Dean isn't going to lie, he is enjoying his time with Cas more than he anticipated. After he gets a few more beers in the guy he is happy to see Cas light up with expression, coming forward with details about his life and family. Cas even tells a story involving his brother and a very unfortunate rabbit that has Dean laughing like a hyena, getting a strange look from the bartender across the way. All in all, Dean is actually enjoying himself for the first time in…how many years? Dean can't remember.
That is, he is enjoying himself until a very unwelcome face appears on the stage.
"Son of a bitch," Dean mutters, gripping his empty shot glass a little more tightly.
"What's wrong?" Cas asks innocently, cracking open his third beer of the night.
Dean just shakes his head and points to the stage where they were about to start karaoke night. Of course Gabriel Novak has to be here, the one place Dean went to get away from his work. The man is clearly drunk out of his mind, and is holding onto the mic stand for support. Seconds later the instrumental track to 'One Night Only' starts blasting through the club, and Dean's ears are assaulted by Gabriel's nasally singing.
"Let's just say I would rather be torn apart by lions than have to deal with that guy," Dean replies, hearing the distaste in his tone.
Cas tilts his head and gives Dean a confused look, Dean feeling very embarrassed when he feels his heart speed up with the glance. "I'm assuming you two don't get along then?"
Dean laughs harshly. "More like we hate each others guts more than anything else in this world, if that says anything."
Cas is about to respond, but Gabriel's falsetto is suddenly the loudest thing in the room. Dean cringes as he flags down the bartender once more, quickly retrieving a pen and napkin.
"Look, I wish I could stay around longer, but I will punch him if I do. But…" Dean hesitates, "I would love to see you again?"
The boy with the blue eyes glances up at him with a piercing stare. "You wish to see me again?"
Dean scribbles his phone number down on the napkin and places it in the other man's palm. "If you don't mind, that is."
Cas smiles down at the number in his hand and says very quietly "Yes Dean, I would love that very much."
He looks up into Cas' eyes and grins back with pure elation. "Then I'll be looking forward to your call."
With one last wave at the blue eyed angel that already has his heart racing, Dean leaves to find his brother.
"Sam!" Dean calls when he spots his brother across the way. He is leaning against the club wall with a pure look of distain on his face, his mouth curled into a tight lipped grimace.
"…Sammy? What's wrong?"
"Did I just see you talking with a Novak?" Sam asks calmly. He looks up at Dean with pure smoldering fire in his eyes, the rage clearly coming to surface.
"What the hell are you talking about, Sam?" Dean asks. "I was talking to that guy over there."
He points out Cas across the way to his brother, who is reclining back casually in his chair. "His name is Castiel Milton, a student over at UIC. What's wrong?"
"Dean," Sam says sadly. "Castiel Milton doesn't exist, but Castiel Novak does. And you are looking right at him."
A Novak? A freaking Novak? Why'd he have to be a Novak of all people?
Dean can't quiet the raging thoughts in his mind as he speeds through the city streets, ignoring any and all traffic lights and signs in his way. He is beyond livid. A fake name? That is the thing he would pull, not something a guy like Cas would ever do. It seemed off somehow. Is it all a ploy then? Is Cas working with the Novaks? Is he supposed to lure Dean into his house, make him feel like he cared, only to throw him to the dogs? It makes his stomach turn just thinking about it, and he isn't going to rest until he got some answers.
Over the course of the next few days, Dean does his research. His confrontation with John goes better than ever expected, his father giving him a few days off to regroup before he sends Dean out again to finish the job. It is the most he could ask for from his father, and the extra time gives him opportunity to dig up dirt on that Castiel.
That is, if there is anything to be found out about the Novak. After five days of nonstop research Dean is still no closer to knowing anything about the man than he is before. It is like Cas is the Novak's hidden weapon, kept under lock and key in their secret crypts. No birth dates, no personal records, no history to be found. Is is as if the man Dean met at the bar is a total ghost.
Finally, Dean brings in the bigs guns and calls up the best hacker he knows, but even her efforts are wasted.
"I really don't know what to say, Winchester," Charlie says solemnly, after hours of illegal hacking. "Even I can't find those who don't wish to be found."
He grunts and turns to the green letters and numbers glowing on her screen. "Are you really sure there is nothing? Nothing at all?"
"I'm telling you, it's like he doesn't even exist. However-" she starts, hitting a few keys on the board, "-there is an article about a Jimmy Novak working at the UIC Library. Employee of the year or something nerdy like that. Think this is your guy?"
Dean sighs heavily. It isn't much of a lead, but it is all he has. And that is what lands him at that library on a cold November morning, stalking the stacks of books for any sign of Jimmy or Castiel, whatever the hell his real name is. He is unfruitful for hours on end and he is about to give up the search, until a familiar figure appears behind the circulation desk.
It is definitely Cas, that's for sure. The tousled man he met at the bar is now standing behind a stack of books, staring at the names on the spines. He has a lanyard slung around his neck that says 'Hi my name is: Jimmy' and is wearing a pair of black rimmed glasses that makes his blue eyes pop. And don't get him started on that tight plaid shirt-
No, Dean won't allow himself to still be attracted to this man. He lied about his name, so what else did he lie about? And above all, he is a Novak. He couldn't be this attracted to someone who is from enemy territory, could he?
But he doesn't get to ponder this any longer before the man sees him standing awkwardly in the stacks.
"…Dean?" Cas asks hesitantly, coming out from behind the desk to approach the wayward Winchester. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing Castiel Milton. Or is it Castiel Novak? Or James Novak?"
Cas cringes. "I worried you would figure that out, but I didn't think it would matter."
Dean huffs out a breath in annoyance. "Wouldn't matter? Giving out a fake name is a pretty big deal, Cas!"
The other man looks down at his shoes and mutters "…I didn't think it is a big deal because I never planned on seeing you again."
Ouch. Dean can't hide how much that stung. So it is true then; Dean looked into things that were not there. It is fine though; he will get over it eventually. Nevermind that Cas is all he could think about for days. Forget that he hasn't been attracted to anyone, man or woman, like this in ages and he was looking forward to exploring a real relationship again. Dean would totally ignore that sinking feeling in his stomach when he realizes he was just rejected by someone he could've cared about.
"Oh," Dean says with a tight lipped grimace. "Well, I guess that settles it. Bye, Cas."
Dean turns sullenly and starts walking towards the door, trying to compose himself. But he doesn't get far before a hand lands on his shoulder and drags him back into the stacks.
"Dean, wait," Cas whispers "You misunderstand me. I wanted nothing more than to call you and make plans to see you again, but I'm a Novak and you're a Winchester. You know what would happen if our families ever found out about us?"
"Yeah, I know all hell would break loose. I'm not stupid. But," Dean hesitates, eyeing the hand perched on his shoulder, "there is a part of me that just doesn't care?"
Cas looks at Dean with a birdlike head tilt and perplexed expression. "I do not understand."
"Look," he says, motioning for Cas to follow him through the labyrinth of columns, "I'm just going to say it: I felt something back at that bar. I haven't felt anything close to it in years. It was like I was coming alive for the first time in forever, and you brought it out in me. And maybe you didn't feel a damn thing, but I sure did and I'm not about to let that go so easily."
Dean huffs out a breath and stares at the titles of the books, the floor, anywhere but Cas. This definitely isn't what he came here to do, but Dean knows now he can't let Cas get away. Screw family feuds and warring words, he says.
After what feels like a hundred years, Cas finally speaks. "Dean…I barely know you. And you know our family situation. Risking everything for someone I've just met seems a bit foolish, don't you think? If we knew one another better-"
Dean spins around, looking the other man in the eye and cutting off his sentence. "-Fine. I see your point. But answer me this: do you feel anything at all? If circumstances were different, would you pursue this?"
"In a heartbeat," Cas says, the quickness of the response throwing Dean offguard. "I don't know how to say this," Cas begins, a light blush rising to his cheeks, "but I haven't stopped thinking about you since that night, and knowing that I couldn't talk to you made me ache. I don't know what it is, but you've lit something in me, Dean Winchester. Something fiery and tangible and real, and I'm afraid to let it go."
Dean takes a few seconds to stare at Cas, because nobody has ever says anything quite so authentic to him well…ever. Suddenly all Dean sees is Castiel leaning against the book shelve, his blue eyes drawing Dean in like an ocean does its tide. Cas says that Dean lit a fire in him, something real. He feels the same way about Cas, that much is obvious now. But what? What is it that draws Dean to this man? What is it about Castiel-Jimmy-whatever the hell his name is- that has enraptured Dean's attention so fully?
"So why are we arguing about this then?" Dean whispers. "I like you, you like me, so why aren't we giving this thing a shot? For the sake of a feud that isn't even ours to fight? Do you even know why our families hate each other in the first place, because I sure as hell don't."
Cas runs a hand nervously through his hair, avoiding Dean's gaze. "I guess I don't either, but that doesn't change anything. Surely you were told about the last time something like this happened between our families."
Dean cringes at the story. Of course he knew. It is a cautionary tale for the ages, how one Anna Novak fell madly in love with a man named Adam Winchester, the two of them thinking they could get around the family feud. Nobody really knows the details, but in the end they both ended up in a family crossfire shooting when they tried to run away together and both ended up dead. The moral of the story is very clear: Novaks would not love Winchesters if they wanted to stay alive.
"…You can see why I'm hesitant, even though I am willing."
Dean racks his brain, trying to think of a way to bridge the gap of distrust between himself and this man. All he can come up with is that old children's game of twenty questions, but who is to say that won't work? "Okay then. How about this," Dean hedges, eyeing Castiel with a glint in his stare. "Twenty questions. You can ask anything you wish, and I can do the same. If we both feel like this is something we want at the end of the game, we go through with it and see each other again. If not, we go our separate ways and I won't stop ya."
Cas smiles a little at that and then reluctantly takes Dean's arm, leading him into a secluded part of the library. "Okay, sounds fair enough. I just got off my shift anyway. You start."
Dean follows Cas over to a small table in the back of the library, where the only sound is the quiet thrumming of the heater. He has to admit, he is never one for libraries or reading for fun - besides his Vonnegut of course - but this is a quaint little place he could get used to if it meant he could be with Cas.
"Fine," Dean says. "First question. Can you please tell me your real name?"
Cas laughs quietly while he lifts his lanyard over his head. "My real name is Castiel James Novak. I've gone by Jimmy in all of my classes since I was so tired of hearing professors taking hacks at the name 'Castiel'. Do you know how tiring it is to have your name mispronounced on a daily basis?"
"No, I can't imagine that. Dean is a pretty straightforward name in my book. Your turn."
Cas thumbs the lanyard in his hand absentmindedly, looking up at Dean with that blue stare. "Why did you take an interest in me back at that bar? I saw the others you were around, those who are probably much more experienced and good looking than me. Why pick the nerdy guy reading in a bar?"
Dean leans on one hand as he thinks about that question. Why did he go to Cas in that bar? Is it only for those eyes that mesmerized him across the way, or is it for that stupid little smile he had on his face when he is reading? Is it the way he looked in that barstool, so out of place it is almost comical, or is it the way he looked so sure of himself?
"I guess it is just fate," Dean says simply, eyeing Cas with a smirk. "You were just too damn gorgeous to resist I guess."
He grins widely when he finds Cas blushing furiously at those words, turning his head away to hide the redness in his cheeks. As if Dean needed another reason to be enraptured with this Novak: along with being studious and gorgeous, he is also freaking adorable. It isn't fair in Dean's book that one person could be so full of perfection.
"Next question," Dean says. "Why a library? Out of all the places to work, why choose a place with nothing but old books?"
"Well, as a literature major I'm a bit offended by that, Mr. Winchester," Cas says with fake vice in his voice. "I chose the library because it is an escape from my family life. Books are like people to me; each one has their own story to tell. Some of them are popular, their tales famously known to the world and well liked, while others are hidden gems lost in the stacks, waiting to be found. People are the same way if you think about it; some withered and wise, but are forgotten about throughout the years, while others are new and bright, always getting attention laid on them. And…" Cas hesitates "I guess I just always found a beauty in that."
"Well then," Dean asks with a smirk, "What kind of book would I be like, Cas?"
"Ah, but it's not your turn to ask the questions, Dean," he replies back with a cheeky grin.
They continue like that for a long while, a game of twenty questions easily becoming thirty, then forty, until hours have passed with words flying back and forth without interruption. Dean is absolutely fascinated with Castiel's world, thanking the high heavens that very little of it has to do with has mobster family. He learns all the little details about Cas' life in those short hours they spend together, like how Cas is in his final year of college and hopes to attend graduate school, or how Cas wants a cat but his family would never let him get one, or how Cas is a classically trained pianist and spent two years of high school at Juliard. He feels like he knows more about Cas than he does some people in his own family, and Dean is absolutely enraptured with the man.
He doesn't even notice the time passing until Castiel breaks off from telling a rather humorous tale about Michael and an unfortunate mishap with a police dog, the blood rushing from his face when he notices the time.
"Is it really 6:30?" Cas asks frantically, scrabbling around the desk for his bag.
Dean looks up at him with a concerned glance. "Yeah, why? What's wrong?"
Cas looks like a ghost, the color completely drained from his face. "My father told me to be home an hour ago and he gets…testy when I disobey his orders," Cas says.
Dean can't help but get a sinking feeling in his stomach. Cas is simply frantic, his hands shaking and eyes shifting back and forth wildly. He reaches over to help Cas put his name tag in the open bag, and hears his heart drop when Cas cringes away from his presence.
He can't just let Cas go home in this state.
"Hey, do you need me to drive you home or something? You look pretty stressed."
Cas just nods his head, avoiding Dean's heavy gaze. "No, it's fine really. I'm sure I can find a bus home or something, and I think it wouldn't help my…situation if anyone from my family saw us together."
But Dean isn't taking this lying down. "Look, as your friend I can't let you drive home this way. What is that saying again? Friends don't let other guys drive…alone?"
He softens up a bit when Cas laughs, seeming to calm down some. "I think the saying you're looking for is 'Friends don't let friends drive drunk,' which I'm clearly not. Trust me, I sort of wish I was considering what I'm going home to."
"And what is that exactly?"
Cas sighs heavily, giving Dean one of those deep stares of his. "Look Dean, you're a nice guy and I'm glad you consider me a friend, but you don't want to get into the depths of my family life. At least not right now."
Dean can't help but smile a bit. "Does that mean there is going to be a later?"
Cas grins back. "Maybe. Possibly. We'll see. But until then," Cas says, fishing around his bag, "I would like to see you again. My family is having a ball this Friday, and I would love for you to be my…date," he trials off, blushing furiously at the words. Cas quickly hands Dean a small invitation with the date and time of the event on it, not looking him in the eye.
…Date? Cas wants him to enter his house and be his date? After all of this talk about not being seen together? Dean can't help but wonder what runs through that guy's head sometimes.
"You realize that if I show up at your house you're family will shoot me on the spot?"
Cas softly laughs at that. "Read the invitation, dumbo. It's a masquerade ball, which means if you wear a good enough mask then my family shouldn't be able to recognize you at all. So if you get shot at this party, I'm not the one liable here."
Dean doesn't know how to respond to the request. Should be risk it? He isn't going to lie, dressing up is one of his favorite activities, plus the added danger of being a James Bond figure in Novak territory? The opportunity is tempting, perhaps too tempting for Dean Winchester to resist.
"Okay then," he says. "You've got yourself a date."
Cas lights up automatically, the earlier panic gone from his features. "Well, I guess I will see you then, Winchester."
"You better count on it, Novak!" Dean calls as Cas walks away.
And when Cas is out of sight, Dean can't help himself. He's got a date with Castiel Novak, and that is enough to make him smile.