Cas tried to calculate how long he had to clean himself up, but it seemed he had either screwed it up, of Dean had been speeding, because before he could gather his wits enough to uncurl from the sofa, the frontdoor opened and Dean stepped in.
Cas could hear the coathangers in the closet click together as Dean hung away his jacket.
"Hey, angel. I'm home..." he said, and Cas could hear some tension in the phrase, but he just kept hugging the cushion, not looking up.
If Dean were to ask about his day, he was sure he would crumble and fall.
But he didn't. Instead he softly walked around to stand by the sofa, looking down on Cas.
"Interesting music. Bit melancholy. Who is it?"
So not what Cas had thought he would say, so he finally looked at his boyfriend.
The green eyes that caught his, were loving and soft.
"Demons and Wizards. It's from their debutalbum. I... I usually listen to it to make me aware that there is evil unmentionable out there... To make me feel better..." Cas replied, voice strained and quiet.
The green eyes darted all over him, taking in everything.
"Not working today, Honeybee?" Dean concluded.
Heart shattering at the sweet tone and the nickname, Cas squeezed his eyes shut to stop fresh tears from forming. He shook his head.
Sitting down next to him, Dean cupped Cas' cheek lovingly.
"Tell me, angel. Maybe I can help." Dean offered.
Cas looked at him miserably. Would he? Or would he decide that a crybaby like Cas wasn't worth his time, and run back to Lisa?
Those thoughts occupied his mind enough to let his mouth run off.
"I can't, Dean... she'll..."
Double damn! He cut himself off imediately, but Dean looked murderous.
"Lisa. What did that bitch do?" he growled.
Ok, so maybe he wouldn't run to Lisa... but still.
Cas ducked back into the cushion.
"Cas, she has no rights here. Never had, never will have. Angel, please... I hate seeing you like this." Dean plead.
So he didn't think Cas a coward?
Cas peered at him, trying to find disgust in those green eyes, but all he saw was love and worry.
He drew a deep, stuttering breath and finally sat up straight.
He would tell Dean. He was right. Lisa had no power over them.
"Lisa came to me at the midday coffeebreak. She cornered me, and hissed at me to keep my filthy, faggot hands off her boyfriend."
Dean looked nauseated and ready to punch something.
"Damnit... I'm sorry, babe... but... how did she know?" he wondered.
Recalling the conversation, Cas forced his mouth to smile.
"She said Lilith saw me ogling you, while you were helping Ash out. I never saw Lilith there, but I did have my eyes on you most of the time... I guess Lilith drew her own conclusions."
Dean sighed and Cas could see him think back.
He shook his sandy haired head while he recapitulated that nothing had even happened then.
Suddenly, he smirked, making Cas' heart skip.
"Besides, angel... I'm not hers anymore. She has no say in my life whatsoever."
He brought his lips next to Cas' ear, breath ghosting over it.
"To be brutally honest, Castiël Novak... I'm more yours than I ever was hers."
Cas gasped, eyes wide as he looked into Dean's. That was a confession Cas never would have thought to hear, and it warmed him to the core.
"W... what?" he gasped, not daring to believe it off the bat.
Dean kissed him on the lips, sweet, loving, tender.
"I said I'm more yours than I ever was hers. You got under my skin and in my very soul, Cas. I love you with a fire that makes what I thought I felt for her look like a dying ember."
A deep blush crept up Cas' cheeks. This love confession pushed everything Lisa had said right off the board. Dean was his, not hers. She couldn't hold a candle to their love.
"I love you too, Dean." Cas said quietly, basking in it.
Dean kissed him again and got up.
"Good. Hamburgers?" he asked with a smile.
Cas smiled back and nodded eagerly, suddenly ravenous.
Cas was setting the table, when Dean's phone rang.
He picked it up, but didn't give a greeting.
He just glanced at Cas, and grunted out a low "Uhuh." while flipping the burgers.
That had Cas stop and pay attention.
Dean licked his lips nervously before another "Uhuh." answer.
Knowing this routine from when Gabriel had tricked him into helping out with a prank, Cas got a bit worried.
He put down the silverware and studied Dean, frowning slightly.
Dean blinked as he glanced over and noticed Cas looking.
"Ok. See ya, Gabe." Dean said, acting like nothing was wrong.
Damnit. So it was Gabriel... he'd better not get Dean in trouble.
"Dean, I do hope you will not partake in Gabriel's foolish pranks. One day these will get him in deep trouble." Cas warned severely.
Taking the burgers off the grill, Dean smiled at Cas.
"I promise I will not do that knowingly." he vowed, hand on his heart.
Accepting that for now, Cas nodded, then kissed him.
"Good. Now, let's eat!"