Pretty fluffy chapter, I guess

Dean was alone when he woke, though it felt as though a body was pressed against his own the way his pillows were squished in to him, his blankets wrapped entirely around his body. He felt sticky. Sticky and sleep bogged, but there really wasn't much he could do about the later.

Untangling himself from his blankets, he found his feet barely able to keep him up as he turned and stood, his head swimming, his body rocking, though he didn't fall. "Fuck," he muttered, voice sleep-scratchy and dry, his mouth feeling empty and barren as he padded in to his bathroom, pulling the tab on the faucet in his bathtub beside the shower, letting the water run over his fingers until it was warm enough before turning to get a cup of water from his sink.

He recalled, briefly, the instructions he'd been given the night before: Sleep, shower without the bandages on, and put the stinging ointment on the stitches before wrapping his arm back up in a clean wrap.

With a sigh, he looked down at the steaming water, to his stitches, back to the water, and around again to the stitches, looping between the two as he tentatively stepped in to the tub, letting his legs and feet adjust as the water rose up around him.

It was about mid-calf when he sat down, hissing at the hot water as he shut off the stream, leaning back against curved wall of the tub, submerging his arm. He yelped and brought his fist up to his mouth, trying to keep calm as the water felt as though it was boiling his skin, burning through it from the inside out.

"Holy shit," he breathed out, writing in the tub, refusing to give up on getting his arm to adjust, dunking it further under. "Shit. Shit. Shit fuck shit shit shit."

"Not heard that out of mouth since that one time I not let you come."

"Jesus christ!" Dean muttered, curling in on himself as he rolled on his side, the water covering his cheek. "Why? Why are you in here?"

Castiel was leaning against the doorframe to his bathroom, playing with a washrag he'd grabbed from the counter beside him. "Not think you be so disappointed to see me."

"I'm not. It's just-" Dean rolled back to face up again, still squinting his eyes as the hard and consistently stinging pain. "Why?"

"Mychalla heard water running, realized he forgot to give this-" he held up some ointment or antibacterial of some sort along with fresh gauze. "I offered to bring to you."

"Thanks," Dean muttered, rolling his eyes to peer at Castiel as he set the objects down on the sink, turning to lean back against it as he watched Dean.

"You okay?"

"Not really."

"It hurt?" Dean nodded, biting his lip. The corner of Castiel's lip quirked up as he took a step forward, dropping gently down to his knees. "Maybe," he started, voice soft. "all you need is distraction. He reached forward, cupping his hand around Dean's cheek, his impossibly long fingers covering his his whole face, tracing up in to his damp hair.

The solid warmth of hand was comforting nearly immediately, and Dean turned his face to lean in to his hand. He closed his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Distracting you," Castiel said, leaning in to kiss Dean's cheekbone. He sat back again. "Look at me."

Dean peeked open his eyes, only to be met with the most incredible sight. Castiel's eyes were soft, and warm, and more gentle and sweet than Dean had ever seen them be, lit up the way such gorgeously shaded eyes should be. A light smile was on his lips, and he looked as though he were glowing.

"Wow…" Dean whispered, unable to look away.

Castiel's face fell a fraction. "What?"

Dean shook his head, leaning imperceptibly more into Castiel's hand. "It's… It's nothing."

"Tell me."

Dean shook his head. Castiel leaned in closer. Dean closed his eyes. It was almost too much to take in. "It'll make things weird."

"Tell me."

"...You look like an angel."

"Then why you not looking?"

"You never look at angels. Their beauty and power will fill you and blind you with bliss and awe, and for that one sweet moment, it's all worth it, but then the world goes dark, and there's nothing more. It's… too much."

"That very nice."

"It's from my favorite book."

Castiel was quiet for a moment. "It sound good coming from you." He fell silent again. "Look at me."

Dean hesitated, but cracked open his eyes. Castiel was closer than he'd been before, eyes boring in to Dean's with the light and gentle glow that'd been there before. Dean lost himself in them without any restraint, not willing himself to blink from fear of missing just a moment of this new and most likely fleeting Castiel.

"You're an angel," he whispered, bringing one of his hands out of the water to cover Castiel's on his cheek.

"Not quite." Castiel waited a moment, letting Dean enjoy his last moments before pulling his hand away, letting his face fall back to normal as he sat back up. "Your arm feel better?"

Dean nodded, not really noticing the stinging pain anymore. "Much."

"Good." He pushed himself to his feet. "I see you later, okay?"

"I'm holding you to that."

"I know."

With that he was gone, and Dean couldn't deny the sense of longing that filled his body and the simple desire to have Castiel back in there with him, holding him in the warm water. But not even that completely, just willing him to be back in the room, with his face still alight with all the beauty he just wanted more of.

He sighed and dunked his head underwater.

Deeming himself clean enough after a good long soak, Dean pressed the tab down on the faucet, opening the drain, sitting as the water slowly slipped away from around him, only standing up to dry off when the tub was down to nothing more than a lukewarm puddle.

The fluffy towels the Novaks owned were always a welcome object, Dean more than willing to wrap the soft linen around his body, soaking himself dry in a mater of seconds, or so it seemed. He managed to pull on a fresh pair of boxers before he was stumbling over to his bed, collapsing down on it with a fresh pack of gauze and the ointment that smelled faintly of mint.

He gave himself a moment of rest before unscrewing the cap, dabbing the ointment over the stitches. It hurt far less than what he was anticipating.

The bandages were another story.

"God fucking damnit! Wrap! Fuck." Dean was attempting to wrap his arm, but with every movement, the bandage slipped down or off or completely unravelled around his arm. He threw it to the ground. "Fuck this."

"Having trouble?"

Dean snapped his eyes to the doorway, where Castiel was leaning on the frame. "You always have a way of showing up when I need you."

"I make it goal of mine." Castiel knocked himself off of the frame, strolling over to Dean. He grabbed the bandage off of the floor, stopping in front of Dean, reaching forward. His fingers wrapped around his arm, down by his elbow, pulling it up and away from his body to allow him space to wrap the gauze.

Dean stretched his fingers to brush against Castiel's side, and Castiel rolled his eyes up to look at him, fingers deftly wrapping his bandage. "What you doing?"

"Trying to get you to come closer."

Castiel didn't budge until he was done with Dean's arm, only stepping a fraction closer to let the other's fingers touch him, guiding him in.

Dean tugged him in the best he could, fingers worming over his hip, moving him forward inch by inch until he had no other choice but to sit on his lap, moving forward with his knees on either side of Dean's hips. He reached up, cupping Dean's jaw, turning his head just enough to brush his lips against his cheekbone.

"Why're you being so sweet to me?" Dean asked as Castiel continued to pepper gentle kisses across his cheeks and nose.

"Don't use that word."

"Why are you?"

Castiel pulled back to look in Dean's eyes. "… I know you swim in front of me to protect from bullets."

Dean was quiet. "How'd you figure that out?"

"You struggling hard to keep beside me. And your eyes."

Dean shrugged. "My eyes?" He shook his head. "It's my job."

"You not have to do what you did." He kissed his forehead, cupping the sides of his jaw with both hands. "Thank you."

"I don't need thanks."

Castiel tilted Dean's jaw up. "You sure?"

"I'm not sure what you…" But Castiel's lips were against his and his body stilled and filled with the light he'd seen just an hour before as his plump lips locked on his own and Dean couldn't even react, his body going numb and tingly, the only thing on his mind; Castiel's lips.

The kiss was broken and Dean whined without trying, the sound escaping from his throat on its own. "…Angel…" His hands clamped down on to Castiel's hips and his eyes peeled open, only to see Castiel pushing himself away. He refused to let go of his hips. "Don't leave."

"I have to."

"You're an angel."

Castiel broke his hips free. "Not quite."

Dean wanted to follow him as he walked away, every bone and muscle in his body straining in an attempt to get him to move, but something was holding him back, and he could do nothing more than twitch as he watched him walk across the hall into his room, closing the door behind him.

His muscles seemed to snap on him after a few minutes of blank staring, wanting the light and glory from his kiss and touch to be back in him and he couldn't wait anymore. He stood and marched over to Castiel's room, catching the other reading a book on his bed.

He grabbed the set of frayed pages and threw them across the room, the book fluttering to the ground as it hit a wall, but Dean didn't care, crawling half over Castiel, cupping his face and kissing him with all he had.

The light swelled back in him again, and he had to force himself to not give in to it, to lose his sense to it. He focused on holding Castiel's face, and touching Castiel's lips, and the brush of whatever body parts touched as they moved together, Castiel covering Dean's hands with his own.

"Dean," he managed to breathe, breaking the kiss.

"No," Dean said back, kissing him again. He wasn't done. He'd never be done.

"Dean." Castiel broke the kiss again, but Dean was having none of it.

"No, Cas. I'm not going to stop. I'm not going to stop, like you're gonna ask me to do, because I want this. I need this, and I know you. You're gonna tell me we have to stop this, that it can't go on. Well I don't want to stop it, Cas." He kissed him again. "I don't want to stop it."

"Then don't."

"What?"

Castiel was looking up at Dean, expecting him to formulate an answer to his own question, as though it were as obvious as the darkness of night or the stars in the sky. Dean gaped. "Are you… You saying that… you want… more? With us?"

Castiel blinked. "Depend on what mean by 'more'."

"I mean," Dean started, rolling of of Castiel and on to his side, squishing in to the bed beneath him, hands never leaving Castiel's face, who turned his body to look at him. "I mean, we can do this. I can… you know, kiss you, whenever, wherever. And hold your hands. And… sleep, with you."

"That sound like relationship."

"It kind of is."

"You know how feel about that."

"But Cas." He kissed him, and his body felt alight once again. "Don't think of it as a relationship. Think of it as… Friends with extra benefits. Doesn't all of that sound… nice?" He bumped their noses together. "Hmm?"

"This not me."

"But it could be." He kissed him once more, and felt the other relax in his hands and under his lips. "You might really enjoy being with me. Can't we try?"

Castiel shook his head, but it wasn't a no. "I need think about it."

"When will you tell me?"

"Tonight."

Dean kissed Castiel one last time, making it count, focusing just on his lips and soft they were underneath his own and how they shifted in time with Dean's and how perfect kisses from Castiel were.

"I'll see you tonight, then."

Castiel nodded, but didn't move his hands from Dean's, leaning in to his touch for just a moment before he closed his eyes and turned his face away the best he could. Dean took that as a sign for him to go.

Pushing himself up and over Castiel the best he could to turn himself to the open end of the bed without actually letting go of Castiel proved more difficult than intended, but he did it, kissing Castiel's cheek one last time, sliding his hand out from under Castiel's as he stepped away and slid off the bed, moving to the doorway, never taking his eyes off of Castiel, who was watching him just as steadily as he was watching him.

It took a moment, but he was able to break their locked gazes, turning himself around to leave the room, stumbling back in to his own numbly to get some clothes on his body before making his way downstairs and in to the dojo, as he'd grown to call it.

Mychalla came in after hearing a good bit of grunting and whining and thuds on the ground from Dean losing his balance.

"What you doing? You need rest."

"I don't want it." He turned to him. "Take me on a run."

"No."

"Then I'll go on my own."

"No."

He agreed eventually, taking Dean on a short and slow jog around the paths inside the protective fence, only running about a quarter, if even, of their normal distance. Dean wouldn't admit it, but he was grateful for that, more than willing to shower quickly once again, making his way downstairs to explore the house on his own for the first time since he moved in.

He came across a large room that looked to be a theater of some sort, with a huge couch that seemed to be made out of chairs, though decided that wasn't quite so when he tried to pull one away. He blinked at it, plopping down in the dark leather that melded in to the rest of the dark flooring and decorations in the house.

"Ohh, that's nice," he moaned out as he reclined in the pseudo-chair, lolling his head lazily around the room, realizing that it was the first time he was really able to relax since he'd woken up, though kissing Castiel had nearly the same effect when it was happening, despite the electricity flowing through him from it.

He thought back to those kisses as he reached out for what looked like a remote, lazily pressing the red button on the top. Panels in the wall slid apart, and possibly the largest television Dean had ever seen was pushed out of the now-exposed space. "Cool," he muttered, flipping through the DVD menu. He chose the only one that wasn't from before 2007, some cartoon Disney movie he'd only seen because of Sam.

With a stretch, he relaxed completely on the chair, curling himself in to it as the familiar overtones of the movie echoed quietly in the dim room. He didn't focus on them, though, just the tingle beneath his lips as he remembered just how it felt to kiss the man presumably upstairs, a sense of longing resonating through his body like ripples in a puddle.

He was unaware he'd fallen asleep until he woke up later surrounded by people, the end of the movie coming up. Castiel was in the seat he was facing, Alona in the other on his side, Viktor and what Dean assumed to be some of Alona's friend spread out around them. Dean blinked a few times. "Wha-"

"Shhh," Alona hushed, smacking Dean's thigh. He jumped a bit closer to Castiel, who was watching him out of the corner of his eye.

He didn't make another sound until the movie was over, and Alona was smiling with glee. "Oh, that my favorite movie."

"We know," one of the girls behind Dean said.

"You make us watch like, once a month," Castiel supplied, standing up and stretching, raising his hands high above his head, arching back with quiet squeaks coming from with mouth every inch he pulled himself.

He dropped his arms suddenly, letting his fingers drop down to brush through Dean's hair, looking back at him through the corner of his eyes. Dean watched him without relent, only breaking eye contact to drag his eyes down his body. He smiled to himself, remembering all he'd done to the body, and Castiel let a hint of a smile on to his lips at the same thing.

"Time for dinner," Viktor said as he made to leave, pushing himself out of the deep leather chair with a groan. "Don't be too long," he said to Dean, though gave a look to Castiel, telling him the same thing.

The girls filed out of the room, there were about seven of them, and Viktor followed along, leaving Castiel and Dean alone.

Castiel held out his hand. "Come on. We need go to dinner." Dean grabbed his hand, but linked their fingers together, not bothering to get up. Castiel frowned. "Come on, Dean."

"I want you."

"I know." He tugged on his hand. "Come on."

"Kiss me?"

"No."

"Kiss me."

Castiel didn't move, just tugged on Dean's hand again. "Come on."

Dean plopped himself out of the chair and on the the floor, crouching up on to his knees before getting to his feet. He stepped to Castiel, holding their hands between their bodies, cupping his cheek. "Only if you kiss me."

"I kiss you once and you think it free will to my lips." Dean pouted, and Castiel rolled his eyes, leaning in to peck Dean's lips. "I admit. Kissing you feel pretty okay."

Dean smiled. "Just imagine how it makes me feel."

Castiel shook his head and stepped back, turning away and walking, not dropping Dean's hand until they were out of the room.

"Why were all of you guys in there?" Dean asked as they walked, trying to pretend like nothing had just happened, similar to how Castiel was acting, but the tingle on his lips and through his fingers told a different story.

"Alona heard movie and drag us there. You out cold, so we restart, watch, and then you wake up."

"Family movie night with a sleeping bodyguard?"

"Pretty much," Castiel laughed, and Dean couldn't help but to smile. He loved his laugh.

They walked into the dining room, and Alona was talking animatedly with one of the other girls, the one who had spoken up back in the theater room. "I can not understand you! Why you say that to him?"

"He stupid, Alona! He hit on me yet say he love you! You see what wrong there?"

"You lie, Anna."

"She tell truth," another girl butted in. Her hair was long and dark, braided off to one side.

"Shut up, Rachel."

Dean looked at Castiel as they sat down. "Are those two of your other sisters?"

Castiel nodded. "They got home in morning. It was… interesting. Rachel very surprised such a cute boy in house."

"She thinks I'm cute?"

"Super fucking hot, if you want know."

Dean choked. "Are you serious?"

"Would I lie?"

"Look," the girl Anna said, breaking their conversation. "There's Rachel's crush."

"I not have crush!"

"You say he super fucking hot," Alona butted in.

"Language!" Viktor called from the end of the table.

"Fuck off, you let Castiel cuss," Anna said, and Viktor rolled his eyes with a sigh.

Castiel shrugged. "You do let me cuss."

"I know."

Dean smiled, and let his eyes drift over to the girls. He recognized a few of them as Alona's friends he'd met when he first moved in, but two of them were new. Rachel was looking at him, ignoring the others girls to send him a flirty smile.

He sent half of one back.

Dinner was brought out just a minute later, and the whole group of them was eating just as soon. they had the beef and soup they'd had the first night Dean was there, and it honestly felt like a fresh new beginning to him, everything repeating itself over from their meal to the newness of everyone at the table.

Not that he was complaining. The meat was delicious.

They'd slowed down their pace of eating, down to just random pieces of meat and bread, and Dean hadn't really noticed how close Castiel had gotten until their arms were brushing with every movement.

Everyone was deep in some form of conversation or another, and Castiel took the opportunity to lay his hand on Dean's thigh, rubbing slowly and gently from the heat on the inside to the out, his thumb very to near to the v in his thighs.

Dean wouldn't admit how much it was effecting him just to have him touching him, and how weird it was for these sensations to be growing over a day, recalling that he'd never really felt this way before because of his touch.

He covered Castiel's hand on his thigh, and the corner of the other's lips quirked up for a quick second, falling just a moment later as he pulled his hand away. Dean tried not to frown.

Castiel blinked. "Lose the face," he whispered to him, reaching forward to grab his drink, downing what was in it. He stood up, his chair scratching across the floor behind him. "I want watch another movie."

Viktor sighed. "You had long day yesterday. You sure?" Castiel nodded, looking over to the girls for confirmation.

Rachel smiled at Dean again, waggling her fingers. "I'm in for movie."

Castiel looked questioningly to Dean. He shrugged. "Sure."

"Okay. You can watch movie bu-"

"Thank you, daddy!" Rachel said, pushing herself up from the table. "I want watch horror."

"Okay," Castiel said, brushing his fingers against Dean's shoulder. "Let's go."

Dean stood up, following Castiel out closely, hoping for just a moment alone to steal another kiss from him. But hoping was too much. The girls followed after just a moment later, and Rachel was right by his side within a few steps. Castiel gave him a look, but Dean couldn't do much of anything.

"What your name?" Rachel asked, walking far closer than was necessary.

"Uhhh, Dean. And you're Rachel?"

A nod "I Rachel. So, Dean. Can I sit with you?"

She sure was persistent. Dean looked at Castiel quickly. "Uhhh, sure."

"Cool," she said. Dean wasn't really sure how old she was, but it was definitely much older than himself. She was pretty, however, though it didn't matter to Dean. He took another quick moment to look at Castiel, who's fingers were so close to his own, loose and relaxed and ready to be taken and Dean had to restrain himself from reaching out, claiming them as his own.

They sat in the back row of chairs, Castiel on the far end, Dean beside him, and Rachel after Dean. She sat beside him, leaning in to him. Dean leaned a bit in to Castiel. He could smell the faint scent of his cologne, and he wondered why he'd never noticed it before.

It was calming.

Castiel stuck true to his word, and put on a horror movie, snuggling down into his chair as Alona padded in with blankets in her hands. She dropped a few on Castiel before taking the rest up to the front with her friends. They giggled as they spread them out over their bodies, Castiel doing the same to their own.

They were only given three, so Dean got the smallest one, and used the overlap of the other two blankets to cover himself. He was grumpy about it, upset at how he didn't get a full sized blanket to himself, though he wasn't sure why. He really didn't even want a blanket in the first place. But Castiel's fingers were worming under Dean's blanket and his own, moving to brush his fingers against Dean's wrist, then his hand.

Dean looked over at him, but Castiel was watching the screen, his fingers still crawling over his own, testing the waters, his tips brushing in between the gaps of Dean's spread out hands.

He never looked away from Castiel, waiting until the other sent him a brief look of contemplation as he squirmed his fingers between Dean, threading them loosely. Dean waited a moment, letting their hands relax before arching his palm back, sliding their fingers tighter together.

They both let loose a faint smile, wiping it from their faces as quick as it showed up.

The movie passed rather unceremoniously, the only real thing happening besides the girls up front yelping at frightening intervals was Rachel inching her way towards Dean, her hand on his thigh by the end of the movie, Dean's arm around her to satiate her.

She winked at him as one of Alona's friends hopped up to turn on the lights in the room, and stood herself, turning to leave with Anna with a small wave.

Dean and Castiel stayed behind to pick up the blankets.

"You sure look cozy with Rachel," Castiel said, folding a blanket over his arm.

"Well, she sure was with me."

"If you want be with her, that okay," he said, sweeping up another blanket.

"Have you forgotten I'm gay?" Dean asked, picking up the last blanket. He stepped to Castiel, their cloth-laden arms pushed together. "And I don't want to be with her. I want you, even if you don't want me."

Dean left it open, his eyes hopeful, urging Castiel to respond with what he wanted to hear. He didn't, not really. "I said you tonight. Meet me in room in… soon, okay?"

A blink. "Okay."

"Okay." Castiel stepped in, kissing his cheek. "Okay. Now give me you blankets."

"Huh?"

"In your arm. Give blankets."

Dean passed them over. "I like how you talk when you're tired."

"How I talk?"

"With a stronger accent. And you leave out more words."

"Okay."

"That sounded offended," Dean said, stepping up behind Castiel who was walking out of the room, turning down a narrow hallway that led to the laundry room. He wrapped his arms around him the best he could, fingers nestling in to the blankets in front of him, effectively pulling him to a stop. "I didn't mean it."

"See, this why not want kiss you. Act so different now."

Dean wormed around in the narrow path to face him. "I'm sorry, I am. But those were the most perfect kisses I've ever had in my life, and that's saying something. I've kissed a lot of people."

"That supposed to me impress?"

"I… what?"

Castiel stared at him blankly, giving Dean a minute to decipher his words. It hit him. "Oh. Oh! No. No, no. I just… I meant it as.. I-"

Dean was flustered. "-I get it. Go to room. I soon to be seeing you."

"You really can't speak English well when you're tired."

"Go fuck yourself, jackass."

Dean couldn't help but to laugh, dropping his arms from Castiel. "Hah, oh god. Okay." He was still laughing at the absurdity of how swiftly Castiel had shot that out to him as he wedged beside him to the exit of the hall. "You- okay. Okay."

Castiel was smiling faintly, and Dean knew he hadn't been vindictive in his words. He didn't say anything as Dean walked away, just waving with the two of his fingers that were poking out from under the mass of blankets.

Dean sent him one last smile before rounding the corner of the hall, swinging around to the staircase. He hopped up it, strolling his way through the second floor to the staircase leading up to his room. He was stopped close to it.

"Hey! Mister cutie blond-blond… blond boy."

Dean paused, looking down to where the voice had come from. Alona and her friends were out of what Dean assumed to be her room, holding a golden ball in her hand. He raised an eyebrow, wandering over to them. "Me?"

Alona's eyes grew wide. "Youuuuu!" She was drunk.

"Me," Dean cheered back, slightly sarcastically, wondering when, exactly, she'd had so much to drink. "Can I help you with something?"

"Locked… locked out," one of her friends giggled, and Alona held up the broken off door-knob.

Dean's eyes grew. "How did yo-?"

"I broke c-cause…" Alona paused to hiccup. "Cause I broke it."

Helpful. "Alright, so what do you want me to do?"

"Get us in?"

Dean looked over at the door, which looked as though it should easily be opened. He pushed on it. It didn't budge.

He looked over at the girls, Alona specifically. "You mind if I kick it in?"

She shook her head no, the group of them taking a collective step back to watch in awe.

Dean shook his shoulders, then took a quick step forward, kicking hard near the lock. The door swung open easily on its hinges, and the girls cheered, all filing in to her room, which was bigger than Castiel's. Alona stopped to hug him. "Thank you blond boy man boy. Uhhh… Dean!"

Dean nodded, patting her back. "Sure thing."

She smiled and ran off in to her room, closing the door behind her. Dean hoped they wouldn't be trapped in there.

With a final look at the door, Dean turned to leave, only to be stopped by a door opening right behind him. He stopped turning to look back.

Rachel smiled at him. "Heard you in hall."

Dean nodded. "Yeah. Your sister got locked out."

"I saw. She broke it for fun. Want to see if she can."

Dean smiled, taking a step back to lean against the wall across and slightly off center of Rachel's door. "Well, she succeeded."

Rachel's eyes were light, though not as gorgeous as Castiel's. Her jaw was strong, and her skin was pale and soft. She was gorgeous, just like the rest of the Novaks, and Dean wondered just how rigged the genetic lottery had been when they were born.

She stepped to him. "She sure did. Thank you for sit with me in movie."

"No problem," Dean responded.

"It very sweet of you," she said, running her fingers down Dean's arm, brushing soft across his wrist and the palm of his hand.

"No problem," Dean repeated.

She stepped closer, grabbing his hand. She sure was persistent. "Thank you, Dean," she muttered, raising up on her toes to kiss his cheek, very near to his lips. Dean didn't really respond, aside from turning his head just a fraction.

He wasn't expecting her to lean in, locking their lips together without any warning, raising her hand up to cup his face and neck. Dean let out a muffled sound of surprise, but she ignored it, holding him closer.

There were footsteps in the main hall, and Dean rolled his eyes over to see Castiel, who paused less than a second in his steps, taking the sight in before continuing on to his room, not letting any emotion show on his face.

Dean felt sick. He pushed Rachel away gently. Her lips were swollen from kissing him, and Dean had to admit that if there was a female version of Castiel out there in the world, she would be it, but her kiss did nothing for him, not even a spark of recognition in it.

He shook his head. "Rachel, listen. I'm really sorry, you… you're a gorgeous girl, but… But I'm not interested."

"Why?" Her voice seemed let down, though not pissed. Dean was grateful for that. He'd seen pissed Novaks.

"There's someone else…" His eyes rolled over to the now-empty main hallway, his body urging him to go follow Castiel, despite hearing his door slam shut just moments before. "Someone else…" he repeated, just for himself.

She followed his gaze. It took a moment, but all of the parts clicked together. "Oh god. You like my brother."

Dean looked almost guilty, as though he'd led her on. "Yeah."

"Oh god." She stepped away from him. "He probably so pissed."

Great. "Great."

She dropped his hand, giving him a slight push on the shoulder. "I so sorry. So sorry. Now please go get baby brother." Dean liked the pet name Castiel's sisters gave him. "I'm so sorry. Please. Go."

Dean nodded, thanking her, in part for understanding, and in part as an apology as he jogged off, hopping up the stairs. He tried to open Castiel's door. It was locked.

"Castiel let me in."

"No."

"Why?"

"No."

"I've already kicked in one door today, don't make me do another."

There was gentle padding across the floor after a minute, and Castiel's door cracked open. Dean barged in, though he wasn't expecting what he got.

Castiel had his hands on either side of Dean's neck nearly immediately, whipping him around and pinning him to the wall without much effort on his part, Dean like a limp balloon in his hands.

"Why you do it, huh? It enough to lead me on, but my sister? You not going to two time my family!"

"What!?" Dean said, and Castiel just pushed on him harder.

"Stop acting like not know! I saw kissing Rachel."

"She kissed me!"

"Like it make difference!"

"I didn't kiss back!"

Castiel rolled his eyes. "Why you outside her room?"

"I was helping Alona. She stopped me."

"What you helping Alona with? Fucking her too?"

"No! No! I'm gay. God."

"So? My sisters very pretty."

"I know, but you're better."

Castiel's grip had loosened enough that Dean could thrust his shoulder up, knocking his hands off of his neck. He grabbed them as soon as he could, though Castiel struggled to get them back. He got one free, but gave up on the other. "I don't want them. I want you. I've already said that."

"So? Why let her kiss you, huh?"

"I wasn't gonna smack your sister!"

They were closer than they'd been, and Dean's arm began to hurt from how fast his heart was racing, and how frustrated he'd grown. Castiel wasn't responding, so Dean did all he could. Tugging on Castiel's hand to bring him in, he kissed him, cupping his face with his free hand.

There was a brief moment where Castiel responded, tight facial features relaxing under his touch, though they were strong again in just a matter of seconds.

A hand slapped across Dean's face, and he broke the kiss with a quiet, drawn out groan, bringing a hand up to cover the sore spot where Castiel had slapped him. "What was that for?"

"Why you kiss me?"

"I was trying to get you to talk!"

"I had nothing else to say."

Dean was still holding Castiel's hand. "Then what's going to happen?"

"What you mean?"

"I mean, with us. I wanna be with you, Cas."

Castiel bit the inside of his lips, barely an indent on the outside of his stoic stature. "Was going to try you..."

"Please tell me you're still going to."

It was silent for seconds, minutes, hours even, it seemed, but Castiel finally spoke. "Yes."

Dean was still though his mind relaxed, and stepped in to Castiel after a minute, hugging him, nestling his face in to the convex of his shoulder and neck. Castiel groaned. "Why you hug?"

"Because we're a sort-of thing now. I think I can hug you."

Castiel pushed on him lightly. "Stop."

"Why?"

Castiel pushed on him harder, getting him away from his body as he stepped back. "I said so. Just cause we thing not mean you can do… do whatever. Now come." He grabbed his hand, dragging him out of his room and in to Dean's.

Dean looked around, confused, as he was left in the center of his room while Castiel walked away. "Why are we in here?"

Castiel came out of Dean's bathroom with a washrag and the minty ointment. Dean groaned, earning an eye roll. "Stop being baby." He pushed on Dean lightly when he got to him, trying to get him to sit on his bed.

Dean plopped down. "Should we be doing this now? I mean… you know… sex?"

"We not have sex tonight."

"Not going to?"

"No."

Dean pouted, though covered it up. "Why not?"

"Because," Castiel started, yawning as he began to unwrap the bandage on Dean's arm. "You injured, and as hot as is, it not good idea."

"But I want you," Dean said, reaching out with his free hand to grab Castiel's hip. The other didn't fight against it.

"I know."

"Can't I have you?"

"No." Dean was still tugging on Castiel's hip, but he didn't move until Dean's wound had the ointment rubbed over it and his bandage re-wrapped. He stepped forward, though wouldn't move any more than that, despite Dean trying to get him on to his lap.

"Please?" he begged.

"No," Castiel said again.

"Cas, please," Dean said, standing, bringing his other hand to Castiel's hip, holding him. "I want you so bad."

Castiel looked down at him. "No." He stepped back. "But you can come with me. Sleep, I guess."

"I can sleep with you?" Dean asked hopefully as he followed Castiel –who hadn't stopped moving the moment Dean began speaking– out of the room.

"We a thing now, no?"

"We are." They entered Castiel's room, and Castiel stripped off his shirt. Dean stopped to watch his muscles move and shift in awe. He wanted to reach out and touch, but was frozen. "We're a thing."

"Good." Castiel pulled down his pants, kicking them off before crawling on to his bed, laying down where he was comfortable. He didn't say anything, just simply looking back after a minute to send Dean a look, his eyebrow raised high, his eyes practically demanding him to join him.

Dean did.

He crawled in to the bed and over Castiel to wedge himself between him and the wall, kissing his nose as he settled down. Castiel scrunched his face up. "No. Not do that."

"What? This?" Dean kissed his nose again.

"I said not do," Castiel growled at him. Dean stopped, leaving them in silence for a minute. "This kind of weird," Castiel said.

"Why?"

"I usually leave by now."

"Well, just don't leave, or kick me out."

"What we do? I not… sex sleepy yet."

"It's cute when you say sleepy," Dean grinned. Castiel glared at him. "Okay, fine. You don't like that word."

"You such a pain in my ass," Castiel muttered, regretting their new arrangement just a minuscule bit. "You be so different now."

"Because you're like my boyfriend now. Like," he emphasized as Castiel's expression. "You're not just a fuck-buddy. I can't help it."

Castiel sighed. "It take time to get used to, I suppose." Dean nodded in agreement. "So, what we do until tired?"

A shrug. "We can talk."

Castiel scrunched his face up. "About what?"

"Anything. Like, why did we stop hanging out as kids?"

"Easy," Castiel responded. "My father finish what he need with yours, and we not see each other any more. I not really know your last name, you obviously not know mine, and we… we never meet up again until now."

"What were our dads doing together?"

Castiel shrugged. "I not know."

"Is that why you didn't recognize me that day on the beach? My name, at least?"

"Probably."

"It's a shame," Dean started, leaning in to kiss Castiel, worming his hand up between their bodies to cup Castiel's cheek against his pillow. "that we were apart for so long. Who knows? We could have been best friends, or boyfriends, or-"

"-You my first kiss."

"W-what?" Dean sputtered after a moment, eyes growing wide with confusion. "No I wasn't."

"Yes you were."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Stop arguing me."

Dean shook his head. "When did we kiss? How?"

"You want full story?" Dean nodded. "Okay. So, you a little older than eight, and I almost eleven. Like, few weeks before my birthday, and I feel bad because I pretty sheltered, you know, dad not trust a lot of families. Anyway, I sheltered enough I not get… Uhhh, not get first kiss yet. But you my only friend, and you had yours already, and you kinda make fun of me, and I not… not happy. You see, and say that you sorry, and that since we so close, that maybe you can kiss me."

"And I did?"

"And I told you I not that weak, and I walk away, and then the next day I have to go to your house and we sit in that tree house and I say that we can kiss. And we did."

"Was I good?"

"You very gentle."

Dean smiled, his teeth showing. "That good?"

"For eleven year old."

Dean smiled more, kissing Castiel once again. "Hopefully I'm better now."

"Not really," he joked, grinning briefly, kissing Dean, initiating it himself for the first time since that morning.

"That's mean."

"I not care."

"I know. So, if we'd kissed before, why did you wait so long to kiss me this time?"

"Story for another time," Castiel yawned. "Time for bed."

Dean pouted, but didn't argue it, afraid Castiel would kick him out of bed. "Time for bed?" Castiel nodded, and Dean brought his hand under Castiel's cheek to rest under one of the pillows above them, his other hand coming to rest on Castiel's hip, thumb rubbing circles in to his smooth skin.

Castiel shivered. He clearly wasn't used to the touches Dean wanted to give him. Dean brushed his nose against his jaw, just to test his theory, and Castiel shivered again. He grinned, and Castiel figured out his plan.

Putting a stop to it, he kissed him hard, though Dean was having none of it, pulling back enough to make the kiss soft. Castiel groaned. "I not like being gentle."

"It's time for bed. You're supposed to be gentle."

"Well, I not like it."

"Get used to it," Dean muttered, leaning in to kiss Castiel once more, letting it linger until he pulled away with a grin. "That feels so good." Another kiss. "Goodnight, Cas."

"Where that nickname come from?" Castiel mumbled, not really bothering to wait for a response with a shake of his head. "Goodnight, Dean."

Yay that was fun. Regardless, I haven't even started on another chapter yet, and I have to sort of map out some more things for the last half or so of this story, so it may be kind of a while? Like, a month max, but still.

Anyway, thanks for reading!