feeling in the pit of his stomach as they had the sex Castiel didn't want or feel like. He lay next to Marcus afterwards tired from the two orgasms forced out of him from Marcus's hands and mouth. His body felt tender and sore afterward like always and he looked over to Marcus curled around his dozing. Castiel sighed softly shifting away and moving to get up when a hand fastened too tightly around his wrist.
"Where are you going?"
"I need a drink"
Marcus eyed him letting go of his wrist with a nod. Castiel swallowed cradling his wrist to his chest moving away and out of the bedroom till he reached the kitchen and looked at his wrist in confusion. It was red from the sudden grip and throbbed quite painfully, Castiel didn't like this feeling coursing through his veins; he didn't like this sudden possessive and strange side to Marcus. He sipped the orange juice pulling his phone to him to see if he had any messages and sighed softly seeing none. His thumb went down his contacts till he reached Gabriel's number and he pressed call.
"Evening kiddo" Gabriel hollered down the phone.
"Gabe, hey, how is everyone?"
"Fine, all fine, mom is good, Anna is learning to read big books and Sam is out…with friends" he said with a cough.
"Gabriel?"
"He's…I think…I think he has a girlfriend or a boyfriend, he's being very secretive, constantly on his phone, going out, and I just…I think he has someone"
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yeah, yeah, of course…I just…I never see him anymore"
"Gabe…"
"Hey, no, it's fine…how are you and the boyfriend?"
"We're good" he murmured looking at his hands. "Dean and I are coming down for Christmas"
"Oh! Mom was asking but she didn't know your plans, I'll tell her"
"Good"
Marcus who had heard his low conversation waited in the living room watching his back with narrowed eyes and clenched fists.
"I…I…yeah, I know, I have to go…you too, yeah" he said with a small smile hanging up and turning to see Marcus staring at him.
"Did I hear that correctly? You and Dean are going home for Christmas?"
"Yes"
"What if I wanted to spend it with you?"
"You can't, I mean, I'm going to spend it with my family" he said with a grim set to his jaw.
"So while you planned this…you didn't think of me?" he said moving towards him. "You know I have no family, what if I wanted to come?"
"We've only been together two months and it's Christmas…" he said slowly and jumped when Marcus darted forward.
"Wow, you're so selfish, aren't you?" he said softly. "That's a bad trait, that's makes me upset"
"Marcus, I'm sorry but…" he said and gasped when a hand cupped his cheek, nails digging in hard, hard enough to cause pain and to break the skin.
"Selfishness is ugly" he hissed. "You're ugly right now"
"What…stop it" he said with a fierce set in his eyes shoving him away breathing hard. Marcus stared at him for a long moment angrily till it slipped away so suddenly and it turned into one of regret as he touched his cheek.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…I just wanted to spend it with you" he whispered stroking his hands over the cut now slowly forming into a bruise. "I'm sorry"
"It's okay" Castiel murmured when he kissed him. "I just…they're my family and Dean is my best friend, his brother is there and there's always New Year"
"Bringing in the New Year…sounds fun" he said grabbing his hand and taking him into the bedroom. "Now let me make it up to you…intimately"
Castiel swallowed hard glancing at the bed and moved forward with a fake smile and a nod. He felt scared.
~0~0~0~0~
Dean sighed as he watched the latest girl walk away defeated and a little disgruntled by his apparent disinterest but he was in no mood. He sighed walking back home feeling more than tired when he opened the apartment door and paused when he heard moans and squeaking of bed springs coming from Castiel's bedroom. He sighed deeply and in disgust moving away and into the kitchen slamming the fridge door hard with smug satisfaction when the sounds decreased. Dean leaned against the counter eating slowly when the door opened and Marcus walked out with narrowed eyes and nothing but jeans on.
"You're back"
"I live here"
"I hear you and Carmen broke up"
"Yup" he said with a nod. "We didn't last long but…um; my broken heart will heal because of my Cas"
Dean smirked at the flare of anger in Marcus's eyes and he shifted moving away heading to his own bedroom.
"Face it, he will always be mine more than he's yours" Dean whispered moving away from him. Marcus swallowed looking over his shoulder at Dean's retreating form. He breathed out harshly moving into the bedroom to see Castiel sitting up with a frown.
"Were you and Dean arguing?"
"Shut your mouth and lie down" he hissed to him.
"What…?" Castiel said and gasped in pain when he shoved him down attacking his mouth with enough force to bruise and blood to explode in his mouth.
"Marcus, no!" Castiel breathed shoving at him and gasped when he shoved his hands down by his side.
"I said…shut up; you never stop talking, just shut up"
Castiel breathed out shakily looking into his eyes that were blacker then brown right now. He was more afraid than anything else, he didn't like this, and he didn't like this Marcus who changed like a switch. Marcus moved off him getting dressed while Castiel struggled up watching him.
"I'm leaving, I'll call you tomorrow" he said not facing him and walked out leaving Castiel to simply watch trembling and confused. He pushed up when the door slammed and he sat at end of the bed clutching the blanket running everything through his mind. Castiel knew that Marcus' parent's death anniversary was coming up soon and it could explain the erratic behaviour but it was bullying. He didn't know how long he was sat there staring into the darkness feeling tears prick his eyes till he felt a shiver run down his spine. It was loneliness, confusion, despair and he needed only one person right now as he found some pyjama pants and underwear pulling them on.
Castiel opened the bedroom door to see Dean on his side asleep and he paused hesitating before creeping over sitting on the edge. He reached out shaking his shoulder till Dean jerked awake confused blinking.
"Cas?"
"Hello"
"Hey…what?" he said peeking at his alarm. "It's nearly 2am, Cas"
"Can I sleep in here?" he whispered clutching his hands into the mattress and sheet. Dean narrowed his tired eyes before nodding with a sigh pulling open his duvet so Castiel could slide in pressing against Dean who closed his eyes. Castiel let his head rest against his shoulder until Dean huffed manhandling him till he was the little spoon.
"Thank you"
"Sleep, idiot" Dean murmured with a huff. "We'll talk in the morning at reasonable hours"
Castiel smiled despite the pain the little cut in his cheek, it hurt like a reminder, a horrible reminder and he frowned before ignoring it the best he could enjoying the warmth of Dean pressed against his back. Nothing made sense right now but if there was one constant in his life, it was Dean.
A/N: This will get worse. Enjoy and please review!