Dean got home after dark and snuck upstairs to the bathroom where he striped off his ruined jeans and bloody henley. Blood had caked in his hair and stained his abdomen and leg a thick coppery red. But when he ran his fingers over where he knew he had seen not just open wounds but fucking bone there was no injury, not even a scar.

He turned on the shower and shucked his underwear, balling it all together so he could toss it in the dumpster at school tomorrow. Once the bathroom was nice and steamy, he climbed in and took a shaky breath. The heat eased into his muscles, washing away the tension his crazy day had wrought on his body. The adrenaline worked its way out of his system and exhaustion took over, his mind unfocused as he stood in the stream of water.

Who the fuck was Castiel Krushnic? What was he? How had he… Dean didn't even know the right word. Cured him? Fixed him? Healed him? It was insane to think about. What happened couldn't have happened. It must have been the shock of falling. But how did he get up and walk all the way back to his car so easily then? And how did Castiel seem to appear and disappear out of nowhere?

Dean grabbed the soap and whipped up suds in his hands then scrubbed over his shoulders and arms, digging in with short nails that were caked with blood. It wasn't until the fourth time he'd swept over his skin before the blood was even close to gone. He resorted to using Sam's loofah to try and scrub the last bits off. When he grabbed the shampoo and the water began to run red again from the clumped blood dissolving from his hair and running down the drain, he heard the door open.

Shit. He hadn't locked the door. With one bathroom for three dudes, it wasn't unusual for them to just walk in on each other to brush teeth or grab advil from the medicine cabinet. It was a free-for-all unless the door was locked. A locked door was the only way to get any privacy.

"Hey, listen… Holy… Dean, what happened? Are you ok?" Sam whipped open the shower curtain to see blood running down Dean's forehead into a pool of red in the tub. "Oh my God, I'll get Bobby!"

Sam turned around, but Dean was half out of the shower, dripping red on the floor to grab his arm. "Don't, he doesn't need to worry. I'm fine."

"You're covered in blood! What the hell happened?"

"Nothing, I'm not hurt. See?" He bent over to where the blood was clumped into his hair to show there was nothing wrong with him, no cuts or scraps or wounds. "Not a scratch on me, Sam. Okay? So cut it out."

Dean climbed back in the shower and closed the curtain part way so he could wash his hair but keep talking to his brother. "What did you need?" he asked, using his calmest big brother voice.

"I just wanted to grab the q-tips, but dude. Seriously. That's a lot of blood"

Dean poked his head out to see Sam wiping the rose colored water from the floor before picking up his ruined jeans, the legs split up the seam from where Castiel had sliced through the denim.

"There's blood all over these, and someone cut them off you. Or did you do this to yourself?" He turned them around in his now shaking hands. "They're all ripped up too, and there's so much blood. Jesus Dean."

"Don't Jesus me, Sammy. I'm fine. Don't freak out about it."

"I find you washing like gallons of blood out of your hair and a pair of Jeans that look like were worn by an ax murder victim and I'm not supposed to worry? Especially when we know what kind of things go bump in the night." Sam's voice took on a tremble and Dean worked another round of shampoo in his hair, trying to finish quickly.

"I wasn't out at night, and nothing like that happened."

"Then tell me what did happen?"

"I… I can't."

"Dean," Sam sighed with a frustration much older than his years and peeked around the curtain to stare his brother in the eye.

"It's nothing you need to worry about, ok? It doesn't have anything to do with you."

"But it has to do with you, and you being covered in blood. You say you're okay, so tell me whose blood it is."

"I… I can't Sam. Come on. Trust me."

"I do Dean, but this is seriously shady. I know you think you're protecting me, but I'm thirteen-"

Dean snorted before closing his eyes and rinsing the last of the shampoo and soap from his hair and body before finally turning off the water and grabbing a towel.

"I know you don't think that's old enough but think about how we were raised. Come on, I know more about how to stitch up someone who's been stabbed than anyone my age should. So you know my brain is going to all kinds of crazy places when I see this." Sam held up the shredded jeans again and Dean had to admit, it looked pretty damn bad. God, his stomach turned over as he looked at it while drying himself quickly and running the towel roughly over his hair.

"Okay, look, Bobby can't know about this." He tied the towel around his waist.

"Then you better tell me what's going on."

Dean grabbed the jeans and the other bloody clothes out of Sam's hands and rushed off to their bedroom, Sam close behind. He balled it all up and shoved it into his backpack before pulling on pajama pants and a t-shirt. When he was dressed he turned to find Sam sitting on his bed, his face scrunched up in a look way bitchier than anyone his age had the right to make.

"So, I, ah… I met someone."

Sam shook his head at the weird turn of conversational focus. "Okay, like a girl?"

"No dipshit, someone… like something."

"Like what Dad hunts?"

"No, they're not bad… they didn't hurt me… I ah, I got in an accident and got hurt."

"Shit, that's your blood isn't it?" Sam jumped up and practically tackled Dean to check him for injuries before sitting on the bed next to him.

"Yeah, I broke my leg in a few places and fucked up my head and I don't even know what else, probably broke a few ribs."

"Jesus, Dean," Sam ran his hand over his face, suddenly looking years older than his barely teen age.

"Yeah, but ah, this person… they were there… and they healed me."

"Healed you? Like a first aid kit and took you to a hospital?"

"No, Sammy—like laying on of hands and crazy weird lights in their eyes and then no more broken leg."

"Wow."

"Yeah, wow." They sat side by side in silence for a moment while Sam considered what Dean had said. Dean's head still spun and he'd been there, he can only imagine how crazy this is to hear second hand. But as usual, the kid takes weird in stride.

"What are they? And why are you being all gender neutral—are they non-binary, or are you trying to hide who it is from me?"

Dean ran his hand through his wet hair and sighed. "They asked me to keep it a secret, and dude, they were scared. Took off like a bat out of hell as soon as I was okay. I don't… I don't think it's anything we have to tell Bobby to hunt. I mean, they helped me. I seriously could have died out there."

"Yeah, yeah, I won't tell. I'm just glad you're okay."

Outside, Bobby's heavy feet could be heard in the hall. "You home, Dean?" The door opened, revealing the strong man in the old trucker's cap who took them in when even their Dad couldn't be bothered to stick around.

"I'm here."

"All right, well there's pizza in the fridge if you're hungry. Glad you got home in one piece. I don't like it when you stay out after dark, but you're a big boy."

"Thanks Bobby, I know you worry. If you'd figure out how to text it would be a whole lot easier for you to check on me." Dean smirked before getting up and heading downstairs to nibble on dinner, hoping that Sam would drop the issue now and not try to get him to talk about Castiel. Confiding in his brother about what happened was one thing, he was worried and Dean hated that look in his eyes, like he was scared something would happen to Dean. He couldn't let him worry like that. Kid had lost so much and Dean was the only real family he had left.

But breaking his promise to Cas felt almost as bad.

The next morning, Dean settled into first period with Lisa next to him on one side and Garth on the other. The dude was weird, but Dean had a soft spot for him. He'd caught onto some bullying at the beginning of the year and shut that shit down fast, and since then Garth has been his buddy whether he wanted it or not.

Lisa was talking about something, but he just nodded along when his eye caught Castiel kissing Meg against the lockers outside the classroom. She had her hands in his hair and he was curved down, leaning into her, his hands firm on her hips. Dean's pulse increased as he watched Cas take her lips in his, again and again alternating deep passion and sweetness. Not his girlfriend, my ass. When Castiel pulled away, his hair stuck out in all directions. Meg looked at him like he was her own personal angel.

Dean hadn't been able to tear his eyes away, all thoughts of Lisa or acting normal flew out of his mind. It was hot, it was… fuck, it was dirty. And he wanted it to be him. But it wasn't Meg he wanted to kiss. He wanted to feel Cas's hands on his hips, feel that gentle touch against his lips.

Lisa grumbled about something, probably about Dean not paying attention to her and he just hummed his agreement, barely even trying to maintain any pretense of not watching Cas and Meg.

Dean was half hard just from watching until Cas placed a peck on Meg's lips before pulling back and running his hand down her face softly. They intertwined their fingers and chatted until the bell rang before pulling away.

Dean took a deep breath but didn't stop watching. The ease with which Cas moved, the comfortable way he touched, made Dean want to talk to him again. He needed to hear that voice again. He didn't understand it, but Castiel had taken up space in his brain and set up residence and now Dean couldn't stop thinking about him. Was it a side effect of the healing? Had the dude done something to him?

Castiel stepped into class and his eyes darted around before landing on Dean's and freezing, widening so much Dean could see the white around his blue eyes. His whole body seemed to tense up. His already slumped shoulders curled further in on himself but he didn't look away.

Dean licked his lips, unable to stop thinking about the kiss he'd just witnessed and how it made him feel. Anger? Jealousy? Fear? He had no fucking idea what Cas made him feel but he knew it was something big. Something dangerous.

Castiel looked like shit now that Dean could see him better. Deep circles under his eyes and when Dean looked closer he had a downward turn to his lips that didn't fit his face.

Dean pulls out the spiral notebook of Castiel's he'd grabbed yesterday before going home and scratched a note underneath the poem he had been writing. Dean hadn't bothered reading it before, but now he couldn't resist.

I fold myself between
The 4th and 5th dimensions
Tethered to this form anew

I am limited by two eyes
I require a multitude, a legion
To ever see the entirety of you

What the fuck did that even mean? Dean rolled his eyes and looked back up to see Castiel sitting on the far side of the room, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. He was definitely the weirdest person Dean had ever met. He scribbled out his note in block letters just under the poem.

At the end of class, Dean waited until his friends had made their way out, Lisa lingering by the door, waiting for him. Before following along, he left the notebook on his desk for Castiel to pick up.

Classes moved like they did everyday. Dean paid attention when he could, thought about the projects he had to work on at the garage when he couldn't, and tried to maintain his happy-go-lucky, bad boy mystique without getting into any actual trouble.

For all he'd been in and out of increasing levels of delinquency when they were on the road with their Dad, he didn't want to cause Bobby any trouble. He'd been brought home by the cops once when they first started staying with him and the look of disappointment and sadness in the man's eyes was enough to break Dean's heart. He wanted to be worth Bobby's kindness. If not for himself, for Sam. He vowed not to do anything that would make Bobby kick them out. Sammy deserved a home.

At the bell for sixth period, Dean slipped away and made his way through the auditorium to the small backstage area they used for assemblies and plays the little theatre club put on.

Castiel was already there, leaning against the old piano pushed up against the concrete block wall. His shoulders slumped like he was exhausted but it didn't take away from his general magnetism. If anything, it made Dean want to reach out and run a hand through his hair and rub his shoulder.

"You look like shit," Dean blurted.

"Yeah, well something seems to have drained my resources." Castiel looked Dean smack-dab in the fucking eye and raised that eyebrow again. Dean couldn't stop the blush that rose to the top of his ears. Fuck, that look was trouble.

"Yeah, about that, uh thanks… Are you okay?"

Castiel tilted his head to the side, like he was studying Dean and trying to decipher if he was for real or not. "You ask after my wellbeing when you're the one who almost died?"

"I mean, you're the only reason I didn't, so yeah, I want to make sure you're okay."

Castiel straightened up to his full height, just a smidge shorter than Dean, and looked him over from tip to toes as if considering if he should eat him alive or kill him before enjoying his meal. "I had a strange night last night, but I am feeling better now. Thank you. How about you? Are you recovered?"

"Strange how?" Dean asked.

"It's unimportant, tell me about your injuries."

"You mean my non-existent injuries? I'm good as new."

"Good," Castiel nodded.

"No, dude, you don't get it. Like good. as. new. Dean reached down and pulled the hem of his t-shirt up and ran a hand over his side.

Castiel's hands were fisted at his sides. That dangerous look in his eyes from yesterday returned and felt like it could set Dean's skin on fire.

"Look here," Dean pointed to his ribs. "I used to have a scar there from when I fell skateboarding and slid down concrete stairs on my chest. It's gone. And here," Dean pointed to the side of his upper left thigh, "Sammy shot me with a beebee gun once and I had a hell of a little bullet wound that looked badass. But it's disappeared. Castiel, all my scars are gone, not just the shit from falling, all of them. What the fuck did you do to me?"

"I healed you." Castiel stated calmly as if it were as plain as day.

"I know you healed my leg and shit, but you healed everything, do I even have any fucking cavities now? People are going to notice that my scars are gone."

"I think you overestimate how much attention people pay to your scars." Castiel snorted and reached down to grab his bag.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

"I have a class 7th period. It's bad enough I missed 6th."

"You're just gonna walk out of here and go back to class? How is this not a bigger deal to you? I'm freaking out here man. You gotta help me out and tell me what happened yesterday. I saw you. I saw that light... and your eyes!"

"Be quiet," Castiel hissed. "You can't talk about any of that. To anyone. You promised."

"I know, but…"

"What?" Castiel's full unwavering attention was on Dean now.

"My brother found all my clothes while I was in the shower. I had to tell him something."

"Fuck, Dean." Castiel dropped his bag and ran a hand through his hair.

"I didn't tell him who you were or your name or anything, but if I didn't he was going to tell Bobby about all the blood and you ripped the shit out of those jeans, there was no way to smooth it over with a lie." Dean approached Castiel who was standing completely still now, staring at the wall. He wanted to reach out, to put a hand on the other kid's arm, offer some kind of reassurance, but he didn't even know what to fucking say.

Castiel turned and they stood face to face just a step too close. His head tilted at that angle that makes him look like some kind of bird, but also makes Dean's heart speed up. "Do you trust your brother?"

Dean cleared his throat and met Castiel's gaze. "Sammy? Um, yeah—yeah, he's solid. He's only 13 but we've been through some shit and he won't tell anyone. I promise, Cas. The last thing I want to do is make things hard for you after you helped me out." This time Dean did reach out and place his hand on Cas's shoulder and the warmth of him was a surprise, it coaxed all of Dean's nerves out and shuffled them away. No one had ever felt so good to touch before. Dean squeezed and let go.

"And Bobby, too. He's our kind of uncle. We live with him. If you—I don't know, this sounds lame, but if you need, like, an adult, he would be a good one to talk to. He knows all about weird."

Castiel's stoic face quirks into that mini smile that no one else would probably even notice but they're just standing so damn close. His hand aches to reach back out. Why had he ever let go?

"If it would make you feel better," Dean's mouth is moving before his brain. "You could come over, like after school. Meet Sammy, have dinner with us and Bobby. Then you wouldn't have to worry about what kind of people they are."

"Are you inviting me to your house?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure you aren't a vampire, so I feel like it's safe to do."

"Dean, that's a myth, vampires don't need an invitation to enter a person's home."

"I know, dude, that's why it was a joke." Dean says with a laugh before pulling up short. "Wait, how do you know that?"

"I don't know." Castiel's eyes become distant, like he's searching for something buried in his mind. "Sometimes that happens. I know things I shouldn't."

"Yeah, I heard about how you just showed up one day and didn't know anything but your name?" Dean shuffled his feet, trying to increase the space between them but couldn't manage to actually step away. Why didn't Cas seem phased by being so close. That's not how most people act. But Castiel Krushnic was definitely not most people.

"Yes, that's correct. Although, I only knew my first name. Krushnic was assigned to me by the foster system."

"How did you learn English so fast?"

Castiel gives him a withering look and rolls his eyes. "I didn't need to learn it. I just needed to remember it. Once I heard a word I immediately knew how to use it. Same with school and other topics. Sometimes still, someone will say something and I'll realize I know a lot more about it than I did even a moment before, like a box has been unlocked in my head."

"That's awesome," Dean sat down next to his bag and gestured to Castiel to join him. It took a moment before he decided to sit with him.

"Or it's extremely disorienting and a touch upsetting."

"I guess that too," Dean watched as Cas folded himself onto the floor. It wasn't so much that he sat as his body folded origami style in on itself bringing him closer to the ground. He reminded Dean of water.

"But it does make classes quite easy. It seems I've completed 11th grade before so I'm just here being reminded of things. I got some books on tape for Latin and now I'm fluent. I think I scared Mr. Torrin with that one."

"It is a little weird, you do realize that right?"

"Yes, perhaps more than a little." Castiel wrung his hands in his lap and folded in on himself, suddenly looking much smaller. "That's why I like Meg so much. Nothing seems weird to her. Her whole world view is based on the idea that everyone has weird inside them. Good things have to have a little bad and bad things have to have a little good. It's nice that she thinks I have a little good in me along with the rest.

"Cas? Do you think all this somehow makes you bad?"

Castiel shrugged and gripped his hands tighter.

"Weird is not bad, man, trust me." He rested a hand on Cas's knee without thinking. "I've seen lots of weird shit and you're the best weird I've ever met."

Cas looked up and for a moment he looked so vulnerable, Dean forgot that this was weirdass Castiel Krushnic, the mystery monster who healed his injuries. All he could see was a boy who had demons and fears and so much weight on his shoulders, and yeah, he understood all of that. He squeezed his hand on Cas's leg but left it there, wondering if the touch was as grounding for Castiel as it was for him.

"Castiel, what you did yesterday is the opposite of bad. You being a good friend to Meg, it sounds like it's kind and sweet and the kind of friend she really needs. Although, after that kiss I saw this morning, I'm still not convinced you're not dating," Dean shrugged and removed his hand, finally.

Cas's head whipped up and locked Dean with his eyes again. "You saw that?"

"Yeah, I think the whole fucking school saw that. It looked, ah, intense."

Cas looked away again, his cheeks reddening. "She was worried about me."

"And you thought doing a body cavity search with your tongue in the main hall was the best way to reassure her?"

Cas just shrugged. "I didn't mean to create a spectacle."

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. People are so used to the two of you being weird no one probably even thought about it." Dean lifted both shoulders and dropped them, trying to seem like he didn't care.

"You noticed."

"Well, I was looking for you."

"And when you found me," Cas looked back again, the red in his cheeks turned up a few notches but his eyes were calculating, "you watched."

Dean swallowed, his mouth dry and his ears suddenly very aware of every noise in the auditorium. He opened his mouth but couldn't find his voice at first. Cas was right. He had watched. "What do you want, dude? It was hot. I watch porn, too."

And then Castiel did the weirdest thing he'd done yet. He leaned back and laughed. He barked out a loud noise and his shoulders shook as he laughed. It was over as fast as it had come and Dean didn't know what to do with the way Cas's laugh had traveled along his skin, reaching in and pulling on his gut and twisting, but instead of pain all he felt was this wrenching feeling of want that had no place in his life.

Dean coughed and shifted slightly away. "So, Cas. I gotta ask. What… What are you?" Dean stared at him trying to will him to understand it was okay to tell him, he wasn't going to freak out or not be sympathetic. He couldn't tell him his family were hunters, but he wanted Cas to know it was safe to tell him.

"I don't know."

"You don't… You mean you really have no idea where you came from?" Dean sputtered over the words, finding it hard to believe. In the distance, the bell for 7th period rang.

"None. The first thing I remember is when the headlights shone in my eyes and someone honked their horn, screaming at me to get out of the road. I understood them but I couldn't speak. They took me to the hospital and the police station and finally the state placed me in a foster care. I've been there ever since. People don't adopt 17 year old freaks of nature."

"No, I guess they don't." Dean patted Cas's knee and then let it settle there, offering comfort. He knew he was touching him again for no reason and without invitation but it was like he couldn't stop himself. Based on what he'd seen the guy do he was pretty sure he could kill him with his brain if he wanted to, but he needed to do it. To let Cas know he's not alone, he's not a freak.

"Okay, so you could be anything then. An empath or psychic with a mutated ability, a fairy, I don't think a demon, they don't really heal people."

"You speak as if you know what these things are, not just from pages of a child's book." Castiel's eyes narrow as he contemplates Dean.

"Uh yeah, well, you already know the world isn't just humans and flora and fauna. Pretty much all the monsters are real."

"This isn't the kind of knowledge most people have." Castiel tilted his head again making Dean roll his eyes.

"It's not, but I'm trusting you on a lot of shit, can you just trust me about this?"

"Of course, Dean,

Dean's shoulders relaxed, he hadn't realized he'd been worried about what Cas would think of him being a hunter or push to know about his family's crazy life. But now, he jumped in on instinct with all the things his dad and Bobby had taught him. "We should check holy water and silver. I have some in my bag. See if either of those affect you, that will help narrow it down."

He dug the supplies out and took Cas's arm. He pressed the shirt sleeve up, running rough fingers along the inside of Cas's arm. In the silence of the empty space Dean could hear Castiel's breath hitch and the sound did something to him. He fought back the shiver that wanted to break out along his flesh but noticed Cas had goosebumps. Fuck. Dean pressed the silver coin to his flesh to no result and then poured holy water on him. His thumb rubbed into the wet flesh, almost wishing for a reaction. "Nope, nothing."

Cas had just allowed it, watching Dean's face intensely as he went about his hunter steps. When it was done, he pulled his arm back and Dean could have whimpered at the loss of contact. His voice came out in a rough whisper. "Dean, I don't think any of those things are going to tell us why I can do the things I can. And what kind of person carries around Holy Water?" The teasing undertone returned to Castiel's voice.

"You're going to give me shit for having Holy Water when you glow in the dark?"

Castiel chuckled and gave Dean one of his glorious half smiles.

"Ok, this isn't telling us anything. Remember you knew you weren't a vampire?"

"Yes,"

"What if we just ran through all the things we can think of and see if anything sparks a memory?"

"That… that could work."

"Bobby has a ton of books and research on different kinds of monsters. If you don't want to tell him, we could at least go through his papers." Dean was getting excited now, at the idea of finding out what Castiel really was, of helping him find some answers to what was obviously a lonely and difficult existence.

"I would prefer not to tell Bobby. You are the only person who knows. Well… and your brother." Cas frowns.

"Meg doesn't know?"

"Meg is prone to fits of imaginative exaggeration. She's seen me do things she can't explain and simply accepts them. I don't like lying to her, but I feel like if I tell her I'll be putting her in danger."

"Do you feel like I'm in danger?"

"No, I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's because you are comfortable with 'weird'". He even did the stupid air quotes.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Okay, well, after this, go get your shit from your locker and meet me out front. I can drive you home whenever, but I think you should meet Sam and we can look through some of Bobby's stuff."

Cas quirked his head. His face scrunched up almost as if he wasn't sure he'd heard Dean right. "You're serious."

"Duh, I wouldn't have offered otherwise."

"You don't mind being seen with me? Krazy Krushnic?"

Dean winced at the nickname. He couldn't honestly say he'd never called Castiel that before. "Nah, people suck, if they want to say shit, let them. We're friends now, right? You saved my life. I know your secret. That sounds like the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Yes, I would like to be your friend, Dean."

"I…" Dean wasn't sure what to say. Cas clearly hadn't gotten his joke but he was so earnest and hopeful looking after being downright sullen before. And really, Dean didn't mind if the stupid quote applied to them. Maybe it would turn out to be true. "Okay, buddy."

At the end of the day Dean realized he hadn't quite thought his plan through. Castiel sauntered out of the building with his arm slung around Meg's shoulders and headed straight toward him. He didn't even register what his friends were talking about when Cas caught him looking and held his gaze.

What was it about those blue eyes that grabbed hold of him and dragged him underwater so he couldn't catch his breath and started to feel light headed.

"What d'ya think?" Gordon punched Dean lightly in the arm.

"What? Huh?"

"You comin' back after dropping off Sam? You don't work today right?"

Dean shook his head, Castiel was getting closer. This was a terrible idea. "Ah, no I don't work today, but…"

"What, you passing up hangin' out at my place? Lisa will be there."

Castiel was finally close enough that Dean's friends realized that he wasn't just walking past. "Hello, Dean." He stopped casually, resting his weight on one leg, Meg still clinging to his side.

"Krushnic, what the fuck? You get hit in the head and forget who you are again?" Victor crumpled up the flyer in his hand and threw it as Cas's face.

"No one has ever hit me in the head, but I encourage you to try. See what happens." Castiel dropped his arm from around Meg and squared his shoulders. Dean was suddenly reminded of the power he'd seen in that glowing blue light.

"Hey, Cas. You ready?" Dean steps forward, trying to diffuse the situation.

Castiel stared at Victor for a moment longer before turning to look at Dean, his posture relaxing and the hint of a smile on his face. "Let me walk Meg to her car, I'll meet you at yours?"

"What? I'm not going too?" Meg asked.

"No, my sweet demon. I'm flying this one solo."

"Then you're flying your ass solo with the trig homework too." Meg smirked. "Ditching me requires significant torture and punishment."

"I accept your conditions."

"Then come on," Meg pulled at Cas's waist but he stayed still, pinning Dean with his attention again. "I'll meet you in a few moments, Dean."

"Yeah, okay." Dean watched for a moment, taking in Cas's easy stride and striking profile when he looked down at Meg as they talked.

"What the fuck, Winchester—Are you hanging out with Castiel now?" Ruby sneared, looking at him in disgust.

"Dude, we have a government project to work on and he's like some kind of savant, easy A for me. Spending a few hours with him isn't too much of a price." Dean felt sick talking about Cas that way. Like he wasn't the person he hadn't stopped thinking about for 24 hours now. Like he hadn't saved his life and asked nothing in return except that Dean kept his secret.

"I don't think I could do it. Fuck, he's so weird. Did you hear his poem in English? What the hell was that about needing more eyeballs? So fucked up." Gordon threw an arm around Ruby's shoulder and let out a mean spirited grunt.

"Well have fun, we're gonna be at Gordon's, I grabbed a six pack and some vodka, and Tessa and Lisa are meeting us, so enjoy hanging with Krazy Krushnic."

Dean winced at the nickname before forcing himself to laugh as if nothing had changed. Inside it felt like everything had changed. "Alright, don't do anything I wouldn't do." They laughed and he shrugged his bag higher on his shoulder before running his hand through his hair and heading into the parking lot toward his Impala. He kept his head down, eyes to the ground. He told himself he's not excited to spend more time with Cas. This was like one of his Dad's hunts, just a fact-finding mission—this wasn't personal.

When he got close to the Impala he saw a heavy pair of thick soled black boots kicked out behind the trunk. Cas was leaning against the car, his arms crossed over his chest pulling his shirt tight over his arms in a way clothes had no right doing. He was calm, relaxed, blue eyes like sparks in the afternoon light.

Dean knew his chill demeanor was a lie. He could read those eyes now and Cas was afraid.

"Where's your bag?"

"In Meg's car. I can do the homework in the morning." He shrugged. "I let Meg teach me trig but I already understand it. Hell, I understand string theory, but she'd feel bad if she didn't get to help me sometimes."

They climbed into the car but before Dean started the engine he looked over at Cas. "I think it's cool."

"Hmm?" Cas tilted his head again, making Dean smile and want to reach out and touch him again.

"You knowing shit like that? I think it's cool. I'm pretty used to other people understanding things I don't, especially when it comes to school, so like, don't do that with me, don't pretend not to know something you do because you think it'll make me feel better. I'd rather you be yourself, and yeah, it's weird, but it's cool too."

"Thank you, Dean." Cas smiled, and this time his teeth showed slightly and his nose crinkled.

And Dean was more than a little proud of the fact that he'd made that smile happen. And maybe more than a little out of breath. And maybe his chest might have felt a little tight. But none of that meant anything.

He started the car and they crawled through the line of traffic to get out of the parking lot before things opened up on the short trip to the Middle School. They were quiet and Dean hadn't turned on the music he usually blared any time he was in the car, but it was comfortable, easy to sit with Cas and just exist next to him.

"Meg…" Castiel sighed and looked over at Dean with lowered eyes. "She doesn't know about… about me."

"Yeah, you said." Dean kept his eyes on the road. He felt a little kick in his pulse but ignored it.

"She's very misunderstood and kind. But it's a lot to ask someone to deal with and she already has enough on her plate."

"I don't really know her."

"She's like that star behind the aurora of a black hole. Hidden from view, but if you are lucky enough to glimpse it, you'll never see the universe the same again."

"Wow, for someone who isn't your girlfriend you sure sound like you're in love with her." Dean maneuvered through traffic, tapping on the steering wheel, not sure if he wanted to continue this conversation or not.

Cas shrugged. "I know the truth of her, like I can sense her soul, and it's beautiful. But no, I have no romantic or sexual interest in her."

"And she's cool with that? I mean, that kiss today was anything but not romantic or sexual."

Castiel turned and looked at him, raising one eyebrow. "You certainly put a lot of thought into one kiss. Have you been thinking about it all day? It's the second time you've mentioned it to me."

"I—" Dean flushed. "No, where you put your tongue isn't my business."

"True." Cas shifted his whole body so he sat sideways looking directly at Dean. "And despite that, it seems you have taken an interest."

"I don't know man, it just doesn't sound fair to Meg. Does she understand? Between seeing you two in the bathroom yesterday and the kiss today I wouldn't blame her for misinterpreting your intentions. People aren't really like that unless they are into the other person at least a little." I sure as fuck would.

Cas hums as they pull into the middle school. "Perhaps you have a point. I am so comfortable with her and what we have, I didn't consider that even though we've discussed it she might be feeling conflicted. I will make sure to talk with her again."

They pulled in front of the double doors where the middle school released and Dean turned off the car.

"Thank you, Dean. You're a good friend." Cas turned back to face forward, ignoring the absolute turmoil playing out for anyone to see on Dean's face.

Is that what they were? Friends? Could he be friends with Castiel? Could he handle the weird? Really Dean knew he could. If he was honest, he kind of liked the weird. But just making friends with Cas could cost him all his other friends and his easy, comfortable—if not completely happy—life. And that was a lot to give up for one person.

Dean was lost in his thoughts and Cas stayed quiet. It was… comfortable. And that was something he'd never felt with anyone but Sam.

When Dean saw Sam step out of the school he had the same scowl on his face he'd had yesterday. He wasn't looking where he was going and when he got to the front of the car and saw Cas sitting in the front seat he did a double take, almost falling over.

Dean launched into a laugh that didn't stop even when Sam climbed in the backseat and slammed the door. "Walk much, Sammy? Maybe if we cut that hair you'd be able to see past your pretty girl bangs."

"Shut up, jerk."

"Bitch," Dean replied with a wide smile, pulling out onto the main road toward Bobby's house.

"Sam, this is Castiel."

"Hi!" Sam caught Dean's eye in the rearview mirror and mouthed Is this him?

"Hello, Sam."

Dean nodded, all the while Cas sat serenely, neither bothered by nor engaging with them, but Dean could feel the tension in his muscles, the way his jaw was set, the way his hands laid flat on his thighs. When had he gotten to know him so well that he could read these microexpressions like flashing neon signs?

Sam scooted forward so his face could look between them. "So, hi!" If the kid had a tail, it would definitely be wagging. "I just—I wanted to say, I—thank you. Really. For what you did, I—I've heard a lot about you."

"And I, you. Sam Winchester—your brother seems confident you can be trusted. I'm still skeptical, but I trust his judgement." Cas didn't smile but did seem to relax.

"Does he always talk like that?" Sam poked the side of Dean's head.

"So far, it seems so." Dean nodded and flashed an encouraging smile in Cas's direction.

"And yeah, man. You can trust me. Dean and I were raised with secrets, so what's one more? Especially for the person who saved my brother's life. I would hug you, but..."

"That would be awkward."

"Yeah." Sam agreed before flopping back into the back seat.

Dean turned on the tape player and they listened to Zeppelin fill the air for the rest of the ride home.