Disclaimer: I'm playing in the sandbox.

Genre: Angst (Slight) Romance, AU

Of Lords and Paupers

Sam crouched against the cold, gray stone wall, curled up against Dean. Their father, John, had come home drunk, again. After their mother had died when Sam was six months old, John had just taken a turn for the worse, which never got better. Now, with Dean aged eighteen and Sam fourteen, they got out of the house whenever possible. In summer when the courtyard was green and warm, filled with flowers it was fine, inviting in fact. But now, the courtyard had turned a bleak white and gray, the snow was freezing, but they had each other for warmth.

"I hope he sobers up for Christmas this year." Sam murmured, glancing up at Dean with his puppy like eyes.

Dean sighed, and held his younger brother closer. They both knew that was unlikely. They sat hudling in the snow, Sam trying not to fall asleep.

Sometime later, Dean looked over and met the blue eyes of a boy about sixteen. The boy cocked his head, and took a step forward.

Dean moved a little to protect Sam, who mummbled something around his chattering teeth.

"Hey, Cas? Cas! Where are you?" An older boy emerged from the manor and spotted Sam and Dean. Dean didn't glanced at him, he kept his eyes locked with the blue eyed, dark haired boy.

"By God Cas, don't just stand there." He was shorter than the other boy but it was obvious he was older, and he gave Dean a reassuring smile. "Come on, come in."

Dean shoved Sam, and the younger boy moved slightly then got up. Sam glanced at the two boys and nodded slightly.

Dean shoved his brother along, until Sam walked of his own accord. The two relaxed in the hall, the warm air soothing their bodies.

"What's going on?" They looked up to see a man who'd spoken with an accent, come down the stairs.

"It's okay Crowley." The older boy told him.

The man continued down the stairs. "You sure Gabriel? They look near frozen."

"They were." The third boy said quietly, Dean glanced at him and it hit him. He and Sam had been found by the Lord's sons, Gabriel and Castiel. The man was their bodyguard, Crowley.

Crowley took in Sam and Dean. "Well they're in time for dinner."

Sam hared a look with Dean. "But, sir-"

"Unless you'd like to go back outside?" Crowley asked, but he smiled as he said it. Sam and Dean shook their heads.

"All right then." Crowley grinned, "Come along." He paused, "What are your names?"

"Dean Winchester." Dean answered, "This is my brother Sam."

Crowley nodded. "I'm Crowley, and those two are Gabriel and Castiel Novak."

"Gabe and Cas works." Gabriel muttered to Sam, who grinned at him.

Castiel stood unnervingly close to Dean, the older boy turned to look at him, and he just stared back. He cocked his head, and glanced at his brother and Crowley.

Dean realized they'd been left behind and hurried to catch up just as the group entered the dining room.

He and Sam gasped when the smells of the food hit them. Dean almost started drooling, they'd never had much food, they were only the sons of the caretaker after all.

"Don't just stand there, sit down." Gabriel invited, "Sammy?" He offered the chair next to him.

Sam huffed. "It's Sam." But he sat down, Dean sat down across from him, Castiel silently took the seat next to Dean.

"Sure it is, Sammy." Gabriel grinned. "So, what's your story?"

Sam and Dean shared a look, and Dean nodded. Over dinner, they explained how their mother's death had messed up their father, his drinking, that they'd left in case he'd gotten violent and then Castiel had found them. Cas and Gabe were quiet, taking it in, nodding occasionally. Then Gabe had told their story in a few words.

"We were born and raised as spoiled brats." He'd stated. "Now, how about the second course?"

After that, the four teens had started kidding around, Castiel to everyone's surprise, even cracked a joke. Sam and Dean had kept eating though, as if they expected the food to be stolen from them.

"Slow down a little." Crowley told Sam and Dean, "You'll make yourselves sick."

Sam swallowed. "I've never seen this much food in a month."

Dean nodded. "And when's the next time we're going to get to eat food like this?"

"Tomorrow." Gabriel replied a wide grin on his face. "Can't let it get out that the Novak House starves their servants."

"Imagine the scandal." Sam agreed, grinning as well. The two had hit off extremely well, joking all night.

Gabriel nodded "Exactly! So you two have to come again tomorrow." He glanced at Castiel, "Or spend the night."

Castiel nodded. "You should."

Dean and Sam shared a stunned glance, their mouths almost falling open again. Fortunatly, they'd swallowed, before talking.

"We're not, I mean…" Dean trailed off.

Castiel smiled slightly at Dean, this small smile that made Dean stop trying to argue.

"Dean, it's all right." Castiel promised.

Gabriel grinned. "Really. We're the Lord's sons remember?"

Sam nodded. "You mean it?"

"Sure." Gabriel shrugged. "We like you two. Stay."

"Stay." Castiel had repeated, looking straight at Dean, his voice soft, but authority was there.

So Sam and Dean had stayed, and ended up never leaving.

XXX

PB: I was testing this idea.

Me: If you guys like it, we'll turn it into a full story. Like the Kitten Antics one. We're working on that, now.

Okay, any other prompts? I'll take anything!

PB: Especially bondage!

Me: * Scandalized * PB!

PB: What?