Author's Note:
Sorry for the late update guys, I kind of ended up being busy the last little while and hadn't had a chance to finish writing this chapter. I'd written over half of it and figured 'you know what, I want to add a bit more to it' and never did so now that I finally got around to adding those things, here you are :) I hope you enjoy it and thanks again for all the reviews, helps me keep the motivation to continue. (so many urges to write Avengers fiction over here... so many urges)
After lunch was nothing special, Dean found absolutely no opportunities to show Castiel anything. People slowly started to warm up to the new version of Cas, though, he quickly became a favourite for all of the girls in their grade. None of them had ever had a gay friend before; it was possibly the coolest thing that they could think to happen in their grade 12 year. Dean rolled his eyes when he heard the girls talking about it, giggling over it and going on about how they'd invite Cas to their sleepovers.
Dean didn't even know that these girls still did that! Seventeen years old and still with the sleepovers? Why didn't any of the guys know of this? They'd be all over that 'peeping' shit. At least he knew Jet would have, had he known anything about it. Regardless though, Dean wished he could get invited just to get the chance to sleep next to Castiel.
Garth and Chuck weren't invited either though at least they still got to stand with Castiel while the girls flocked him. Dean watched as the two mostly unpopular guys looked like they'd died and gone to heaven, obviously being friends with Castiel and going through that hell with him had paid off in some way. Dean wished he could proudly say he'd stood up for something. He had, technically, stood up for what he believed in but his thoughts weren't exactly tolerant ones...
"Castiel!" Jo hurried through the crowd and caught the teen's arm, his blue eyes lighting up when he saw her.
"Jo, hi." He smiled and glanced down at something in her arms, "What're those for?"
Dean strained to see though he didn't have to for very long, she lifted up a sheet of paper and beamed, "You were a class rep in grade 9, right?"
"No... actually I was voted out of that position." Castiel did his best to keep the snide tone to himself but Dean could tell it was there, Jet had made a good point about the 'not being a dick in public' thing.
"Yeah, most of you guys voted for people like Dean." Garth added the snarkiness that Castiel had managed to avoid, someone still had to show their backbone here. "Popularity contest and all that."
Jo paused, "Oh... that sucks..." She was in a grade lower than them, Dean was well aware of that since their families seemed to get along pretty well, especially their dads. She was always into the whole student council thing and apparently that's what she was after currently. "Well did you want to run for student council president?"
"Me?" Castiel sounded legitimately surprised and all the supporting talk around him didn't help much. "But... but isn't there someone more qualified for this? I mean I wasn't ever a class rep here and-"
"Cas, quit being so modest." Chuck elbowed him, "Or scared, whichever it is."
"Yeah, you told us that you were vice president of the student council back in England." Garth smiled, "Come on, if anything this'll be easier, it's a smaller school."
Cas turned an unimpressed stare on his friends and Dean couldn't help but find it adorable. The way his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed just enough to bring his cheeks up, his lips pressed together tightly and his jaw clenched in the perfectly defining the details in his neck. "Alright," Cas looked back at Jo who lit up at his words, "I'll run for it."
"Perfect! So far you're the only one running for president." She grinned and wrote his name down, not looking at the 'I've been had' expression his face twisted into.
"Hey! Jo!" Dean called, "I'll run for vice, if that's okay." He smiled when she beamed at him.
"You mean it?" Jo had always had difficulty rounding people into being on the student council; it wasn't exactly something every teenager was leaping at the chance for. "This'll be a good year, I think!" She handed them both the papers to fill out and anyone else who decided to sign up, not that there were that many.
Cas glanced at Dean, a look that had an edge to it. As playful as he was acting, as nice as he seemed, that look was like a dagger straight into Dean. 'Wow... Jet wasn't kidding, he hates my guts.' Regardless, he returned the glare with a smile and filled the page out.
As everyone escaped to the classroom, last break was over, Dean was about to follow when a hand gripped the back of his shirt and pulled him back, another one pressed against his chest and slamming him into a locker. Dean was shocked, staring up right into Castiel's unsettling stare. "Hi, Cas."
"Don't give me that," Cas snarled, "What are you up to?"
Jet glanced at them but didn't feel the need to step in and walked into the class, keeping an eye on Garth and Chuck who had promptly saved Cas' regular seat.
"What do you mean? I signed up to be vice president, what's the issue?" Dean tried to sound innocent, that his motive wasn't to be as close to Cas as often as possible, however Castiel clearly wasn't buying it.
"Bullshit." Cas let go of him and stepped back, "If this is either a lame attempt to show me you're suddenly interested in the school, or if it's a way to stay close to me for some ungodly reason, it won't do you much good." He glanced to make sure other people weren't watching, most of the hall was empty. Cas leaned in and poked Dean in the chest once, leaving his finger pressed down there, "If you try anything to hurt me, anything at all, you're done, it's over. Understood? I won't stand for that kind of behaviour anymore, I didn't deserve being treated like some disgusting unworthy thing before and I certainly don't deserve being treated like an easy object now. When you look at me keep your eyes above my belt, I am a person with feelings and right now you're pissing every one of them off."
Dean was shocked at how pissed Cas was, he'd just tried to sign up to be vice president for pete's sake! "Cas, I promise I'm only signing up to help Jo out this year. And I'll admit I signed up for vice because you'll be president but I was going to be a rep regardless, okay?" He knew that being fully honest would have meant saying 'I want to watch you and stay close, more opportunities to prove myself' and all that, but of course then the little talking to he'd just gotten would have been a bit more violent.
Castiel stared at him, judging his honesty painfully close. "Fine." He removed his finger from Dean's chest and stepped back, "You'd better put the effort in, though. I'm not going to run this whole thing by myself. Don't you dare skip a single meeting." He briskly walked to class, just before the bell went, leaving Dean the only one late.
"Gotta say..." Dean smiled and rubbed his chest as the pain settled in from where Cas' finger had been resting. "He's even hotter when he's pissed." He couldn't get enough of that voice, the low growl in everything that Cas said when speaking to him. It was obviously a sign of his anger but damn it sounded good.
The day was over, finally. Castiel sighed and went to his locker, he wasn't out yet, he wasn't free just yet. He glanced at all the faces that turned toward him and he felt himself smiling. 'Why am I smiling at these people? None of them know what their bullying did to me. None of them moved to help. It wasn't just Dean... so why am I taking it all out on him? The only one trying to reconcile things?' He shook his head and threw his things into his bag. He just wanted to get home, to go talk to Balthazar about it.
"I'll see you guys later," he smiled at Garth and Chuck who both returned the expression.
"Yeah, glad you came back, Cas." Chuck waved.
"You're doing awesome!" Garth gave him a thumbs up.
Castiel laughed lightly and headed toward the exit, passing by Dean and Jet on his way. He made a point of not looking at them as he walked past, knowing full well that Dean's eyes were on him. Cas wanted to glance back, to see if Dean kept his eyes above waist level, but he didn't. As he walked outside he saw Balthazar's car sitting there, his English friend waving casually from the driver's side. Cas smiled excitedly and ran over as Balthazar hopped out to greet him.
They leaned over and kissed one another's cheeks, arms wrapping around each other in a quick hug. "What're you doing here?" Cas asked as he stepped back again.
"Well I knew your first day would probably be pretty terrible so I figured I'd stop in and give you a ride home." Balthazar smiled and glanced over at the front door where Dean was staring at them. The description that Cas had given of the guy seemed to fit this one so he made a note of what Dean's expression seemed to be. "Jealous."
"What?" Cas turned back and spotted Dean who definitely had a sour look on his face. "Oh... I don't think so, Balthy. That's Dean."
"I kind of figured. But he looks jealous." Balthazar grinned and gently stroked Castiel's cheek, "If our greeting to one another pisses him off then this is going to be too much fun."
Cas smirked, "You're awful, you know that? If he's jealous at all it's because you get to touch me. He's kinda pervy these days."
"He's a teenager, of course he is." Balthazar walked around the other side of the car and hopped in. "Let's go, let's go!"
Castiel laughed and hopped in as the music flared up, an English-popular mixed CD with a bunch of choice dance songs. He'd only been in Europe for a few years but he knew these songs well enough since they were Balthazar's favourites. He did a little dance in his seat as he belted himself in and Balthazar nearly floored it and they tore off the lot.
Dean was left standing and staring in complete awe. "Who the hell was that creep! ?" He stuck his palm out toward where the car had been, Jet standing at his side and shrugging.
"Not a friggin' clue, dude." Jet shrugged and started heading down the street, "Come on, man, John wanted us to run a few drills today, remember?"
"Of course I remember but who was that guy!" Dean flailed his arm a bit, just barely missing Garth as the teen walked out of the school.
"Whoa! Watch it, Winchester." Garth glanced up at him and glanced down the street as Balthazar's car disappeared, "You don't know who that was?"
"No! Do you?" Dean looked down at the suddenly smirking dork beside him.
"That's Balthazar, he's Cas' 'special' friend from England." Garth answered, his smile only growing as he looked back up at Dean and continued on down the street toward his house. "Later, losers."
Jet furrowed his brow and bent over, picked up a rock and just about threw it when Dean looked at him sharply. "What? He called us... Fine." Jet tossed the rock back to the ground, "Whatever."
Dean ignored his friend's bitter mutterings as he just stared at the last corner he'd seen the car disappear around. Cas' 'special' friend. Did that mean what he was thinking? Cas was taken already, they were together, that must have been it. Why else would the guy come pick Cas up after school? 'He looked douchey.' Dean decided angrily, too douchey for someone like Castiel.
"Hey Dean, you waited for me." Sam walked over, this being his first year he was allowed to use the high school doors.
"Yeah..." Dean muttered and shook his head, "How'd that lollipop thing... go..." Dean trailed off when he saw the blush on Sam's cheeks and the way he adjusted his collar, "Did he hurt you?" Dean quickly moved to check though Sam was stepping away from him just as fast.
"No! No! I'm fine!" He tried to shoo Dean away but his big brother moved his sweater collar pretty easily, revealing a red spot or two.
Dean sputtered and laughed, getting up again and walking away, "Oh Sam, that's too funny!"
"What's up?" Jet raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sam's burning red face then back to Dean.
"He's got hickeys all over his neck." Dean ran a finger along his own neck to show Jet where, "Apparently someone really loves candy."
Jet snorted back a laugh and joined his buddy as they headed toward the Winchester residence. Sam sighed and followed, glancing back at the school and waved at Gabriel who was watching and promptly waved back with a wink. Sam ran after Dean and noticed the route they were taking was a bit off. "Hey, where are we going? The shorter way is down-"
"I know, just wanted to grab some drinks before going home." Dean smiled, "Figured we'd pop by the convenience store again."
Sam shrugged and followed, figuring it couldn't really hurt.
"So that's basically how the day went." Cas rubbed his face and looked up at Balthazar who was sitting in a chair across from his bed, where Cas was sitting cross legged. "What do you think I should do?"
"Well I think you're doing it, really." Balthazar smiled, "You're giving him a chance even though he doesn't deserve it. That's a good sign, Cassy. Plus you're going to take leadership over the whole student body, magnificent progress for the first day. I'm pretty impressed."
"You... think I should actually give Dean a chance?" Cas squinted in confusion, "Of course you do... but... I don't know if I really can. I mean it looks like I am but I haven't considered it at all, I don't want to give him a chance. In fact I think it's dangerous what I've been doing; I'm playing with fire here."
"No, only you think you are. Dean's ogling you up and down, even I can see that."
"He's a horny teenager, and I've fallen for that 'you're attractive' pitch before. I'm not sure if you remember but it didn't go so well." Cas shuddered and clenched the hand that had been broken. It was all healed up now though sometimes he felt phantom pains in it when he woke from nightmares, it would cramp up as if being crushed though he knew there was no actual way it was possible.
"This is different, Cas. You're different." Balthazar tried to reassure him, "You can't exactly fall for something stupid like that if you don't believe it, you know? There's nothing to worry about because there's nothing any of those people can do to you anymore. You've grown up, and from what you told me people are willing to defend you now."
Cas sighed and dropped his face into his hands, "I... I guess you're right..." He knew that Balthazar had a point, that so many people were excited about his transformation, about who he'd become. But something about that bothered him to no end, who he had 'become' wasn't really anyone different. He was the same dork he used to be, he just looked better. Like he'd always thought, being in the 'popular circle' made all the difference. Unpopular people weren't allowed to enjoy music, weren't allowed to be funny or crack a joke at someone's expense. Now that he looked different and had grown up he was permitted.
He hated it. The hierarchy. The way people looked down on one another. He was glad for who he was, that he'd never let go of his friendship with Garth and Chuck because of statuses. Like Garth had once said, they were the cool kids. They were who they wanted to be and they were proud of themselves. And from Castiel's current point of view, Garth was right, that did make them the cool ones. Everyone else could learn a thing or two from that scrawny little teen named Garth.
"Think you can stay a bit longer?" Cas asked sheepishly.
"Of course." Balthazar smiled, "But I'll have to make a run down to the store, I think we're in need of a drink or two."
"Pop, you mean." Cas raised an eyebrow, "I don't want to get mixed up in alcoholic drinks and things yet."
"Obviously, you stay here, I'll be right back." Balthazar pat Castiel on the head and walked out straight to his car, driving off to that convenience store that Cas had mentioned earlier.
As Balthazar walked in he spotted the familiar frame of the one Cas called Dean, 'What luck.' He thought and strolled past the Winchester party. "Hello," He said cheerily as he walked toward the coolers in the back of the store.
Dean glanced up and his brow furrowed, "Is that...?"
"Are you Cas' friend?" Sam asked curiously, "The special one?"
Apparently word travelled fast. "Yes," Balthazar looked at them with a bright smile, "And you three are?"
"I'm Sam, I talked to Cas a little bit before he left." Sam stuck his hand out and promptly shook Balthazar's happily.
"Jet," The tallest of the teens offered briskly, not sure if anything he said would really count for something with this guy.
"Dean." Dean sounded pissed and didn't offer his hand to shake at all, "What kind of 'special friend' are you to Cas?"
"What's it to you?" Balthazar grinned, loving the look of anger he was receiving for this. He was well aware of his own position with Castiel, the helpful and guiding hand of an older friend. Someone wiser, someone to show him the right way and help him trudge through the things that bothered him. In England he had come across Castiel on that random day the teen had been hunting for super glue. Castiel had been in pieces though he couldn't see it yet. His heart broken, his will shattered, he had absolutely no sense of self worth and couldn't tell that he'd been so badly hurt. Balthazar had brought these things to light and offered a shoulder to cry on.
It was much more than that of course, he was like Castiel's private therapist and he wasn't really sure how it happened. Regardless, Balthazar was well aware that his position in Castiel's life was never to be his boyfriend or lover; it was to be his friend and the person to help glue him back together. This also meant that he was allowed to meddle with things in Castiel's life if he thought it would help.
Dean hadn't had an answer for the 'what is it to him' what Balthazar is to Castiel, he only had one thing to say, "I want to know."
"If you must know, I know Castiel in the most intimate of ways." Balthazar put on his sly expression and gave a slight raise in his eyebrows, just enough to get the desired effect.
"You're his boyfriend?" Sam asked innocently.
"As much as I'd like to lie and say I am, he'd be furious." Balthazar shrugged, "But Cas has changed a lot in the last two years, experience being a big part of that."
"Experience with what?" Dean frowned though he couldn't hide how curious he was.
"Cas is a bit of a slut, I'm afraid." Balthazar knew they were cruel words but he had to know what reaction it'd get, the sleazy, horny one that Cas expected or something much more impassioned. His question was answered swiftly when Dean's fist met his gut. Balthazar hunched forward, out of breath though he'd been hit before so it wasn't a new feeling to him.
"Don't you dare call him that." Dean snarled in his ear, leaning back to look him in the eye. "Castiel is entitled to do whatever he likes and whoever he likes, just like you, just like me and anyone else. If you say anything like that about him again I swear I'll beat you."
"Not very friendly, are you?" Balthazar smiled a bit. "Relax, I was only kidding. Cas isn't like that at all, actually. He's very... Well I won't tell you."
Dean watched as the Englishman composed himself again, rubbing his stomach carefully. "What? He's very what?"
"Cas is still pretty hurt." Balthazar grabbed a bottle of cream soda and root beer, figuring some variety would be nice. Pepsi and Coke were overrated.
"Hurt? Physically or...?" Dean thought about the museum, those sharp eyes that he now remembered to be in some kind of pain, fear. "He's scared."
"Bingo." Balthazar smiled and headed for the counter, "Cas is frightened out of his mind, despite his little show at school."
"You heard about that?" Jet smirked, "That one douche he told off, didn't seem to be scared of sexual activities then."
"No, that's because people admire confidence. Cas is a natural actor, he can fake confidence like a pro. I know, I taught him how to." Balthazar shrugged with a light laugh, "It's the first step to gaining real confidence in yourself. He's still working on it; coming back to school here was one of the final steps. I've done a lot to help but he has to take some steps on his own."
Dean didn't know what to say, that gorgeous thing was scared? Those strong words, the way he stood up to Dean and seemed comfortable with himself, those were all fake? Or they were real but it took very little to revert Castiel back into his shell to hide. All that bullying... all the horrible things said and done to Cas had ruined him. Dean had a hand in dismantling another person and leaving them broken. He felt a sick churning in his gut as the thoughts pressed on his mind. "What can I do?"
"You? I don't know." Balthazar shook his head after paying for his items, "Cas is difficult to please and he's very complicated. I don't know what he wants from you. So I guess good luck."
Dean watched the Englishman walk away and shook his head, "Okay..."
"What?" Jet raised an eyebrow, not sure he totally understood. "What's the 'okay' for?"
"I have to try harder." Dean looked up at Jet with determination, "I have to do something differently. He's hurt, he's scared and it's my fault. Or... he's taking it out on me because I was the last bully he saw before he never came back. I need to figure out how to show him I'm not a monster."
"You aren't a monster." Sam said after a moment, "Cas is pretty smart, I think he'll see that yet."
"Being brutalized by people really tends to shed a different light on situations, Sam." Jet shook his head, "He won't see it unless it's painted obviously right in front of him. Though I think it helps that you punched his friend."
"Not funny." Dean frowned.
"No seriously," Jet chuckled though he didn't mean to, "He wanted to get a reaction out of you so he pretended to call Cas a slut. You immediately punched him in the gut for it, I think he'll pass that little tid-bit on for you."
"He would if he wanted to help me out but I doubt he thinks he owes me any favours." Dean shrugged, "But I guess I can hope."
Sam nodded slowly and shook his head, "Wow. I guess karma really is a bitch."
Dean laughed, "Yeah, Sammy, it is. Don't you forget it, either."
"I don't think I'll have to worry, I'm not a jerk like you." Sam smirked at him and was promptly noogied for such a traitorous comment.