Dean scanned the unfamiliar aisles of the Tennessee drug store. They were on a hunt, Sam thought it was a windigo, Dean thought it was a couple of vamps. They disagreed yet again. However, that wasn't why he was in the dingy drug store right now. He was here for chap stick. A gift for the very chapped lips of his friend, Castiel.
Dean knew that Cas was an angel, he made it a point to remind the man almost every day, and this meant that the blue eyed boy didn't actually need chap stick, but Dean just couldn't stand the way Cas always licked his lips. He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but it made his stomach feel all tingly and he didn't appreciate it.
He sighed, choosing the flavor was much harder than he'd expected. There was an abundance of brands, all with strange and unfamiliar tastes.
There was Burt's Bees, probably the most popular, Carmex, a close second, and some random brand called "Randy's cure for sandpaper lips." The hunter didn't like the sound of that, and decided it was best he didn't buy any of that brand.
Then a thought struck Dean, Burt's Bees, it was perfect! Cas loved bees! Dean chuckled to himself for his expertise on the angel.
He looked over the flavors, Vanilla bean, Strawberry, and Pomegranate. He finally decided on a two pack of the Pomegranate ones, he'd never had a pomegranate, but he was sure Cas would like it. He'd always been into weird flavors like that. Dean had actually started carrying random tea boxes around in his duffel bag on hunts just so he could see the angel's face light up when he showed him. Not that Dean cared about Cas's face. He also didn't care about the thought of Cas's lips looking moisturized and plump.
The hunter definitely did not think about these things as he walked to the register with his beer, his excuse for going out, and pomegranate chapstick, the real reason he went on this endeavor.
"Is that all for today, sir?" asked the bouncy haired blond at the front.
If Dean wasn't so busy not thinking about Cas's lips he might have noticed how pretty she was. He may have even gotten her number, but alas, not thinking about Cas's lips was very distracting.
"Uh… Yea I think that's it… Ok hey, uh, this stuff is for a friend," He gestured to the chap stick on the counter. "Is it, uh, a good flavor? I didn't know what flavor he'd like… It's very difficult to pick." He finally realized he was rambling on, and put a stop to it immediately.
She cocked an inquisitive brow, and finally said. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough." The double meaning not going unnoticed by Dean. "I.. We're not… uhh…" He stuttered before regaining his original composure. She only gave him a comforting look before turning her attention to wringing up his items.
When Dean had managed to escape that uncomfortable situation, he walked his way to Baby. She sat gleaming in the undeserving and otherwise deserted parking lot. He slid into the front seat, setting his groceries next to him.
The entire drive he couldn't stop thinking about what the worker had said. Would he know? No. That was a stupid thought. Dean brushed it away, blaming it on his tiredness from the case they were working.
When he finally pulled into the old motel parking lot, his nerves were suddenly and unnecessarily on edge. It wasn't weird for someone to give their friend chap stick, was it? No. Dean was blowing this way out of proportion. It was just Cas for Chuck's sake! It was only weird if he made it that way, or that's what he told himself.
Sam was still in the room, mostly due to the lack of a car for him to drive, and also because the library was closed at this point, and his nerdy ass couldn't go sulk there. Dean would just have to give Cas chap stick in front of his little brother. He was not looking forward to it, but again, way out of proportion.
Just then, mid worry, another brilliant thought crashed into his brain. He could drive him and Cas somewhere else! Away from Sammy and crusty motel rooms! This was a very good plan, all he'd have to do was convince Cas to come with him.
He walked loudly into the mildewy room, announcing himself by saying "I'm back."
"Hello Dean." Cas responded, his voice maintaining its usual emotionless tone.
"Hey Cas." The oldest brother replied, blushing for no apparent reason.
Sam cleared his throat loudly from his spot on his bed, where he was typing away on his computer.
"Are you ok Dean? You look… Nervous?" The angel asked, his words dripping with sincerity.
Dean rubbed the back of his neck "Uh yeah man, I'm fine... Uh hey, do you maybe wanna go for a drive with me?" Dean asked, ignoring his brother's cackle of laughter.
"Why Dean? Is something wrong?" Cas asked, suddenly worried.
"Umm… No, nothings wrong. Just a drive you know…" The green eyed man stuttered out.
"Dean and Castiel sitting in a tree. G. First comes lo-" Sam started to sing the first lines of the childish song, but was promptly cut off when Dean pounced on him and smacked a hand over his brother's mouth.
"Shut it, Samantha." He said threateningly under his breath.
Cas stood and watched this play out with his head cocked to the side in concern. "Dean. Do you need a moment with Sam? I can go." He questioned solemnly.
"Dude no we're going on a drive." The now red faced hunter responded, anger present in his voice even though he didn't mean for it to be.
"Oh." is all the angel said as he turned to walk out the door.
Dean quickly reached into the gray plastic grocery bag to fish out the chap stick box. Sam watched with a huge, goofy grin on his face. He knew what was coming, and was sad and also grateful he was going to miss it. If he knew his brother, things would get spicy quick.
Cas was standing outside the passengers side of the Impala, shifting his weight uncomfortably.
"What's up Cas?" Dean asked, confused as to why the angel had not gotten in the car yet.
"Am I allowed to ride up front, Dean?" The other man asked in an uncharacteristically small voice.
Dean sent him a shocked look. "Of course! Why wouldn't you be?" He responded incredulously.
"I was unsure. You seem to be upset?" Cas spoke in a concerned tone that made Dean smile inwardly to himself.
"Oh. Sorry 'bout that, bud." He finally stated with a wave of his hand, dismissing the little flutter in his chest at the thought of Cas worrying about him.
When the Winchester opened the drivers side door, Cas took this as a sign of permission to enter as well. Dean started the engine in uncomfortable silence, and they drove like this for at least five minutes before he finally grew a pair.
"So, Cas… What are you up to these days?" He asked, in an attempt to make small talk.
"I have relayed to you everything I have been doing about the war in heaven already, Dean." Cas replied, looking at him like that was the dumbest question he had ever heard.
"That's not… Ugh never mind then." The hunter huffed out.
After six more excruciatingly quiet minutes, Dean saw a spot to pull over alongside the road. As he turned to park in the spacious clearing, his angel eyed him suspiciously.
"Dean. You have been acting very strange. Is there something wrong? Why have you driven me out here?" He said after studying the other man very closely for a moment or two.
"I uh… It's… I got you chap stick!" Dean practically shouted, shoving the double pack directly in front of the other man's blue eyes.
"Oh. I um… What?" was all the poor guy managed to squeak out.
"Chap stick." Dean yelled again, still waving the dark pink box in his friend's face.
"Dean. What is 'chap stick'?" He questioned, using air quotes around the word like a douche.
"Dude. It's for your lips. Come on! How do you not know this?" The righteous man responded, his nerves spiking even more.
"For my… Why would I need anything for my lips? I do not wear lipstick, Dean. Is this some sort of joke?" Cas asked, his tone accusing.
"No… ugh, Cas. You use it to moisturize. Like this." Dean made a show of pulling the little stick out of its box, and slowly uncapping the top. The other stick lay abandoned still inside the pack. He slowly raised the uncapped balm to his lips, making sure Cas was still watching as he applied it. "See. Not lipstick. Not a prank. Just chap stick." He shoved the still uncapped pale pink wax at the angel's face again.
Cas looked from Dean's lips to the stick, still very suspicious. This action, however, made Dean's heart rate only raise to a heart attack inducing speed. Cas reached out and gently took the parcel from Dean, brushing their hands together briefly, making the hunter only squirm in his seat more as gooseflesh erupted across his entire body at the simple touch.
He was acting like a teenage girl, and he hated it. It was just Cas! Cas, his best friend outside of Sam. Cas, one of the only people he trusted. He cleared his throat in a failed attempt to calm his raging nerves.
He was too busy focusing on not freaking out to notice Cas raising the chap stick to his lips, much in the same way Dean had done only seconds ago. By the time he finally realized, it was too late.
"Cas, wait no! There's another one! Shit!" Dean yelled as Cas removed the stick from his lips, where it had already been generously applied, and cast a confused head tilt at a very shocked Dean.
"Why would I want two?" He asked innocently after taking in Dean's scared appearance.
"S'just 'cuz I already… you know. I used that one…" Dean responded so quietly that if Cas had not been a powerful celestial being he wouldn't have heard it.
"Oh. I do not mind. I'm an angel, Dean," Castiel reminded him for the fiftieth time this week. "I do not get sick. Your germs will not harm me." He said in his typical monotone voice.
"That's not… It's just… I don't know, it's weird." The hunter responded, only a little hurt at Cas's germ accusation.
"Oh. I am sorry I'm not adapted to human customs such as these. Here, have it back." Cas spoke as he shoved the stick back into Dean's still outstretched hand, effectively smearing the stuff all over both of them.
"Dude… What even? I'm sorry, this was a stupid idea. We should get back to the room." The Winchester said, disappointment evident in his deep voice.
"Dean? Have I done something wrong?" The angel asked, confusion very visible in his little frown.
"No man. I… Ugh… It's stupid. I'm sure Sams wondering where we are… Just forget about this. Here's your other chap stick." Dean spoke with his eyes focused on removing the oily wax from his hand.
The holy tax accountant accepted the box sheepishly, and acted as though it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.
"Dean! Does that say bees? I love bees!" Cas practically shouted after finally looking at the orange and pink packaging closer. Dean let out a small chuckle. He had forgotten exactly why he'd gotten that brand.
"Yea. I thought you'd like it." He spoke with a hint of a smile dancing on his lips.
"That's very considerate of you. Thinking of me, I mean." Cas responded, his typically emotionless, gravely voice suddenly very soft. Dean looked up from the loose thread in his shirt that he'd been playing with and stared at his friend. He was trying to determine why there was such an obvious change in his tone when Cas suddenly took his hand.
"What are you…? Huh?" The man was stuttering at this point, blush creeping from ear to ear.
"Dean. Thank you for this gift, I really appreciate the gesture. I am sorry if I seemed ungrateful initially. I was just… wary. This war in heaven has been very hard on me to say the least. I am just not as attentive to social cues as I used to be." He said calmly, sincerity obvious in his eyes.
Dean laughed despite himself."Were you ever attentive to 'social cues'?" He asked sarcastically, using air quotes like his companion had done only moments ago.
"I do try, Dean." The blue eyed angel stated defensively. This only made the hunter laugh harder. A true, genuine laugh.
"Your laugh is very pleasant, Dean… Though I do not understand the cause of it, I'd like it if you'd do it more…?" Cas remarked, leaving the statement open almost like a question.
"I… What? Cas? What are you trying to say?" He had stopped laughing, his face twisted in nervous confusion.
"I am sorry if that was too… forward. I just enjoy it when you are happy, Dean. That is… that is mostly what I meant." The all powerful beings' usually strong voice had suddenly started to break. This did not go unnoticed by Dean one bit. Was that… Blush on Cas's cheeks? The butterflies in Dean's stomach were becoming almost unbearable, and he knew he only had two options: either take his hand out of his best friend's grasp, something he honestly didn't want to do, and play it off as if nothing happened. Or he could go on and embrace the warm fuzzy feeling that was spreading through him.
Apparently Cas didn't get the memo about his hunters hesitation, and suddenly his other hand had dropped the chap stick box on the seat, and had come up to cup Dean's cheek, effectively holding him in place.
"Cas…" Dean's voice came out as a broken whisper. "Almost?" He asked, his voice absolutely dripping with expectation.
"Yes, I must say, although I want you to be happy," he paused, almost as if for effect, and slowly pulled the other man closer, their lips only about half a foot away now. "I also quite enjoy the feeling it gives me. I believe you call it… butterflies?" the black haired man asked far too innocently.
"Damn it, Cas." Dean said softly, making it almost sound like a compliment of sorts.
They were nearing closer and closer now, only a couple inches between them now… Only one… A half… Until finally…
Dean's phone rang. ACDC now blaring from the annoying little box.
"Damn it." Dean repeated, his breath ghosting over the angel's lips, except this time the soft, pleasant tone completely disappeared from his voice. He pulled swiftly away from Cas's grasp, and didn't fail to notice the heart-brokenness left upon the angel's face.
"I… I have to… Phone." He said, the softness allowing itself to creep back into his simple sentence.
"What do you want, Sam?" The shorter hunter asked, practically foaming at the mouth now, the kindness absolutely annihilated by his harsh tone.
"Wow Dean, dear gosh, I just wanted to know if you two were alright. Are you OK?" Sam asked, taken aback by the sheer fierceness that was his brother's voice.
"Yes, Samuel. I'm real peachy. Are we done now?" He said, only growing angrier.
"Dude… Did Cas do something? Listen man… He really likes you. A lot. Don't be too harsh on him… He doesn't understand what he's doing sometimes… Just promise me y-" Dean had slammed the phone shut at this point. He had no time to deal with Sam's bullshit.
He was aggressively running his fingers through his dirty-blond hair when Cas suddenly took both of his hands in his own.
"Dean, is everything alright? Are you upset because of me?" The trench coat wearing angel asked stupidly. Man, he could be so oblivious sometimes.
Dean couldn't stand the ache in his chest anymore, and finally decided to just go for it.
He crashed his lips down onto his angels' surprisingly soft ones. He could thank the chap stick for that. Cas gave a surprised grunt and his bright blue eyes widened to the size of kitchen saucers before finally just fluttering closed. It was brief and very messy, but it was probably the best kiss Dean had ever had. Cas, once he finally got over his surprise, returned the kiss sloppily and the hunter couldn't even blame him for it, the poor guy had only ever had one true kiss, and that was from the demon Meg.
This thought made him much more protective of his angel, and now he was literally just embracing the poor guy in a seriously bone crushing hug.
"Dean… you are… hurting me…" Cas huffed out between panting breaths.
"Ah… sorry 'bout that… S'just I never thought…" At this point the green eyed man starting giggling like a high school girl with a crush. He didn't even care this time. Not one bit. Because for once in his life he was so happy he felt like he could explode.
As it turns out Dean never actually ended his call with Sam however, and the taller man was still on the other line, calling his brother's name as loudly as possible. He heard whispered voices and… was that… giggling? Oh gosh. When he finally understood what was going on, he quickly closed his phone, leaving Dean's end to flash the "call ended" screen. He quickly pulled out his laptop and immediately typed "Burt's Bees" into the browser. From their website he found their email address and decided to show his gratitude.
"To whom it may concern,
Thank you so much for existing. My damn brother finally did something about his feelings for his best friend because of your stupid beeswax stuff. It worked out thank Chuck.
Sincerely, a very proud, yet very traumatized, brother."