When Castiël left the office that night, wrapped in a scarf and his coat because he actually felt like hammered crap, that beautiful car was standing in front of the building.
Dean stood leaning against it, obviously waiting.
"Hello, Dean." Castiël hoarsely said, hoping Dean would answer.
Dean tilted his head minutely and a soft, curious smile formed.
"Hello. Have we met?" he asked, and Castiël loved the gruff sound of his voice.
Castiël bit his lip. Damn his social awkwardness.
"No. Not really, but I saw you drop off Lisa, so I assumed you are Dean."
Dean chuckled low, making his eyes crinkle up at the sides.
"Yeah, That's a logical conclusion. So, you are?"

Castiël held out his gloved hand.
"Castiël Novak, from accounting." he said and stepped closer.
His breath caught. Dean's eyes were astonishing, and eerily familiar. Castiël hoped Dean would reply with his last name too. It suddenly was very important.
"Pleased to meet you, Castiël. I'm Dean Winchester."
Emotions rose like bile and Castiël couldn't speak.
It was him. Castiël knew it, as soon as he'd seen those eyes up close.
He swallowed hard and ground out: "Pleassure. I love your car." before turning and leaving.
Once he sat behind the wheel of his own car, Castiël allowed the memory to sweep over him.

It was his freshman year in highschool, and other kids were picking on him, because his reactions were so much fun. Castiël had run from PE and was hiding in a dark corner of the hallway, under the stairs.
"Hey there buddy. Are you ok?" a gruffish voice had asked. Castiël had raised his head and stared into the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen.
"I'm talking to you, kid. You look miserable, to be honest." the freckled boy with those eyes had said. Castiël had just nodded.
"I am. The boys in my class pick on me. My clothes are wrong, I like the wrong music and I'm weird..." he had choked out, tears stinging his eyes.

The other boy, Castiël estimated him about two years his senior, had simply sidled in next to him.
"Screw them, huh. You are you. They don't matter. I don't like to listen to all those bleach blonde sexbombs that croon about love either. I'm into AC/DC, and Metallica." The leather clad shoulders had moved in an uncaring shrug.
"So what? Doesn't make me less than others. Those bullies? Don't mind them, be yourself and if they corner you, punch their lights out. If they still bother you, tell them Dean Winchester hates bullies, and he will come after them."
Castiël had gaped at the selfassured boy.
"That's me, by the way, Dean Winchester. So. You dry those pretty eyes, buddy, and be proud of who you are. 'Cause you're the only you there is."
Dean had clapped Castiël's shoulder and moved away.

Castiël had taken his advice to heart. Next time Bartholomew and his gang had him cornered, he swung, and he had knocked out Bartholomew in one blow. Ever since, the other kids had left him alone.
He never saw Dean Winchester again. Anna, Castiël's niece, had told him Dean and his little brother had moved away.
This had saddened Castiël, but he knew that was life. He wished he could thank Dean for his help, though. He did in his own way, by starting to listen to Deans music. He found out he liked it, and once he dipped his toes in the metal subculture, he had found a lifestyle he liked.
The rest of his school years, Castiël had kept to Dean's guidelines. He had stayed proud of who he was and once he was legally of age, he had gotten a tattoo. Two massive black wings, to symbolise the freedom that one kid had given him.

And now Dean was back in his life. In the most sideways way ever, but Castiël was happy to know Dean was still doing ok. Admittedly dating Lisa wasn't really ok, since she flirted continuously with anything breathing, but maybe their relationship was that open.
Castiël wouldn't judge. That wasn't what Dean had taught him.

He stared at that black car and Dean Winchester, until Lisa showed up and took them both out of his sight.
Castiël bit his lip and hugged himself closely, before Gabriel came out and saw him like this.
He had just collected his thoughts and emotions, when the passenger door opened and his brother slid in.
"Hiya Cassie. Hope I didn't keep you. Someone got a copier jammed again. And Crowley needed it for a rush copy of a file... I don't know." the 5'7" ball of energy rattled.
Castiël didn't say anything, just turned he key and started to drive.
"Seatbelt, Gabriel." were his only words until they got home.

"Cassie... What's eating you, baby brother? You haven't said a word."
Gabriel was suddenly abandoning his usual chatter to observe him carefully.
"That's not true. I told you to fasten your seatbelt." Castiël objected.
Gabriel sent him an amused glance, but wasn't deterred.
"Not my point, Rain Man. What's the matter?"
Taking a calming breath, Castiël decided to brave the teasing.
"I ran into an old aquaintance today."

Making his eyebrows dance lewdly, Gabriel grinned.
"Ooooh! An old aquaintance huh? Sexy?"
Keeping his features schooled, Castiël blinked his emotions away.
"I wouldn't know, Gabriel. I don't qualify people along those lines. Besides, it wouldn't matter. Dean is Lisa's boyfriend."
Gabriel looked like he was swallowing a lemon.
"Lisa? The hussie from CC? UGH. Can't say I get his taste in women."
Thinking back on that goodbye kiss, how happy Dean had seemed, and how Lisa had acted towards Castiël, Castiël had to admit that his brother had a point.

"He looked happy enough..." Castiël admitted softly.
Gabriel looked at his brother sharply.
"You didn't talk to him? Why not?"
Resting his head on the steeringwheel, Castiël sighed deeply.
"I spoke to him, but he didn't remember me. Maybe I didn't leave much of an impression."
Gabriel shoved him lightly.
"Knowing you, you did, brother. Come, I know for a fact that oma has pie."
Shaking his head at Gabriel's sweettooth, Castiël followed him inside.