This is a short series I've been working on during quarantine. It's five, possibly six chapters, and I really love human!Cas and exploring how he adjusts to his new life and all of the things that come along with it. I've enjoyed working on this, and I hope you enjoy reading it.
Chapter One: The Waitress
Castiel hadn't been human for very long, but he was adapting as best he could, given the circumstances. The angels had all fallen and he was to blame. He fell for Metatron's tricks, his lies, and sealed the fates of every angel that had been in Heaven, himself included. His grace had been stolen from him, and now he had to survive without it.
It had taken him a few weeks to get his bearing and adjust, but he had a job now. He was a sales associate at a Gas-N-Sip, and took his responsibilities and duties just as seriously as he had his duties as a Seraph.
He helped customers, restocked shelves, and even prepared the hot food if his manager, a kind woman named Nora, wasn't in the store.
At first, he'd been sleeping on the streets. Then it was the store room of the Gas-N-Sip. But now he could finally afford to pay a weekly rate to stay at a motel nearby. As run-down as it was, and as lumpy as the mattress may have been, Castiel was thankful to have a roof over his head and somewhere to go.
He settled into a routine. On the days he worked, which were more frequent than not, he'd get up early and take a shower. Having to practice good hygiene and proper self care was new to him, but he found it to be relaxing sometimes. He would get dressed and grab his blue vest that had his name tag pinned to the front, and remind himself that he had to answer when people called him Steve, and not the name God himself had given him. With one last glance in the mirror, Cas would take a deep breath and walk to work, a smile already on his face as he'd greet his manager.
Castiel enjoyed his job immensely. He liked the customers that came into the store, and the delivery people he got to see regularly. So when he got back to his small motel room at the end of his shift, his feet aching or his back sore, he didn't mind. It was part of being human.
It was a Thursday afternoon in early spring when Castiel fell unexpectedly into a part of being human he had yet to experience.
He was busy restocking the beverages in the refrigerators when the bell above the door chimed, signaling that a customer had come in- the first time he'd heard it in nearly an hour. He glanced over his shoulder without really looking and called out a greeting, welcoming the customer and telling them to let him know if they needed anything.
The former angel was so focused on his task he didn't hear the footsteps that had approached him, nor had he heard the quiet "Excuse me?". But when he felt a tap on his shoulder, he immediately jumped and dropped the armful of sodas he had been loading onto the shelves, his eyes widening as he watched them fall in what seemed like slow motion.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," came a voice as Castiel dropped to the linoleum floor, quickly picking up the drinks and setting them with the rest of the drinks he had yet to shelve.
"It's no problem at all-" he started, turning to face the customer but stopping in his tracks, his mind going blank as he stared at the woman in front of him.
She had the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen.
Castiel blinked, taking in her features. She had a small, uncertain smile on her full, pale pink lips, and a dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her hair was golden brown, and fell in long waves around her shoulders, but it was clipped back and out of her face. He noticed that she was wearing a uniform from the diner across the street, and he wondered briefly if he'd seen her there before. He liked their pancakes.
"Again, I'm really sorry if I caught you off guard," her dark, well-shaped eyebrows furrowed as she squinted at his nametag, "Steve. I was wondering if you guys have any phone chargers? My phone's about to die and I just started my shift across the street."
"O-of course, here, let me show you. We have a few, and I don't know what kind of phone you have-" Castiel rambled as he pulled himself out of the refrigerator and closed the door. He led her down the aisle towards the register, where the chargers were kept, wondering to himself why he was acting like this. Wondering why her voice was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard.
"It's just an iPhone, so anything that works with that is fine," she flashed him a polite smile, momentarily stunning him.
Castiel nodded, unable to say anything in response as he turned and fumbled through the cables until he found one that would work for her.
"H-here you go," he said, holding the package out to her. "Is this one satisfactory?"
He wasn't prepared for their fingers to brush as she took it from him, and he didn't miss how soft her skin felt against his.
"It's perfect!" she beamed, her eyes lit up and Castiel could swear they sparkled with excitement. "You're such a lifesaver, Steve!"
She handed it back to him so he could ring the item up, disappearing briefly down an aisle and returning just as fast with a bag of Crispy M&Ms, placing them down on the counter with a shy look on her face.
"These too, please," she said softly, like she was almost embarrassed. "They're my favorite, and you're the only place around that has them regularly."
"I haven't tried these before," Castiel said, looking at the bag curiously before scanning them. "Do you need a bag?"
"Nah, I'm okay," the brunette answered, taking the candy after he set them back onto the counter and tearing off a corner.
She popped a few of the brightly colored candies into her mouth as he read off her total, then grabbed some cash from her wallet and paid. When he returned her change, he had a "Thanks for stopping in" on the tip of his tongue, but she was holding out the M&Ms bag, offering him a sample.
"Everyone needs to try crispy M&Ms just to see how superior they are to the rest of them," she said confidently, like it was of the utmost importance.
"I- okay, if you're sure you want to share with me," Cas answered with a small shrug, and she gestured for him to hold out his hand. When he did, she poured a few into his open palm, and watched him expectantly.
He popped them into his mouth all at once and was pleasantly surprised by their texture and taste. Surprisingly, he liked them.
"Good, huh?" she asked, mirth glittering in her eyes as she slipped a green one past her lips. "Thanks again, Steve. I'll see you around."
Castiel watched her leave the gas station and cross the street towards the diner, realizing that he hadn't gotten her name.
On his next payday, Castiel had dinner at the diner across the street.
He'd been eating nothing but pre-packaged food from the gas station, so he decided that he needed to have something that didn't come already made off of a delivery truck.
If he saw the waitress there too, well, it was just a happy coincidence.
He walked into the small diner and was instantly reminded of the diners he'd been to with Sam and Dean. It had a similar feel and layout- a countertop where what looked like regulars were chatting with the cook that was leaning through the window into the kitchen, families seated at tables with milkshakes, and a delicious aroma of maple syrup.
"Hey honey, seat yourself!" a woman with graying hair greeted as she walked by with a tray full of food, "Rory will be with you in a sec."
Castiel nodded slowly, watching the woman hurry off before he turned and looked out into the diner.
He chose a seat in the corner by the windows so he could look out of them if things got too much in the diner. He found that sometimes he was overwhelmed in busy places, but he could probably handle the bustle of the diner. Better safe than sorry, though.
"Hi, sorry for the wait! It's just me and Irene tonight- I'm Rory, I'll be taking care of- Oh hey! It's you!"
Castiel looked up to see the brunette from the gas station, his eyes widening in surprise. She was actually there, right in front of him.
"Uh- Hi," he said lamely, and Rory handed him a menu.
"It's good to see you again. Steve, right?" she asked, and Cas couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
"Y-yes. Steve. That's right," he nodded in response, feeling hot all of a sudden.
"Cool, well it's nice to officially meet you! I'm Rory," she laughed, motioning to her nametag. "Can I get you something to drink while you look over the menu? Y'know, we have a chocolate milkshake that's pretty good…"
Castiel nodded again, "I'll have one of those. Thank you for the suggestion."
"No problem! I'll get that started and give you some time to look things over. Be back in a few," she winked, tapping the table with the tips of her fingers twice before flitting off to the next table, a bright smile on her face the entire time.
The former angel heaved a sigh and looked down at the menu, knowing he was going to end up getting a stack of pancakes, so he decided to look around the diner, his eyes skimming over families with small children, the cooks he saw through the large, open cutout behind the counter, and finally Rory.
He watched as she moved easily through the diner, her white tennis shoes gliding across the linoleum as if she were floating. She was wearing an outfit just like she had worn when they first met- a mustard yellow dress that was fitted on top and flared out at the waist, where her white apron was tied in a neat bow behind her back. The top had little white buttons, two of which were unbuttoned due to the warmth of running around the diner, he'd assumed.
Rory came back no more than five minutes later, milkshake in hand.
She set two cups down in front of him and pulled a spoon out from her apron, placing it next to the tall glass filled to the brim and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
"Usually we're not supposed to make as much extra, but you were so nice to me after I scared the pants off of you the other day," she tapped the metal cup that was next to the glass. "Don't tell anyone I'm spoiling you, okay?"
"I would never," Castiel answered honestly, glancing from the milkshake and back at her.
"You ready to order? I can come back-" Rory started, but Cas shook his head, saying that he was ready.
He ordered a short stack of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs, and Rory was quick to ring it in.
She checked on him a few times before his meal came, and a couple more after she had dropped his plate off.
"Can I interest you in any dessert tonight, Steve?" she asked, an eyebrow raised as she looked down at him. "We have some of the best pie in all of Idaho."
Castiel's eyes widened when she looked around furtively, then leaned down so she was a little closer and she whispered, "My family's secret recipes."
"I- I'll take a slice of whichever is your favorite," Castiel finally sputtered, unsure of how to behave with her so close.
"One slice of peach pie, coming right up," she grinned, flouncing off to grab it herself.
The peach pie was the best thing Castiel had ever tasted, and he wasn't sure if it was because the pie itself was that good, or if it was because of who had brought it to him.
When he paid the bill, he left some cash and a bag of Crispy M&Ms on the table for her tip.
"Bye Steve! See ya around," Rory smiled sweetly as he left the diner, and he waved goodbye, knowing he'd be back.