Castiel was curled up on the couch in his plaid sweatpants and blue long sleeve shirt. He had a mug of hot chocolate in his hands, taking sips of it every so often. Michael was sitting in the armchair nearby with his own cup of hot chocolate. They were watching some Christmas movie that Castiel had never heard of, but Michael insisted it was good and "a classic". So far, Castiel just thought it was cheesy.

Castiel hadn't heard much from Dean since Sunday, although he was ignoring his texts. He was still a bit upset from their fight, and was having a hard time forgiving him. He eventually ended up talking to Michael about what happened, and Michael essentially told him (in better terms) to get his head out of his ass. "This kid obviously likes hanging out with you, Castiel," he had said. "Yes, you absolutely shouldn't be friends with someone who wants to keep you a secret, but I'm not sure if that's exactly what's happening here. I think you should at least talk to him and figure out what's going on."

Castiel knew Michael was right, but he just wasn't ready to admit it. Maybe he took things a little too hard because of his crush. Maybe he knew that he was overreacting and actually missed Dean a lot. Maybe he really did need to get his head out of his ass.

He was lost in thought, barely even paying attention to the movie, when the doorbell rang. He and Michael looked at each other, then at the door. "I'll get it," Castiel offered, standing and setting down his mug. He walked over to the door and opened it to find Dean Winchester standing on his doorstep.

"Castiel..." Dean started, lifting his head to look at him.

"Dean?" Castiel asked. He looked at the boy, seeing the bruises all over his face, and dried blood around his nose. He noticed his nose was also a bit misshapen from the last time he saw him. "Oh my god, what happened to you?"

Dean shook his head. "Honestly, it's not important at the moment. I came here to talk to you, and apologize."

Before Castiel could say anything, Michael appeared behind him in the doorway. His eyes widened when he noticed the state of Dean's face. "Dean, what happened to you?"

"I'm okay," Dean replied, looking away for a moment. "But Castiel, can we talk? Please?" He looked up at Castiel, eyes pleading with him.

Castiel nodded curtly. "Let's go for a walk."

X

Castiel grabbed his coat, hat, and mittens and a few minutes later the two boys were walking around the block. Dean had his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, trying to keep warm. A silence hung in the air between them for a while before Dean spoke.

"Listen, Castiel," he started, looking at the ground as they walked. "I'm sorry for trying to make you keep our friendship a secret. It wasn't cool. You were right; I shouldn't care about what anyone else thinks, and you're too important of a person to just be kept a secret."

Castiel watched the other boy, his heart thumping. You're too important. He took a deep breath and watched the fog travel from his mouth in the cold air. "Dean, I'm sorry too."

"For what?" Dean asked, looking over at him.

"I let my emotions get the better of me. I should have known you didn't have ill intentions, and I should have talked to you instead of flipping out."

"It's okay, Castiel."

"Can we...can we go back to how things were?" He asked quietly.

"Of course. Water under the bridge," Dean grinned at him and he grinned back.

They continued walking for a bit in silence before Castiel spoke up again. "Dean, what happened to your face?"

Dean flinched and looked at the ground. "Uh...my father happened."

Castiel grabbed Dean's arm and stopped. "Wait, what? Your father?" His eyes widened.

Dean nodded, not meeting Castiel's eyes. "Yeah, my father."

"Dean...I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Dean said with a shrug. They started walking again. "My mother died when I was real young, in a house fire that started in my brother's nursery. After she died, he changed. Started drinking, started hitting. Mostly Sam." He sighed. "I started running interference. Any time he would go after Sam, I'd step in and set him off so he'd come after me instead."

Castiel's eyes started to water as his heart ached. "Dean..."

"Tonight I just pushed him way too far. He started in on Sam, called him names, saying he was gay. I lost my cool and went off."

Castiel sniffled and wiped a few tears away. He had no idea that Dean was being abused at home.

"I don't know why I'm telling you all of this," Dean continued. "I guess I just felt like you'd be the only one to understand."

"I do understand, Dean," Castiel replied. "I've been in your shoes."

Dean looked up suddenly. "Wait...really?"

Castiel nodded, meeting the other boy's eyes. "The reason why I live with Michael is because of my father." He could feel his heart beating quicker as he spoke. He had never told anyone about what happened to him, not even Garth. "Me and my siblings - Michael, Gabriel, and Anna - were adopted by Chuck. Lucifer's father. Shortly after he started the abuse, targeting me specifically."

"Holy shit," Dean said quietly, staring at the other boy with wide eyes.

"He was very prejudiced, he attacked me because...because I'm gay. He hated everything I did because of it. My siblings had to run interference and protect me whenever they could."

Castiel stopped walking and looked out at the houses on the street. Some had no lights on, others had a couple living room lamps that illuminated their windows. Dean stopped next to him and watched him, waiting for him to continue.

"A couple of years ago he and Michael got into a bad fight. He beat my brother pretty badly." He sucked in a breath through his gritted teeth. "Chuck took off after that. Haven't seen him since."

Dean sighed and looked down. He lifted a hand and gently rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Cas, I'm sorry."

Castiel half shrugged. "It's okay. You can't change what happened. But at least he's gone now."

"Still, you didn't deserve any of that."

"Neither did you, Dean."

The two set off walking again. Castiel looked at the ground, blinking repeatedly to try to keep his tears at bay. He didn't feel like crying today.

"I think," Dean started slowly. "I think I got so upset because I just kept thinking about what he would do to me if he knew I wasn't straight."

Castiel looked up suddenly, eyes wide. "Wait...you're gay?"

"Bisexual, actually." Dean didn't meet his eyes, but he could sense the nervousness in his voice. "Newly discovered."

Castiel let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Dean Winchester was bisexual. Suddenly the events of the past couple weeks made sense. "Dean, I had no idea..."

Dean looked up at him. "I've been flirting with you everyday the past couple of weeks and you didn't think anything of it?" They held each other's gaze for a minute before he continued, "Man, you're oblivious." He chuckled.

Castiel crossed his arms. "Okay, so maybe I don't know when someone's into me. Can you blame me? I've never dated before."

Dean stopped walking and looked at the other boy. It was his turn to be surprised. "Never?"

"Never," Castiel repeated, looking away.

"A stud like you has never dated a single person before? I find that hard to believe."

Castiel scoffed. "Stud. Yeah, okay."

"It's true." Dean pulled his hands out of his pocket and rubbed them together. "I should've brought gloves."

Without thinking, Castiel stopped and walked over to Dean, taking his hands in his own, and rubbing them to help warm them up. After a few seconds he looked up to find Dean staring at him intensely. "What?"

Dean shook his head. "Nothing, I just...I meant what I said."

Castiel stopped rubbing their hands together and just held them, staring back. Dean Winchester thought he was a stud. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears at this point.

After a minute, Dean spoke again. "You know what might help? If, you know, you kept holding my hands. Well, at least one of them. Preferably my right one."

"Dean Winchester, are you saying you want me to hold your hand?" Castiel asked with a small smirk. Dean didn't say anything, he just grinned in response. Castiel dropped his right hand, and grabbed Dean's right with his left, interlocking their fingers. They smiled at each other before turning and starting their walk again, their intertwined hands hanging between them.

"Did that hand holding move ever work on any of the girls you've been with?" Castiel asked after a while.

Dean shrugged. "A couple. Wait." He stopped a second and looked at Castiel. "How many girls do you think I've been with?"

"Well, you've dated quite a few. I just assumed you've...you know..."

Dean pursed his lips before speaking. "Well, you thought wrong." They started walking again.

"So...how many people have you been with?" Castiel looked at the other boy expectedly, but there wasn't a response. He looked away and said, "Sorry, that's not my business. I'm sorry I asked."

"No, it's okay," Dean replied. "I've been with one person."

"Really?" asked Castiel, surprised.

Dean nodded. "Lisa Braeden."

Castiel looked around at the houses again. That made sense. Dean and Lisa dated for their entire sophomore year. They were inseparable, until Dean broke it off for unknown reasons. Castiel was curious about what happened, but decided not to push it further. It wasn't his business, and Dean would tell him one day if he wanted to.

Dean reached into his pocket for his phone with his free hand and checked the time. "Shit, we have to get back. I promised Bobby I'd be home in an hour."

"Bobby?"

"Yeah. He's a family friend. We're staying with him until we can get the Dad situation sorted out."

Castiel nodded. "Let's head back then."

X

Ten minutes later the two were back in front of Castiel's house, still holding hands. They walked up the front steps and Castiel turned to Dean. "Please be safe getting home, Dean."

"Oh, so now that you know I'm interested in you, you suddenly care about if I get home safe? I see how it is," Dean said with a laugh.

Castiel shoved him playfully. "Hush."

Dean laughed more, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. Castiel liked making Dean laugh.

"Castiel," Dean said after he finally stopped laughing. He locked eyes with the other boy.

"Yes, Dean?"

A silence hung in the air between them as they stared at each other. Castiel's heart was beating faster, and he could feel the sweat forming on the back of his neck, despite the fact that it was thirty two degrees out.

Finally after a while Dean responded. "You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."

Before Castiel could even say anything, the Winchester boy moved closer, now only inches away. Castiel's breath hitched in his throat and his heart drummed in his ears as Dean closed the space between them and they kissed.

Castiel squeaked softly and closed his eyes, leaning into the kiss. Their mouths moved in harmony, and before Castiel could think about it, he reached a hand up and placed it gently on Dean's face. Electricity seemed to encompass the air surrounding them.

After a few seconds, they pulled apart and looked at each other. Castiel chuckled nervously, looking down as his face started to flush. Dean also chuckled nervously before saying, "Alright, I have to go."

Castiel nodded and looked up again. "Goodbye, Dean."

"Goodbye, Cas," Dean whispered in response as he slowly backed away, a goofy smile creeping on his face.

Castiel watched as the other boy got in his car and drove away, not even caring that Dean didn't call him by his full name.