Warnings: Rated M... for reasons
Destiel, Mild Sabriel

Circling the City

Chapter 2

Life had a funny way of throwing things at you. Dean realized this when he'd driven past the little café three, maybe four times, and hadn't yet convinced himself to park and go in, only to find out that Sammy had been in there with a friend the whole time. He'd been simultaneously stalking and avoiding the place for hours. He'd driven out to Brooklyn and back at least once… and had almost decided to just circle the city to keep his mind off the man who may or may not be in the little shop.

Finally out of frustration and boredom he'd called Sam to ask where he was and if he was ready to go. Sam's location had spun him for a loop. He sighed, hung up, and set his eyes to finding a parking place. No more than five minutes later, his baby safely installed somewhere where it wasn't likely to get hurt and the green eyed man was standing outside the door just out of view of the window. He took a deep breath.

Jesus Winchester. Man up. What the hell are you a chick? Move your ass, get the fuck inside and just say hello. How hard can it be?

Thoroughly self-chastised Dean shoved one hand down into the heavy leather pocket of his coat, bundled his face a little further into his scarf and pushed open the door, the chime of bells on the wreath announcing his entrance.

He saw Sam instantly across the room but didn't move his way. He seemed to be deep in conversation with another guy who was talking animatedly, hands and arms flying about to illustrate some concept. If Dean had really cared enough to pay closer attention in that moment, he would have seen the wide amused smile on Sam's face and known his brother was half way through falling.

He wasn't, however, paying close enough attention. Instead green eyes had fallen to the man behind the counter who was moving about slowly and assuredly, reaching out to grab one thing or another as he made up an order and slid it across the counter to a waiting customer before processing the payment and returning the remainder with a smile. He turned around to get something else when the bells from the wreath marked Dean's arrival.

"I'll be with you in a moment." Cas offered out of pure habit. He closed the drawer, marked a few things into the computer system Gabriel had helped him update a few months before and turned around.

He was happy he wasn't holding anything in that moment, because cliché and cheesy or not… he'd have dropped it.

"Oh! Dean! Hey, over here man." Sam glanced up and saw his brother and waved. He blinked when Dean didn't even look over. He was too busy smiling softly at Gabriel's brother. "Um… I guess they know each other?" He said to Gabriel who had also turned to look.

For his part Gabe just sort of watched for a moment before it clicked. "Dean? You said his name was Dean?" He couldn't believe it. Golden eyes widened a little and a hilarious smile pulled at his lips before he burst out laughing.

Sam was confused. "Um… yeah… Dean's my brother… why?"

"This is too perfect."

"Hey Cas." Dean cleared his throat and smiled slightly though it ended up looking like more of a smirk than anything. Green eyes grazed over the man behind the counter, taking in the mop of dark unruly hair, the slight stubble on his chin, the white shirt whose sleeves he'd rolled up to his elbows, then finally landing once again on his own impossibly blue eyes.

Castiel just stared at him for a moment, mouth open before he snapped it shut. "Dean."

Dean slid closer and set his hands against the cool surface of the counter. "It's been a long time. How's life?" He wasn't sure how, but he managed to sound way more collected than he felt, especially considering he'd been driving around the city for the majority of the day just trying to convince himself to come in here.

"I can't complain. And what about you? Ever find that little corner you were looking for?" The shop owner could have kicked himself for saying such a stupid thing. He chewed on the edge of his lip and looked around for something to do only to come up short, forcing himself instead to wait for the reply.

Dean's grin was considerably wider that time. "Still looking." He returned with a wink.

"Well I hope you find it."

"I think I'm close."

Cas stared at him, blinked and finally restarted his brain. "I'm glad. It's good to see you again Dean." He understated. "Since you're here can I get you anything?"

Dean bit back the three- possibly four- totally lame, one liners that flooded his tongue. "Um… sure… whatever's easiest."

Castiel snorted. "Coffee in general is easy Dean…" He heard himself saying. "Give me something harder."

The green eyed man swallowed. "Harder?" He cleared his throat. He'd forgotten. Jesus, how could he have forgotten…

Cas only smiled. Internally he was doing his fair share of freaking out. What was it about this man that made him say such things? He didn't know, but saying them made his stomach flutter with the feeling one gets when indulging in a guilty pleasure.

He watched green eyes skirt over the board above his head and was pleased at the reaction he was getting from Dean. Served him right; walking back in here on a simple Friday and throwing the shop owner's whole world into a tail spin. Now they could both enjoy the feeling of being thrown off balance. Dean seemed to collect himself as he read over the board. He could do this. If Cas wanted to play this game, he'd play it happily.

He rattled of some exotic sounding name of a coffee on the board, green eyes falling back to blue as he finished with "Extra cream."

"Extra cream? That's what you're going with… dude… lame."

Dean's head snapped around when he heard his brother's voice and he narrowed his gaze. "Shut up Sammy." He growled by way of greeting.

Sam grinned and the expression on his face was matched by the grin on Gabriel's.

"You must be Dean." The golden eyed man smiled sticking out his hand and giving the other a once over when it was taken.

"And you are?"

"Dean, this is Gabe." Sam introduced.

Dean wasn't sold. The protective streak he had for his little brother ran deep. "What do you want from Sam?" He asked bluntly.

"Dean." Sam hissed. "Not cool."

Dean didn't retract his question and Gabriel just grinned further. "Well I was hoping to get more conversation out of him… maybe a date. What about you. What do you want from Cassie?"

"Cassie?" Dean looked confused now.

"Gabriel is my brother." Castiel commented, piping up for the first time since the other two had joined them and sliding Dean's order across the counter towards him. Blue eyes grazed over each of them in turn, though his gaze became considerably more threatening when they landed on his brother. Finally he moved to Sam. "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Castiel."

Sam took his hand with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sam, Dean's brother, obviously."

Dean huffed still having a little stare-off with Gabriel who was waiting for his answer. "Coffee." He replied bluntly.

It seemed to be the right thing to say because the other's grin widened. "Well kids, as stimulating as this is, we'll get out of your hair. Sam mentioned that he's never seen the Plaza in the winter. Can't have that. Cassie, you mind if we stash his books in the back?" He glanced at Castiel who only shrugged. Gabe smiled widely. "Spectacular. Come on Sammy! We've got a lot of city to see!" They disappeared from the counter for a moment to hide the mountain of books the younger Winchester had procured in a little locker in the back before the taller of the rather unlikely pair was tugged out the door and back into the snowy street with a wide grin at his brother.

"Nice to meet you Cas!"

"Sammy?" Dean hissed, looking bemusedly after them after the door finally closed with a chime marking their departure. "Cas? What the hell…." He was pissed. That was two nicknames in less than as many minutes stolen right out from under him. He felt like he'd just been dropped in the middle of a whirlwind, spun around till he wasn't sure which way was which and pushed right back out again.

Castiel sighed. "My apologies for my brother… he can be a bit overwhelming at times, though he means well. And I do believe he's quite taken with Sam. My sympathies."

Dean dragged his gaze slowly back to the man behind the counter, making it perfectly clear that sympathies had clearly been understood as you're screwed. "When did they even meet?" He asked.

"A little over an hour ago?" Cas guessed in reply. "Sam broke Gabriel's lollypop." The look on Dean's face made him grin and he continued. "And I mean that literally… Gabe has a thing for candy."

The green eyed man blinked. "I don't know whether to be concerned or relieved."

"I'd stick with concerned… it's usually the safer of the two options. But in all fairness to my brother, he's a good person. If nothing else he'll show Sam the city. He loves showing off."

Dean nodded and finally collected himself enough to turn his attention wholly back to the man in front of him. "It really is good to see you Cas. I thought about you." He managed not to add the a lot that was lounging on the edge of his tongue.

Castiel shot him a half disbelieving glance. "Clearly not enough to call back." He quipped, angry at himself for the slight twinge of bitterness in his voice at the reply. Essentially he expected a shrug or a quick reply of apologies from the man on the other side of the counter. It didn't matter anyway.

What he didn't expect was the look of shock that crossed Dean's face when Cas accused him of not calling back. "You called?" He nearly choked on the sip of coffee he'd taken.

Castiel frowned. "Um… yes… once… about three weeks after…" He studied the man's face trying to determine if he was telling the truth or not.

Dean wracked his brain and it clicked. "Shit man… I'm so sorry. I dropped my phone in the sink… I know, stupid, don't judge. By the time I got a new one the card was all I could save… it didn't keep past calls, and I didn't have your number." He let himself trail off leaving it open to interpretation that he'd in fact been waiting for Castiel to call him, which he had, just not a second time.

Cas blinked. "You're actually telling the truth." He stated, as if this was news to him.

Dean looked confused. "Um… yeah… why wouldn't I…." It occurred to him then why and he looked more shocked than he had before if it was possible. He ran his hand through his hair. "No… I didn't just ignore you if that's what you thought. Dude… Sorry…"

"It's hardly you're fault that I didn't try again." Castiel brushed off with a wave of his hand.

"Maybe not… but I should have gotten your number somehow." He leaned in so he was a few inches closer over the counter. "I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to call you."

Cas looked unconvinced but was flattered nonetheless. "Well, here we are… in person. Now you don't have to call." He pointed out turning to wipe down one of the machines in an attempt to busy his hands.

"But what if I want to?" Dean asked smoothly, following the other man's progress down the counter, slowly sliding his coffee with him.

Cas stopped and looked over again, catching green eyes and the way they darkened as they watched him. It was the second time he'd found himself unable to believe he was the one eliciting such a look from such a man. If he'd been able to read Dean's thoughts he'd have found that the lighter haired man was thinking much the same thing. Tipping his head in slow consideration he finally turned, grabbed a pen and sticky note from one of the pads kept behind the counter and jotted down his number. He turned around narrowed his eyes for a moment as if to really decide whether or not he wanted to give it over, before he leaned forward and slid the paper across the counter.

Dean's smile was instantaneous. He reached out and met Cas' hand half way, his fingers tangling with the other's, some overlapping and others slipping beneath to grasp the paper. His skin was warm from the coffee and Cas found himself fighting back a slight shiver from the touch. Dean's fingers moved again but instead of moving away he slid his hand around the shop owner's wrist and pulled him closer, forcing Cas to lean unexpectedly over the counter.

Before the blue eyed man could say a single word, lips were pressing to his in a slow, lingering kiss. Like the first time they'd kissed he kept his own closed just out of spite, and an equal amount of decorum given they were kissing in the middle of his shop.

A few people turned to look at the spectacle but did little more than smile at the interaction and go back to their own coffee and food.

Finally Dean pulled away leaving Castiel flushed and a little taken aback. The green eyed man ran his tongue over his own lips, eyes settling against the other's before rising to catch his gaze. "If we weren't standing in the middle of your shop I'd bite you again for keeping your mouth closed." He purred, his voice so low there wasn't any possible way anyone else could have heard what he'd said.

Cas' lips parted for a moment before he grinned. "Maybe I'll hold you to that." He returned confidently.

Dean's smile was surprised but pleased. "God I hope so." Castiel straightened out and sniffed, trying to compose himself. Memories of things Gabriel had said to him the first time he'd seen Dean came unbidden to his mind.

…you look like you wouldn't mind throwing him over this counter and having…

Cas pushed away the thoughts as wholly unacceptable and unlikely and managed to meet Dean's gaze again without setting his face on fire. He was looking expectantly at the shop owner and Cas realized he'd been speaking.

"I'm sorry… what?"

"I said… dinner. You… me… food?" Dean waited, not sure if the fact that he'd had to repeat his question was a good thing or a bad thing.

Castiel blinked again. "Oh, um tonight?"

Dean nodded.

"Sure… I… the shop doesn't close till 9… is that too late for you?"

"In New York? Are you kidding? That's about when everything gets going in this city from what I've seen. How does nine thirty sound?" He asked. "That give you enough time to wind down?"

Cas nodded. "That's fine."

"Great! I'll pick you up here then." He gestured to the counter and again Castiel nodded.

"I'll leave the door unlocked even if the sign is flipped. You can just come in; though I'm sure I'll be down."

Dean grinned. "Perfect."

The door chimed, announcing the presence of a group who'd wandered in out of the cold, all laughing and babbling. Dean scooted out of the way as they trekked up to the counter to place their orders. "See you then Cas."

Cas smiled widely and tipped his head without another word before turning to his customers to take their orders.

A/N: The next part will be the delicious bit. I promise. I have ALL THE PLANS for Dean and Cas. Also, much as I love Sam and Gabe, wont be writing that, sorry folks.

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