A/N: Goodness gracious! Sorry for not replying to basically ANY of your reviews, but I've had no time to actually get around to it. A lot of the times I don't reply because the review is "Good job, write some more." which makes me really happy, but I don't know what to say in reply and then others you write me some awesome enthusiastic review or its super invested and emotional and I just want to gush over how awesome you are and how you are a wonderful person and how I grinned like an idiot while I read the review via email in math class. (My math teacher thought I really liked sin and cosin.) So here's a blanket thank you to all of you and I hope you will continue reading this fic and writing reviews even if I don't reply to them.
Also, Apocalyxtic98 said that if I wrote more dialogue and "tedious stuff" (I'm guessing more explanation of environment and actions.) I could make it into a book. I'm actually planning on making a heavily edited PDF of this story once it's finished, with illustrations (If I can get my lazy hands to work. Unless someone who's pretty good at art is willing to draw some stuff?) and it will be free and available on my Deviantart or somewhere I can get it posted and dowloadable. (I'll give my username to you if you ask either with PM or just by review.) I'm going to be a whore/Assbutt here and also offer up my Tumblr URL to those who ask. I often post concept art for this fic (Plus extra short stories in this verse that won't make it in the fanfiction) and other fics I'm working on on that website, just FYI.
Um.. I think that's it. Long Author's Note is long. Anyways, please enjoy this chapter!
The next day they were all loaded up in the car, on their way to the Laundromat. Castiel was dressed in what John had met him in, blue hoody, blue shirt, and jeans. Dean and Sam were both still in their pajamas. John tried to convince Castiel to do the same, but he seemed appalled by the idea of walking around in clothes that were for sleeping. John realized it probably wasn't a good idea to let Castiel wander around in them anyway, not after what Sammy did, so John conceded and allowed him to get dressed.
Sammy cooed and giggled in the backseat as John pulled into a parking spot, putting the car in park and exiting to get him out. Sammy had been in a good mood since he had woke up that morning, perched on Castiel's stomach. He proceeded to spit up on Castiel as soon as he had sat up, effectively repelling Dean from the bed. Castiel seemed unperturbed by it, taking the offered towel from John and cleaned himself calmly. Since then Sammy had been in the most cheerful mood John had seen him in a good month. Apparently throwing up on an angel put you in a good mood. Who knew?
As they walked into the Laundromat they were assaulted by awes from all ages of women in the mat before they rushed up to John and the kids. Sammy seemed to enjoy the attention, but Dean constantly shied away from them. Castiel placed himself between Dean and the women, squaring his shoulders and sending threatening glares at the women who dared come close. This was counterproductive as Castiel's glare had the ferocity of a baby panda and the women just kept crowding them talking about how protective the "big brother" was.
After a couple minutes of allowing the women to ruffle Cas' hair and poke at Sammy, John managed to shoo them away. Dean was glaring at them from behind Castiel as they retreated back to their laundry. John sighed and ruffled Dean's hair, "You're little lady killers. You know that?" He said, shaking his head fondly at them.
"I didn't kill any of them." Castiel said firmly, seemingly angry at the accusation. Dean patted his shoulder and whispered something in his ear, Castiel adopted one of his enlightened expressions and nodded. "Oh…" He said to John as an apology for his anger. John just shook his head and handed Sammy to Castiel. Castiel held him slightly at arm's length before cuddling him to his chest and tilting his head.
"Don't look at me like that." John said, turning to open their clothing bag. "He's in a Cas mood." As if to prove the statement, Sammy giggled and nuzzled up closely into Cas' neck.
Dean took a seat on the floor, and Cas followed suit as they watched John pretty much throw everything into the washing machine at once and then stop to pick out the whites as an afterthought. He then carried all the white clothing over to a different washing machine and shoved them inside. He added soap to both of them next, or what Castiel assumed was soap it poured like sand, but was white. He then put coins into slots that were installed on the sides of both washers and hit a button at the top; soon their area of the mat was filled with metallic clunking noises.
"Okay, what are we going to do while we wait?" John asked cheerfully, looking over at the three boys sat on the floor. Sammy had nuzzled himself to Castiel and fallen asleep and Dean was leaning on his shoulder well on his way to sleep. "Apparently it's nap time." He said, sitting down on the floor next to Dean and leaned his head on the washing machine behind him, he seemed to be dozing within a few minutes.
Castiel kept a watchful eye on all of them, turning his head to survey the room. He watched people walk in waves of five or six past the Laundromat window, keeping tabs on which ones could be a threat. He found it odd that he had been on Earth so long and no demons seemed to have noticed. His brothers had warned him about them targeting younger angels when they carried out their Father's Will on Earth. He watched several more waves before a face caught his eye. It was hard not to, the man had his face pressed up to the glass, brow furrowed as if he were looking for something, it was Loki. His eyes lit up when he spotted Castiel and waved at him, before running over to the door and opening it.
Castiel's eyes never left Loki until he was settled next to him on the floor. "Hello, Loki." Castiel said. Loki put up a finger and shushed him.
"John doesn't like me much, don't wanna wake him." Loki said, grinning. "How ya' doing, kid?" He asked materializing a candy bar and taking a bite. As an afterthought, he offered Castiel a package of colorfully wrapped hard candies that seemed to come out of nowhere. Castiel accepted it with the hand that wasn't supporting Sammy and inspected it.
"Thank you." Castiel said, setting the candies next to him. "I am well." He said and Loki raised an eyebrow at him.
"You not going to eat any?" Loki asked with a slightly wounded tone. Castiel looked confused but didn't say anything, giving the candies a sideways glance. "That's why I gave them to you!" Loki said, opening the package and pulling out a blue one. He opened it for Castiel and placed it in his hand. Castiel inspected it before placing it in his mouth.
"I was going to save them for Sammy and Dean." Castiel explained with his mouth full. He shut his mouth and looked thoughtful before opening it again. "This tastes pleasant, thank you." Loki chuckled.
"No problem! Wasn't any trouble. Just don't tell John where you got them." Loki said, patting Castiel on the head. He looked like he was about to leave, but Castiel called to him before could.
"Wait! Why did you assist me?" Castiel asked, Loki gave him a strange look.
"I need a reason?" Loki asked, Castiel looked thoughtful for a moment.
"It wouldn't make sense otherwise." Castiel said firmly. Loki chuckled.
"Cas, not everything makes sense." Loki said, getting up to leave, he was half way out of the mat before he turned to Castiel. "But everything's got a reason." He said and was gone, leaving Castiel in deep thought at his words.
What does that mean? Jimmy asked, breaking Castiel's concentration.
Castiel was contemplating going after Loki, but was interrupted by a loud, shrill beep, that had him jumping about an inch off the floor. His movement caused Dean's head to bounce slightly from its resting place on Cas' shoulder and he woke with a small groan. John was next to wake up, immediately checking to see if Dean and Sammy were alright, before noticing the laundry was done washing. He got up to transfer the clothing from the washing machine to the drier, leaving Dean and Castiel to their own devices. Castiel reached into the package of candy left for him by Loki and pulled out a yellow one and offered it to Dean. Dean took it and began unwrapping it.
"Thanks." Dean said, giving Castiel a small smile before popping the candy in his mouth and humming thoughtfully. Together Castiel and Dean watched people pass by the Laundromat windows, the amount of people passing by at a time had increased due to it being midday. Sammy was still asleep and nuzzled closer into Castiel's chest. Just as Sammy was settling himself again, Castiel saw it. It was a demon casually strolling past the Laundromat, it looked in through the window and then continued on its way. Its human face was calm, but its demonic one was twisted into a gleeful smile. Castiel handed Sammy to Dean and stood abruptly, running over to John.
"There is a demon." Castiel said quietly, motioning out towards the windows. "I do not know if it knows we are here, but caution should be taken." He warned.
John tensed immediately at the mention of a demon. "Where is it?" He asked, casting a nervous glance around the Laundromat. Castiel tugged on his sleeve and pointed out the window of the Laundromat.
"No, Mr. Winchester, outside. It was moving amongst the crowds." Castiel explained. "Do you want me to track it?" He asked. It looked like he was already starting to do so, eyes adopting a sort of distant look. "If it gets too far, I may lose it."
John was about to say something, but Dean walked up cradling Sammy to his chest, who was fussing. "Daddy, he's hungry." He said, offering Sam up to John.
"Not now, Dean." John said, pushing Sam back into Dean's arms. Dean looked sadly at his little brother then back up at John.
"But-" John gave him a stern look and Dean shut his mouth. Castiel's expression had gone grim and angry, looking at John the way a disapproving parent would.
"Mr. Winchester, take care of your children. I will deal with the demon." Castiel said, and before John could blink he was gone.
Castiel reappeared behind the demon, taking off at a full run towards it. The demon heard him coming and turned a small smile on its vessel's lips. "Hello, little angel." The thing said. Castiel's sneak attack plan was pretty much ruined, but he had a backup plan. He flew the short distance it took to get to the demon, and made sure he was level with its face. The demon looked about confused at Castiel's sudden disappearance when he took flight and then yelped in surprise when Castiel reappeared in its line of sight and slammed a palm on its forehead. It barely had time to open its mouth to scream before Castiel had exorcised it, he wasn't strong enough to kill, but it wouldn't be walking the realm of man anytime soon. People around him screamed and vacated the area as quickly as possible.
"Nice." Castiel whirled around at the uttered word, to see Loki leaning on a street sign sucking on a lollipop and looking pleased.
"It was not as stealthy as I would have liked." Castiel admitted, looking over at the previously possessed man, now regaining consciousness. Loki shrugged.
"Still pretty awesome, kid." He said, ruffling Castiel's hair and walking his way down the now deserted street. Castiel blushed slightly, and nodded.
"Thank you. I suppose I will be seeing you?" Castiel asked, not sure if he was hoping Loki would say yes or no.
"Only if you want to." Loki said vaguely, turning to wink at Castiel before continuing on his merry way. Castiel stood a few more seconds watching him leave and wracking his brain to remember who Loki reminded him of and then left, flying to meet up with the Winchesters once more.
When Castiel finally reappeared, John was shoving now dry clothes into the bag that Castiel had dubbed the clothing bag and Dean was feeding Sammy a bottle carefully. He looked up and stood, bringing Sammy with him. "Where'd you go, Cas?" He asked, looking him over to make sure he hadn't been hurt.
"I had to take care of something." Castiel said, and Dean frowned.
"Did you hafta' go to the potty?" Dean asked, adjusting the bottle so Sammy would get more milk than air. "You can just say so." He blushed slightly. "I hafta' potty, can you hold Sammy?"
"Yes." Castiel grabbed Sammy from Dean. Dean gave him a quick crash course in how to feed a wiggling baby and then dashed off to the restrooms. Castiel watched him go; carefully maneuvering the bottle back into Sammy's mouth every time he pushed it out. John walked over after Dean had left.
"Did you lose him?" John asked nervously. Castiel shook his head.
"I exorcised it. It will not be walking Earth for a time." Castiel said. John looked impressed. Sammy decided that particular time was a great time to make a gurgling cooing noise and spit all the milk in his mouth onto Castiel's sleeve. He sighed. "Sammy, why do you insist on depositing bodily fluids and food on me?" Sammy giggled and clapped his hands and John laughed. Dean returned soon after that, and John loaded them up into the car, they were going to go to a different hotel just in case there were other demons around. Castiel agreed with this plan and soon they were on the highway, headed to a different town.
To be continued... (I'm pretty sure Bobby shows up next chapter, my friends.)