"You should be resting Michael, you and I both know who he's with right now."
"I know Sam, but he'll come, he always does. He never goes back on his word, no matter how long he makes me wait."
"We've been waiting since seven, it's now half past eleven, your match starts at eight and you have to be at your campus by half six. I know he's my brother but I don't understand what you see in him, his devotion is clear."
"He's happy Sam, that's all I ever wanted for him. If I have to watch him be happy from afar then so be it. Your parents would never approve of Castiel as your brother's husband. They know it too. It's only a matter of time before he's mine, I'd never make him say yes without his consent; Dean and your parents know that too."
I took a long swig from my tumbler, letting the bourbon burn my throat as it went down. Michael is the epitome of smitten—by my brother no less.
"The Novak's have no business here."
"Come now Sam, surely Dr. Novak isn't that horrible. I dare say our parents needed him. Sure they're new money, not born and raised in high society as we were, that much was evident when we were younger due to Castiel's behavior. I think that's what drew Dean to him, like a moth to a flame."
"Dean was promised to you since both of your births practically; don't make excuses for him, he doesn't deserve it."
Michael finally turned to face me, his eyes meeting my own and I saw in them the depths of his devotion for Dean. I was distraught by the one-sided relationship that has done nothing but fester and boil since childhood.
"One day Samuel, someone will cross your path and you will know no lengths, no boundaries, no depths to what you're willing to do for the one you love. Even if it's one-sided; I hear his car, let's cease this conversation lest he know we've been speaking about him."
I slumped back down onto the couch and emptied my tumbler. They were idiots, the lot of them. Castiel and his parents, thinking their money could allow them to fit in. Dean, always the slightly whimsical of the two of us, and Michael, poor Michael—he's been smitten with Dean since before I was born. I know that much.
The front door opened and I listened as Dean's rushed footsteps came to the parlor we were waiting for him in.
"Hello gents, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Don't offer apologies you don't mean."
I felt both of their stares on me; I didn't have to look at them to know.
"Sam, don't be so hard on a man in love."
"Yeah Sammy, one day someone's going to ruin you too and you'll know what it's like."
I snorted.
"I said practically the same thing to him earlier, but might we have a word in private, leave Samuel to his drinks? Perhaps the parlor?"
-x-
"He's told you then?"
I clenched my jaw.
"Sammy doesn't know Michael and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible. Can't you at least wait until we are out of his ear shot?"
His hand rested on the small of my back as he led me back the way I just came.
"You baby him too much. He despises it. He's a man now, treat him as one."
"If you're so concerned of his well being then you can switch your claim from me to him, surely none of our parents will mind."
His fingers fisted the back of my jacket and he stepped closer, I could feel his warm breath on my neck.
"I would mind Dean. Sam is the sibling I never had. You know I will wait forever for you if I have to. Castiel is flighty at best, how long until he has enough money given to him to venture out into the world, oh wait, Dr. Novak has just offered him that and he's taken it."
I removed myself from his space and narrowed my eyes at him.
"You do not speak of him like that to me ever."
He smirked and stepped closer once more.
"I've loved you since we were children, I'll love you till we're old, if he makes you happy then so be it, but know that I will always be right here waiting for you. I could make you happy too, if only you'd give me the chance. You did once, the weeks before the Novak family arrived, but just how I was with you, when you first laid eyes on him, you were smitten as hard as I fell for you."
"You know he's leaving and he won't marry me before he goes. I can't go with him, not without a ring on my finger. At minimum it's four years I'll be without him. What if he forgets me Michael?"
I know I shouldn't, but I could substitute the affection Michael gave me as that of Cas'. I felt the pads of his fingers trail along my jaw before he gently cradled my head between both of his hands and lent forward, pressing his lips to my forehead.
"He'll never be able to forget you. Once someone loves you Dean Winchester they can never stop and they can never forget you. He loves you dearly have no fear about that."
I nodded; it's all I could do.
"You should be in bed Michael; sorry I made you wait up so late."
I pressed a quick, chaste kiss on his cheek and stepped away from him.
"You will be at the match tomorrow won't you?"
"I always watch your matches; have since we were children, why would I stop now?"
He grinned and bid me a good night. I returned to the sitting room we left Sam in; found him sipping from what I presumed to be his third or fourth glass of brandy.
"Come on Sammy, let's get home so you can sleep off some of however many drinks you've had tonight. You need to be wide-eyed and excited for the match."
He tossed back the remainder of his glass and got to his feet. He stumbled over to his coat and shrugged it on and made his way out of the house. I could only follow and hope he didn't fall down the front steps—there were only three of them, but a man of his height and in his inebriated state, he could do damage.
He placed himself in the back seat, lying down and still remained quiet as I started up the car and headed to our estate.
We were pulling through the property gates when Sammy made a noise. I saw his hand in the rear-view mirror.
"You're a terrible person for what you do to him. You don't see it, but I do. He only lets you see the parts of him that love you, but everyone else sees the parts you destroy because you fancy Castiel. I'm glad he's leaving! It's not a secret Dean; his parents are the worst sort of gossip, especially that religious fanatic of a mother of his.
"Mom told me last night after you went to bed. She's worried about how it'll affect your well-being; me and Dad think it'll be good for you. She thinks it's romantic that you're in love with someone so different than what we've all grown accustomed to, and that you're willing to go with him. Dad thinks you're an idiot."
I gripped the steering wheel tighter and clenched my jaw—he's intoxicated and doesn't know what he's saying. Though rumor has it drunken words are the honest thoughts no one dares to utter when sober.
"I think you're horrible. Michael and you have been practically gift wrapped for each other by our families since your births and as your usual, something new and shiny comes along and everything else is cast to the side. You did it with all your toys, you did it with people, you did it to your horse when Dad gave you this car, and the moment Castiel Novak came into the picture you forgot all about Michael. Your first friend!"
"Be quiet Sammy, you don't know what you're saying. You're drunk."
He laughed, it was empty and sounded so mean.
"I'm not as drunk as you think I am. I only had four drinks. I just didn't want to say this in front of Michael. He does love you, probably more than you'll ever realize. For your sake, and your sanity, I hope Castiel doesn't forget you. The mess you'd be, god Dean, you're so selfish sometimes that you forget you have others around you. It shouldn't be weeks for us to hang out, you're my brother. All of your time is spent with Castiel when you're not in your lessons or hiding in the garage—it's not a secret, at least not from me. Mom and Dad still don't know that Mr. Singer allows you to get your hands dirty. Dad would blow a fuse if he knew.
"Look, I won't offer an apology I don't mean because I'm not you, but I do want you to know that if it does come down to you marrying Castiel, then I'll be by your side, as will Michael. Just let him go though, let him experience life. Ours has been handed to us our entire lives, he's had to earn everything; this is the first thing that's been handed to him. If the two of you love each other as much as you claim to, what will distance and four years matter?"
As I parked the car and Sammy stumbled out and made his way up our drive, up the steps and into our manor, I could only think of one word to say to answer that question with—everything.
