Disclaimer: I still don't own. A.N. More apologies, Sendai, love, and again happy birthday, but above all – nobody dare think ill of my beta. It's not a typo (you'll see). It's an actual town, in Utah, and I've not stopped laughing since I discovered it.
Castiel is not so sure about following Gabriel's suggestions. For all the archangel boasts about the many people he's seduced, since leaving heaven, and his general debauchery, well. This is Castiel's relationship (or lack of it) that is the matter at hand. Dean is special, for more reasons than Castiel could explain, none of which have any tie to Michael's interest in him.
"Trust me, I have experience," is something Castiel would nod along to, normally. What with Gabriel being higher-tiered and clever, if in a slightly twisted way. But no amount of previous lovers can have prepared him to deal with Dean Winchester, given how unique the hunter is.
Weirdly, the one sentence that made Cas (as Dean would say) a bit less queasy about actually following Gabriel's advice was, "We even have Sam's blessing". Not that he knows the younger Winchester very well still, but there are a few things that you can't miss. The boy is a demon-blood-chugging abomination. He won't agree to angel plans just because they come from heaven, and frankly, Cas doubts that the rank of the angel in question changes anything. And, for all their private disagreements, he doesn't take kindly to anyone trying to harm his brother. Whether Gabriel's plan will prove successful or not, if Sam is on board, Castiel is the only one who might get hurt. Or he might not. Dean might not be eager to say yes to Michael, but accepting him? That's a completely different ball game. In fact, Gabriel himself admitted (more like snickered) as much.
Still, Cas doesn't know what changing his attire has to do with it. Surely, Dean is better than that. He wouldn't ignore Cas in his coat only to be swayed the moment he was in short sleeves or something. Besides, Gabriel isn't even suggesting more nakedness. That would be shallow of him, but at least make sense, from what Cas has figured out of humans and their sensuality (mainly from Jimmy's memories).
"Got a text from Sam. They're in Utah after a djinn, at least till they get any news about the next seal or any other useful info. Being sassy via text, and without any emoticons? That's skill, have to give it to him. Tone is usually so hard to convey. Anyway, never mind. That means plan A is on. You know what to do," Gabriel announced an hour ago.
Cas does know. He might not know why, because apparently, it's not important, and sharing any more data than a strict need-to-know would just make him overthink and possibly mess things up. In a way, it's so very archangelic of Gabriel. Still,Castiel is going to go along, at least this time. What's the worst that can happen? Being laughed at?
He undresses switfly, changing into the new attire. There's quite a lot of leather, and fringes, and a wide brimmed hat, and by the end, he sends a selfie to Gabriel as requested. His brother seems to have taken his supervision duty very much to heart. Possibly too much.
Gabriel texts back, "Sergio Leone would approve. Go and be careful with your balance, in case Dean literally jumps you. ;D"
Cas appears in Farr West, Utah, right around the corner from one Dean Winchester. It's late afternoon, and thankfully there's no one here to be spooked by his sudden materialization. The hunter almost walks into him, but stops in time. He almost expects a, "Dammit, Cas!" but he's quiet. So very, very quiet. Then a groan erupts from him.
"Sam is never going to let me live this down."
"Why?" Cas frowns. Sam is supposed to be on their side, isn't he?
"Two djinn cases since we've been hunting together, and both get the drop on me? It's the only monster I'm apparently pants at handling. Damn. Here goes nothing, I guess."
Next thing he knows, Dean has his gun in hand, which is even more puzzling. Surely, even if he doesn't like Cas' new clothes, they're not so awful that they deserve to be shot at. But Dean aims it against himself. Any confusion melts, leaving panic behind. Castiel is grateful for angelic reflexes and strength, then. The gun skitters on the street, not going off out of sheer luck, even if Cas' wings automatically spread in case he needed to shield his madman from an accidental discharge.
"What the fuck, Dean?" he screams. He didn't mean to, but that's certainly an illogical, overblown reaction to a simple wardrobe change. So what if Cas is overly...loud, vehement, too.
"Come on, Cas, you know how it works. I mean, I know, so. If I die, I get out of the djinn-dream, and I'd really like to save myself before Sam is here to see it this time, if it's all the same to you."
"I do know that, but what is making you think you've been caught?" He tilts his head. Hopefully Dean will see sense soon. He doesn't enjoy the thought of having to thwart multiple suicide attempts.
Dean points at him. "Actually look at you. That's not you, can't be. Though, if this one decided to swap the hot nurse for... yeah. Tempting, very much so, but not enough to actually turn me into djinn food."
"I can't be me because I'm not wearing my coat?" Cas challenges, with an arched eyebrow.
"It's not just... come on, you're not the type to dress up for a pun, so. The whole cowboy thing. Why?"
"Never mind. Clearly it was a bad idea. It upset you. That was not the aim."
"I'm not upset. I'm just assuming next thing you'll offer to accompany me to see mom." Dean shrugs.
"Do you want to time-travel?" He could, sure. But why the sudden switch of subject?
"Wait... Time-travel? Mom isn't alive?" Dean frowns.
"You know that." Or at least he should. If the hunter shows more confusion. Cas might have to go in depth and check his brain.
A moment's pause, and then... "I've not actually been taken yet, am I?"
"No. I am not sure where the djinn is, but he's not so close that I can sense him without trying."
"Jeez. Sorry, Cas. And – thank you." Dean grabs his gun again, but pockets it. "Seriously, though. Why the costume?"
"Apparently, because Gabriel is an idiot," Cas sighs.
"Gabriel as in annunciation Gabriel?"
"The less said about that the better, but yes. Him. "
"Ah." Dean sounds almost disappointed there, but why? "Sibling prank. Been there, endured that. If you need help to pay him back, let me know."
"I am not sure that's what he actually –" The sentence dies in his throat before he can defend Gabriel. The archangel is playful, yes; always has been. What if this is actually a joke at his expense? Cas is covetous now, awfully so. He should know better, really. Maybe this is Gabriel's version of kindness. Teaching him a lesson.
Well, Dean isn't supposed to be Gabriel's, and if Michael can't be bothered to actually ask his vessel in proper form, Cas will continue to hover around him.
Know what, maybe he'll actually take a hint from Gabriel's (joking?) suggestion and inform his hunter (well, not his yet) that he has options. Not today, though. The atmosphere is all wrong. Dean is unhappy and – possibly pities him. That is not a good start for a...is he actually going to speak up? Tell Dean what he feels? Ask if reciprocation might be possible?
The answer, at the moment, is a resounding maybe. "I'll be sure to," he finally answers, realizing he might have been quiet too long. "As long as you call too, should you need anything."
"Speaking of – just a djinn, here, right? No seal to worry about? Or...is there anything more pressing than the local monster we should be concerned with?"
"There always is, but none that need attending to right this second. Don't worry, Dean." He smiles. Hopefully he can undo whatever stress he seems to have added today.
"Ok. Good." Dean swallows audibly. "Then I'll just – stay on the case. You go get changed. And then go get even. Trust me, you gotta."
Cas is not sure he could, if he wanted. But seeing his brother sounds like a wise idea anyway.