AN: I'm back! And I'm extremely sorry for disappearing again. Do you know how hard it is to apply to university? Really, it's not that hard, but it takes forever! I'm not exaggerating. The CommonApp is ridiculous!
But you don't want to listen to that. Sorry. Anyway, I was feeling very destiel-y in my insomnia last night, so this (and the changed 'romance' tag above) is my result. My brain is honestly fried from all the work I've had lately, so any mistakes are a result of my zombie-like state. There is a time jump in the works/coming, and, just so you know, I think I've reached the three-fourths marker of this story. Please enjoy...
The third, fourth, and fifth plagues somehow struck overnight while the angels and Sam conversed and Dean was locked in the bathroom. All Castiel and Dean could do was hope the others could handle cleaning up the new plagues while they searched for a way to carry out Sam's plan. At this point, Dean stopped questioning Beelzebub's how and instead examined his why. What exactly was he out for? Why would an evil entity as old as him want to end the world? It didn't make sense, and Dean hated it.
Dean's epiphany came three nights later, but before he could share it with Castiel, Beelzebub excessively silenced him.
He had been driving, just pulling into a new motel room. Castiel got out of the Impala first to buy a room, and Dean leaned against the car, staring at the stars and thinking. He reminisced the last time he and Sam had gotten the chance to kick back and watch the stars. That night, so very long ago, had been so peaceful. It had been during the apocalypse, one of the nights they spent at Bobby's thinking it would be their last. Sam had taken a beer out to Dean, and they sat together on the hood of their beloved car. For an hour or so, they were able to forget their problems and just be brothers again. The quiet calm of the night had almost convinced Dean that demons, monsters, and Lucifer all weren't even real. The world was a quiet, calm place where the only monsters were people and hunters weren't necessary. They were just brothers on a road trip, looking for their father.
But, of course, that wasn't true. The world was overrun by demons a long time ago, and if there were no hunters like Sam and Dean, the world would be controlled by the likes of Crowley, Azazel, and Alistair. No one would live past the age of thirty. Most would bow to a crossroads deal. Everyone else would be eaten by vamps, shifters, or something or other before the demons could get to them. All young women would become maiden slaves. All older women would become sacrifices. It would be just like the dinosaurs – unexplained extinction.
Dean shuddered at the thought of such a world. Hell on Earth. The scariest part was that if the right demon came along with the right plan, it could just happen. Team Free Will could only handle so much, and, if Dean was honest, the average hunter a lot less than that. After all, the average hunter didn't believe in angels and had never gone to Hell. If a group of demons, or even one intelligent demon, began working toward a well-planned goal, the world was doomed. If that lead demon had a plan for what happened after taking over, the world was gone...
"Shit," Dean swore under his breath. He straightened up and ran a hand through his hair. His brain didn't know whether to be afraid or amazed. It also didn't know whether it was amazed at Beelzebub's plan itself or at the fact that he figured it out himself. Beelzebub wanted to have fun alright. He wanted to upstage and dethrone Lucifer. He wanted to complete the apocalypse and enslave the human race.
"Really, man, cliché much?" Dean asked out loud.
When Dean felt Beelzebub's presence suddenly expand within his body, his brain decided to be scared. Instinctively, he fought the other consciousness, but the sudden battle fatigued him rapidly, and he lost before he even began. Castiel's grace within him had depleted a while ago, and he really stood no chance. Screaming curses now, Dean was once again subject to Beelzebub's humiliation which began with a silent walk behind Castiel to a room. This time, Beelzebub did nothing to worry the angel. He put on a flawless performance that Castiel did not second-guess at all. Dean threw all of his strength into taking his body back or, at the very least, preventing Beelzebub's movements, without a care to his body's deterioration, but, of course, to no avail.
"You know, Cas, maybe you should tell me Sam's plan," Beelzebub-as-Dean suggested, not winded at all from holding off the actual Dean. "I mean, not all of it. We obviously can't clue His Hellish Holiness in, but can't you give me a hint? Code words that I'll understand but not him? I just don't want to mess up Sammy's great plan or get in the way. Alright, maybe I want to believe that Sammy actually has a great plan. I mean, come on, this is Beelzebub! How are we supposed to stop him without stopping me? I don't know, just give me something to work with here, man!"
"Dean, you were resolute in not knowing anything when this all started and gave me strict orders not to appease your pleas. Even if you hadn't made me swear several times over the last few days, I would not tell you anything because it is the sensible thing to do," Castiel said decisively.
Beelzebub groaned in frustration. "You're killing me."
Castiel responded, "You say that very often yet you never die as a result of what is apparently 'killing' you. I think you will manage to remain alive this time as well."
Beelzebub rolled his eyes at Castiel's back; then threw himself face first onto the nearest bed. Castiel ignored the action and began to draw protective sigils around the room in an invisible ink Dean had never heard of before but assumed came from Heaven. Grumbling at Dean for not helping, the angel laid lines of salt against the doors and windows and pulled the shades of the large bay window carefully together so not to disturb the salt. As depressed as he was, Dean was at least happy when Castiel ringed the bed he had claimed with salt as well; Beelzebub, on the other hand, had to suppress a shudder.
"I still don't think that's necessary," Beelzebub complained into a pillow, gesturing to the ring around the bed. "You've seen how often I get up in the night. Whether he's in charge or not, I can't cross that and you're just wasting tons of salt when you open and close it for me again and again."
"It may waste salt, Dean, but it allows me to monitor what you do and what Beelzebub does. It is more help than you think."
"Whatever," Beelzebub mumbled. "You also never explained why we had to travel for three days to the middle of nowhere on such short notice."
"It is all in accord-"
"Accordance with Sammy's plan, yeah, I got that," Beelzebub finished as he rolled off his stomach to lean against the pillows properly. Castiel watched with annoyed eyes as he sat on his own bed in a stoic, sentinel position. Internally, Dean grew angrier by the second that Castiel didn't realize it wasn't him anymore. He hadn't been this pestering, had he? Sure, he'd asked a few times if he could know anything about Sam's plan, but he hadn't whined this much!
"I see I'm in for another night of staring contests," Beelzebub sighed. Silence ensued until Beelzebub had an interesting thought. If you claim to be mentally unstable already… let's have more fun there, shall we? he thought to Dean.
"Well, let's get this slumber party started then, eh? I'm sick of the silence; it's driving me crazy! Watching porn would be less awkward at this point."
"But, I thought you said men never watch porn with other men?" Castiel asked slowly, tilting his head.
"Yes, Cas, I mean, no, I mean –" Beelzebub faked a frustrated groan. "Yes, I said that, because no you don't watch porn with other guys."
"Then why did you suggest it now?"
"I didn't. It was a figure of speech. Really, you've been here for how long, and you still don't get those yet?"
Castiel tilted his head further. "Then what do you really propose we do, Dean?"
"Jesus, Cas! It's awkward just sitting here! People usually talk to each other when they're stuck with each other like this!" Beelzebub paused a moment before looking down and adding, "And honestly, you and I have a few things to talk about."
"What do you wish to discuss?" Castiel asked, his voice even, more curious than anything else.
"Well…" Beelzebub paused as if choosing his words, "Cas, no matter how this ends, it doesn't look pretty for me. I know I'm venturing into a chick flick moment here, but, uh, we need to discuss the other night."
Dean knew exactly where this was going, and his hatred for the demon inside him increased tenfold in that second. Castiel's face twisted into a silent prompt for Dean to continue, so Beelzebub did.
"For one thing, why did you threaten me, man? What was that whole thing with reminding me about pre-apocalypse Sammy?"
"You were angry for no reason and no doubt going to do something stupid as a consequence. I needed to scare you into submission again," Castiel said with his eyes firmly on Dean.
"'Scare me into submission'?" Beelzebub repeated. "Are you kidding me? Do you know how that sounds?"
Castiel's forehead furrowed. "No, I do not."
Beelzebub rolled his eyes and let it go. He asked sarcastically, "Alright, well, am I submissive enough for you now?"
"I think so. You are acting a little more like yourself again," Castiel answered. "Especially tonight."
It took a lot of will power for Beelzebub to maintain a straight face and not bark a laugh at Castiel's response. Dean was almost beside himself with fury.
He thinks the demon is more myself than I am? Damn, that says a lot about him! Dean seethed.
I think it says more about you, Dean, Beelzebub retorted smoothly.
"Well, that's good, I guess," Beelzebub said aloud. "I'm glad I've come to my senses," he said dryly.
"As am I." Castiel smiled and nodded. If Dean wasn't so angry, he would've grinned at the adorable motion.
Yet another silence followed. Beelzebub changed his position on the bed yet again so that he was facing the angel with crossed legs. His elbows rested on his knees, and he leaned forward intently. Castiel noted the movement, and only took it as a sign of interest. He began glancing around the motel room and did not notice the glint in Dean's eyes as Beelzebub continued after the stretch of time:
"So, um," Beelzebub purposely spoke awkwardly once again, "if that's sorted, I guess we should talk about, uh, the, uh…" He trailed off and hurried a look at the digital alarm clock on the nightstand between the beds. "No, you know what? Never mind. It's late. I should get some shut-eye."
Castiel returned his gaze to Dean's fidgeting figure. "No, Dean," he said. "If there is something else on your mind, you should please say it." The angel was still curious as to what Dean had to say and not suspicious in the least.
"Well," Beelzebub continued, running a hand repeatedly through his hair, "I kind of want to… clear the air about that… kiss." He waited a beat. "I mean, I understand…" Then, he refused to meet Castiel's eyes and trailed off again.
"You understand what, Dean?" Castiel asked. Dean certainly only imagined the hopeful hint his voice took on.
"That you were only trying to save me from my mind and fix my head and all that good stuff, but..."
Castiel's tone drooped a bit, "But?"
"But friends don't kiss friends, Cas," Beelzebub said with resolve as he finally made eye contact with the angel again.
Castiel's eyes said everything as he asked, "Is that what we are, Dean? Friends?"
"What are you taking about, Cas?" Beelzebub asked. "Of course we're friends. You're my best friend. Probably my only friend. No, yeah, definitely my only friend. You're like my second brother. How many times have you saved my sorry ass or died for me? We're family, Cas."
"Family," Castiel repeated.
"Yeah. What did you think we are?"
Castiel looked thoughtful before answering, "Something else." His gaze was trained on Dean's face, studying it and scrutinizing every wrinkle.
"What else would we be?" Beelzebub asked with an inflection of nervous curiosity and frustration.
If Dean wasn't hanging on his angel's every word he would've been scared by how well Beelzebub had spent the last five or ten minutes mimicking him. Instead, he studied and scrutinized the angel's face with just as much intensity. So much depended on this moment for Dean. 'Something else' wasn't necessarily 'something more' but it was a start. What does Cas think we are?
Dean didn't realize it until Castiel answered, but Beelzebub let that question form aloud. And Castiel didn't respond with words. Rather, he stood up and swiftly crossed the room to kiss Dean. The angel opened his mouth and Dean's with a soft swipe of his tongue, and then the kiss took off. Dean was overwhelmed with shock, happiness, and amazement, partly believing that this was just a fantasy Beelzebub was creating. But it wasn't; it was real. Every sensation proved that.
And Castiel was a damn good kisser.
With a snide comment about dreams coming true, Beelzebub gave Dean control again so he could enjoy it more, and as much as Dean wanted to hurt Beelzebub for the comment, he took what he could get without any complaints which could jeopardize this chance. As soon as he could, Dean responded enthusiastically. He twisted his fingers into the hair at the nape of Castiel's neck and dragged Castiel onto the bed with him by the lapels of that damn trenchcoat. He didn't expect or really want the situation to elevate too quickly, but it was a more comfortable position. For his part, Castiel had a hand behind Dean's neck as well and the other holding his waist.
Of course, at that moment, the phone in Castiel's trenchcoat began ringing obnoxiously, and he pulled away in shock. The man and the angel stared at each other in startled astonishment for a few seconds before Castiel leapt away and Dean scurried backward on the bed.
"It's an unknown number," Castiel announced, his voice gruff. "I should answer this and make sure it is not another hunter in need of assisstance."
"Ye-yeah," Dean stammered. "Oh, wait, Cas, I need to –" Dean tried to shout after him, but the door had already slammed shut.
Beelzebub sidled back into control, meeting no resistant from the shell-shocked Dean. He finished Dean's sentence with a chuckle, "Warn you that I lost control again... Oh, well." He stood up and easily crossed the salt line that Castiel's excitement ruined. Then, he stretched Dean's body like a toy. "Show time," he breathed with glee.
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