Shaun and Castiel have made it to the bar by now and are on their second round of drinks. The two bottles of beer sit side by side, well, beer bottle would be a more accurate term describing the rapidly decreasing ammount of alcohol inside.
The two of them are seated together at the bar. The music is very loud and most of the time they have to shout to hear each other.
Castiel tells Shaun about his life.
"As you've seen, I work at the gas station, but I also have another job. I teach."
"You teach? Wow, tough job."
"Yes, it has its ups and downs, I guess. But just like any other job. "
"What subject do you teach?"
"I mostly teach history, but I also do one-to-one English tuition."
"That's really interesting, what are the kids like?"
"They're alright. They're just usual kids, some are great though. What about you?"
"Me? In comparison, my life's really quite bland."
"I doubt it."
"Okay, I work for a law firm and I'm a barrister there and I, uh, work a few cases now and again. Nothing big, usually property development cases."
"You must be quite intelligent then?"
"Something like that." Shaun chuckles and raises his bottle to toast a 'bottoms up' and downs the rest. Castiel does the same. After some more friendly banter, the pair head outside. The noisy, stuffy environment changes to a fresh, silent one. Shaun shoves his hands in his pocket and Castiel hangs his by his sides.
"You know, it was really nice meeting you again Cas."
"Yeah, I agree. Thank you for inviting me out."
"No problem, I really enjoyed tonight."
Shaun smiles shyly at Castiel, his smile gently tugs at the edge of his lips.
"Look, Cas. Do you want to come back to my place? It's quite late and my flat is just round the corner. You're in no state to drive and there are some dangerous people hanging around tonight."
"Shaun, you're very kind, but I'm okay driving back."
"Honestly, I insist, please Cas, come on."
Cas tries to decide, he'd enjoy nothing more than spending a little bit more time with Shaun, but he has a few early classes tomorrow.
He gives in "Okay, fine."
"Cool, let's go." Shaun wears a wide grin and Castiel resists the temptation to roll his eyes.
They walk a few minutes in silence and end up outside a pair of double doors. They are decorated in peeling white paint and a tall lamp post hangs above them, the light flickering on and off.
Shaun palls out his keys and leads Castiel up two flights of stairs to a door. A second later and they both enter.
"Welcome to my palace." Shaun chuckles and throws his jacket over the arm of the sofa in front.
"Beer?" Shaun offers.
"Yeah." Castiel nods. They both sit on the larger couch and Castiel gratefully takes the beer from Shaun.
"What do you want to do?" Castiel asks Shaun.
He glances round the flat. Kept neat, but not in the best condition.
"Tell me more about yourself." Shaun smiles again at Castiel, a gentle smile.
Cas feels his cheeks redden and he looks down at his hands in his lap. "I have a two brothers and one sister. My brothers are called Lucifer and Gabriel and my sister's called Anna. I haven't seen them in a while though." He looks up at the still-smiling Shaun. "I'm quite close with Anna and Gabe. Uh, both my parents are deceased." Castiel feels like he can't become any redder.
"My parents too," Shaun places his hand on Cas' knee.
"Really, I understand."
"Look, I'll just get a couple of drinks and snacks, just hold on for a sec." Shaun slaps Castiel's back and makes his way to the kitchen.
Cas knows that he shouldn't be thinking of this, there's probably no way in hell that this is true, but he can't help wondering if Shaun is interested in him. After all, Shaun insisted on him coming round to his place and he put his hand on his thigh. Cas shakes his head. He's not thinking straight. Why would someone like Shaun be interested in someone like Castiel?
Maybe he's got it the wrong way round.
It could be Cas is interested in Shaun and he's just in denial, there's got to be, what, like a thousand crappy chick flicks showing Cas' exact situation? Castiel has always known that he has not always been as straight as an arrow as the next guy, but isn't it just wrong to have feelings for a friend? Cas is sure that Shaun's straight.
Yes. That's it.
Okay, come on Castiel. You can't have these feelings, it's not right. This relationship, no friendship, is extremely platonic. Okay? Good.
"Hey Cas?"
"Oh, uh, sorry Shaun. I was lost in thought." Shaun chuckles at that and Cas blushes even more.
"Don't worry, I often do that a lot." Shaun sets down some snacks and two more beers.
"I know it's not much, but it's the best I could rustle up." He sits down next to Castiel and eats a small Dorito. Castiel does the same.
"You mind?" Shaun holds up a cigarette and a lighter.
"Not at all." Castiel is used to the smell of cigarettes. His father used to smoke often and even though smoking isn't a fond memory of his, he doesn't mind.
The night goes by quick, they play a game of poker or two, Castiel can't quite remember, but is sure that he wins. Shaun tells Castiel a little more about himself, he has two brothers who he's friendly with and a pet dog.
Gentle, he assures Castiel, he won't bite.
Castiel tries one of Shaun's cigarettes and enjoys it.
The combination of tobacco and alcohol relax every nerve in his body, the tension disappears completely.
Soon, Cas makes his way home. His boy feels warm and light from the events of that evening and he can't help giggling about everything.
His house is down the next street and by now Castiel is buzzing with genuine happiness from it all.
A small rustle in the bushes catches his attention. His head turns to the blacked out street, trying to make heads and tails of his surroundings.
Suddenly, he's shivering and his arms provide a minute ammount of warmth to his shaking body.
A horse scampers far in front. No, it was definitely a unicorn. Castiel laughs loudly in the abandoned street. But a chorus of threatening growls silence his joy. Large dogs prowl ferociously.
He jumps back from a something snarling near him.
Suddenly, Cas has stopped laughing.
He's shaking and walking in a straight line becomes as hard as rocket science.
He reaches out and puts his weight against the lamp post.
Unicorns aren't real.
But Cas can't help thinking that alcohol can't do that.
Alcohol doesn't make people hallucinate, does it?
Castiel tries to remember, but nothing in his body is working properly.
He pushes away from the lamp and tries to regain his balance. His feet tie together and he trips over himself.
He groans and pushes himself off the floor. Castiel feels something different now. Hunger.
His stomach feels empty and Cas is craving food. He could go for a burger right about now.
Cas doubles over and groans. He tries to spit something out but it's laced into his body.
Now it's changing and he's feeling warm. His body tingles and he's laughing.
Nearly home.
Wait, where's home?
Every house looks the same.
House number? 72.
No, no it's 74.
Cas can't remember.
That's his house. Right there. With the stripes on it. And circles. Frogs. Horses.
Castiel doesn't know. He just stumbles lightly into the porch. He swings his arm up to block the white light from his porch lamp. He fiddles with his keys again. Cas' knees give way and his whole body slumps over in the porch.
Get up Cas. Get up Castiel.
He opens the door. Climbs the stairs to the flat.
Nearly there.
In.
Thank God.
Everything blurs and Cas can't help laughing. He looks at the ceiling and chuckles. Everything's funny.
He makes his way around the flat, tripping over every now and then. Castiel can't think straight, he feels happy and he can't focus on anything.
Suddenly, he falls over and blacks out.