Just a quick, little bonus chapter. Though there is not a specific timeline to these, I still tried to keep them evolving into a deeper level of friendship throughout the chapters. I would probably have put this one between An Upgrade of Arms and A Watchful Eye.
-.-.-.-
Despite the failure that was their adventure to a brothel, Dean still tries to expand Castiel's experiences with human interactions. This often seems to involve women in gloomy bars. Dean never pushes Castiel in the same manner he did in Waterville, and Castiel gets the feeling that the hunter sometimes just does it for fun. Though he still not quite understands why.
Tonight is no different. Once again caught in a small town with limited options, they have entered a small bar with dim lighting and questionable customers. It is a Saturday night, and clearly the place to be for the townspeople. The place is packed. The smell of alcohol lies heavily in the air.
Dean seems to fit right in, striding confidently to the bar and ordering a beer for Castiel and himself. Castiel follows him as always.
At the bar, a female bartender in her late twenties smiles at Castiel and lets her eyes dance down his body. By now, they have been in enough places like this for Castiel to recognise that smile and that look. Both he, Dean and Sam receives it regularly. Castiel must have studied her expression for longer than he realised, because she interprets it as interest and leans on the bar. "So, what's your name?"
Dean reacts to the question, turning from the bartender he had been handing money to and quickly analyses the situation. With a wicked smirk, he quickly answers; "His name is Cas." With a wiggle of his eyebrows, Dean takes the beers and moves to one of the few available tables in the back.
The bartender smiles wider. "Cas? Is that short for Casper or something?"
Castiel stares after a snickering Dean. The hunter knows that he is putting the Angel on the spot, and clearly enjoys it. Castiel clears his throat and politely corrects her. "Castiel."
She tilts her head. "Huh. Odd name."
"Well. Uhm… It's Enochian." Castiel answers.
"Oh." Is all she answers, still smiling though a bit more strained and her eyebrows frowning. She has probably never heard of the angelic language before.
A silence stretches between them, and Castiel gets that familiar feeling that he is missing out on a social clue. Feeling the desire to leave, he says the only thing that comes to mind; "Goodbye."
Castiel quickly turns and walks to the back of the room to join Dean. It is a small, tall table where they have to stand, all chairs already occupied. Dean is still grinning. Castiel tries to keep a serious face. "That wasn't funny, Dean."
Dean hands Castiel his beer. "Oh, come on, Cas. The girl liked you. I was being an awesome wingman."
Castiel is about to chastise Dean, but a thought strikes him, and he decides to respond in a different manner. Dean is in a good mood and Castiel can appreciate that despite it being on his behalf. But maybe Castiel can give as good as he gets. His expression softens and he smirks; "Considering your dislike of Cupid, I find it amusing that you take the role upon yourself."
Dean's smile falters at the mentioning of the lower-level Angel and Castiel grins. He recognises the pouting look from when Sam wins a banter between the brothers. Human interaction is still complicated, and he often gets it wrong, but sometimes he gets it right, and it baffles him how good it feels.
Castiel takes a sip from his beer. He catches a glimpse of the bartender from before when he lifts his head to drink. Their conversation resonates in him, and he turns to Dean with a small frown. "Why do you call me 'Cas'?"
Dean looks up from his pretend-pouting, eyeing the Angel curiously. "What do you mean 'why'?"
"The bartender made a wrong assumption about my name when you called me 'Cas'." Castiel tilts his head in thought. "Is my name so abnormal that you needed to change it?"
Dean quickly raises a hand to stop Castiel from taking that thought any further. "No, Cas. No." He licks his lips before continuing. "It's a nickname, okay? It makes your name quick and easy, you know? And… it's what friends and family do."
Castiel's frown deepens. "Family?"
Dean nods. "Yeah, buddy… Like, like how I call Sam 'Sammy', you know?"
Castiel ponders the hunter's words. Dean considers him family. The Angel is struck by sudden realisation. He can suddenly see the interaction with the bartender in a different light. In the same way that Dean sometimes teases Sam about 'hooking up' with women, he teases Castiel. As infuriating as it might be in the moment, the underlying affection in the gesture now warms Castiel. It also explains why their subsequent banter is based on amusement and not irritation. Dean treats Castiel as a brother in a way that his angelic siblings never have. Not just as a brother in arms, but a brother by blood. Something he didn't even realise that he wanted. Until now.
Castiel tilts his head and studies Dean as the hunter raises the beer to his lips. "I don't have a nickname for you."
Dean almost chokes on the beer that he had tried to drink while Castiel considered the concept of nicknames. He quickly recovers. "No. Not necessary. Dean is already short and straightforward."
"You sure?" Castiel doesn't want Dean to feel left out.
"Yes!" Dean says a bit forcefully.
"I could shorten your name to 'Dee'" Castiel ponders.
Dean points a warning finger at the Angel. "Stop right now, or I'll give your number to the bartender."
It is a weak threat, and Castiel counts it as his second verbal victory of the night.