Dean stood in front of the floor length mirror and circled in the mirror checking himself out in the suit chosen for him by Ellen.
"I was right! You are my husband's exact size" she said looking over him and smiling. "You look dashing!"
"I do" Dean murmured shocked looking over to her. "I haven't wore a suit in years"
"You're like a shiny new penny, they won't know what has hit them…or one person in particular" she said standing at his shoulder with a knowing eye. Dean smirked in response leaning in and kissing her cheek in thanks.
"Thank you" he murmured leaving her to get dressed and walked down a flight of stairs leading to the grand staircase. The door was opened for him and he stared at the crew member.
"Good evening, sir" he murmured and shut it behind him, Dean raised his eyebrows in surprise at the difference one classy suit had. No one would know he was third class.
Dean walked down the stairs and stopped looking at the grand clock against the wall ticking loudly and clearly, he reached forward stroking a finger across the pane of glass in awe. The Titanic's interior design was decorated in the style of a manor house. Dean knew that the first class were better off than third class with their library, barber shop, swimming pool, gymnasium and even a luxurious café.
Dean walked down the grand staircase reaching the bottom to see seven entrances leading to the boat deck right through to E deck. It was grand and made Dean feel very small as he watched as husbands escorted their wives to the dining hall. An uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach and he wondered if he would be able to do this.
Upstairs in their parlour, Rachel fixed her earrings. Gabriel looked over to Castiel who fidgeted on the sofa.
"Rachel, may I escort you to dinner?" Gabriel said when she approached. Rachel blinked flattered and nodded extending her hand.
"Castiel?"
"It's fine" he murmured with a small smile ignoring the knowing wink from Gabriel and turning his back on them. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath and gaining his composure before following after them.
Dean looked up when he saw Gabriel and Rachel come down the stairs, they both ignored them as they greeted a couple next to him instead. Dean stepped away wrinkling his nose in distaste and glanced up when he saw Castiel on the stairs. A small smile formed on his lips watching him walk down till he was on the second stair.
"Well there is a surprise" Castiel said looking over him. Dean smirked facing him and looked down at his own suit.
"I'm a shiny new penny"
"You're certainly that"
"Is that a compliment, Cas?"
"I think so"
Dean looked into his eyes seeing warmth and something hidden deep within them he wanted to know about. Castiel stepped down and beckoned at him to follow after him, Dean fell into step with him as they walked behind Gabriel and Rachel. They walked into the dining hall leaving only Dean to open his mouth slightly in shocked fascination. It was open, large, filled with people, tables covered in lace cloth and candles, it was beautiful.
"Just pretend you own a gold mine and they will welcome you with open arms" Castiel whispered. Dean nodded having a lot of experience with telling lies to get where he wanted to be in life. Castiel led him around introducing him to the dozen people around. They walked down the final step of stairs leading towards their table when Castiel stopped him gripping him lightly on the wrist.
"That man there is Rufus Turner, he owns a tycoon in London" he said pointing to the black gentleman sipping a whiskey in his hand.
"That is Balthazar Roche, the richest man on the ship with his little mistress there, Camilla Deluxe" Castiel whispered pointing across the room. "Younger than Rachel and in a delicate condition"
Dean narrowed his eyes and noticed the small concealed bump over her stomach.
"The scandal will be across the papers" Castiel murmured softly amusement laced into his features.
"You look happy about that"
"Never" he whispered looking over to him. "Oh and there is, Mr and Mrs Mills, very popular with the royals"
Dean looked over to the couple talking with Gabriel and Rachel. "I see"
Castiel led him over touching Rachel's elbow and smiled when she beamed turning towards him.
"Darling, have you met Jonathon and Jody Mills?" Rachel said introducing them.
"Yes, we've met briefly…have you met, Dean Winchester?"
Dean's eyes widened when he was shoved forward and nodded with a smile for both of them.
"Pleasure" he said shaking his hand and kissing Jody's hand who smiled at him with slight attraction in her eyes. Rachel sniffed in displeasure linking her arm with Castiel's and walking him away so they could sit on their table. Gabriel stood next to Dean who watched them leave him behind.
"Pay no attention to her, Rachel thinks low of the third class" Gabriel said lightly. "She'll do anything to convert everyone to her thoughts"
"I see" Dean murmured walking over to the table and smiling when Ellen looked up at him and gestured at the seat next to her. He sat down looking around as people joined the table, Castiel sitting across the table next to Rachel and Gabriel.
Chatter around the table started while Dean looked down at his cutlery and looked at Ellen with a pleading look.
"Just start from the left and work your way in" she whispered. Dean nodded looking up and meeting Castiel's eyes.
"You will be fine" Castiel mouthed to him. Dean rolled his eyes with a smile and looked up when the waiter came over asking for his order.
"Sausage for both of us" Ellen said to the waiter who nodded.
"Thank you"
"So, Mr…Winchester, how is steerage down below?" Rachel called loudly creating a hush around the table. Castiel flashed a look to her but Dean kept his cool as he straightened.
"The best I've ever seen, hardly any… diseases" he said and a collective chuckle surrounded the table while a sour look pinched at Rachel's mouth.
"Mr Winchester joins us from third class, he was very helpful in an almost terrible incident yesterday" Castiel said looking over to Dean who nodded once pursuing his lips in thought.
Starters were served as waiters and waitresses come over.
"So where do you currently live, Mr Winchester?" Rachel said quizzical and more than smug as she sipped her wine. Gabriel clucked his tongue into his cheek amused looking over to Castiel who closed his eyes in shame.
"Well, my current address along with my brother, Sam, is the RMS Titanic. You can't better than that" Dean responded.
"How do you have means to travel? You can't be covered in riches"
"I won our tickets in a lucky game of poker a very lucky game, but, apart from that we travel places…bargain, the odd job, but it's based on luck"
Dean flicked his eyes over to Castiel who smiled at him softly and grabbed his drink drinking some back.
Rachel tilted her head at him. "And you find that kind of lifestyle appealing?"
Gabriel looked over to Ellen whose eyes widened and fists clenched on the top of the table in disbelief. Dean shifted feeling awkward and nodded.
"Well yes, ma'am, I do. It's all I have. I may not have all the riches in the world, a grand house in the country, and the lifestyle that all you fine gentlemen and ladies have because all I need is my brother, sheets of paper, and my eyes to see the beauty of this earth. The other night I was sleeping in an old alleyway with my brother and now here we are, I'm dining and drinking champagne on the grandest ship to sail the Atlantic with you few fine people. Life is precious, it's a gift, and I'm not about to waste it on anything useless because you never know what's going to happen in the next hour or even the next day."
"Here, here!" Rufus cried raising his glass.
Glasses were raised and a chorus went around the table. Dean smirked looking down at the table when Rachel huffed and turning talking to Jody sat next to her. Castiel met his gaze and smiled softly at him again. Gabriel noticed the exchange and bit the inside of his lip knowingly.
The rest of dinner was served and chatter erupted around the table again as things grew livelier. Gabriel took his leave after his course for an important "arrangement" he had made much to the curiosity of both Castiel and Dean.
"I guess you are going to the smoking room" Dean said dropping down in the empty seat next to him. Dinner ended after a few funny stories were exchanged.
"Will you not join us?" Castiel said looking up to him from his seat. Rachel looked over to them and narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"No, I have to return to my own quarters, the low of the low" he joked and smiled when Castiel rolled his eyes.
"I apologise on her behalf" he murmured softly. "One moment"
Dean waited and watched as he got up and moved over to Rachel.
"Do you wish to be escorted back?"
"No, I wish to take a walk on the deck, my dear, I'll see you back in the suite" she said touching his arm. Castiel nodded leaving her to it and returning to his seat seeing Dean handle a pencil back to Ellen.
"Thank you, Cas"
"I didn't do anything"
"Yes…you did" Dean said shaking his hand and slipping the note into it. Castiel grasped it and blinked confused when Dean headed back out.
The clock.
5 minutes.
Castiel looked up from the note and looked back to the gentlemen exiting and heading towards the smoking room, it was where he was supposed to be and he was meant to disappear in a cloud of grey smoke talking about politics and marriage.
Ellen who was collecting her bearings stopped to look at him. "What's with the look?"
"A difficult decision" he muttered clutching the note in his hand.
"Well…there is always an easy way out and a hard way out. I go for one which is more…pleasurable"
Castiel took a moment to digest and looked up startled only to see her retreating back; he inhaled sharply standing up and swiftly moving out of the room towards the grand staircase.
Dean leaned against the stand and turned when Castiel came up and held up the note.
"I want to show you a real party" Dean said with a grin. It was Dean's turn to lead as he took him down to below the deck. Castiel walked down the stairs hearing the music and the loud chatter of women, men, and even children gathered around.
"It's about enjoying yourself and not sitting at a table with a stick up your ass" Dean murmured into his ear. Castiel shivered at the warm breath in ear and neck and looked up at him.
"Here" Dean said handing him a beer. "Go wild, angel"
"Dean!"
Dean turned gripping Cas wrist and turned towards the voice seeing Sam come over to him.
"You brought a guest" Sam said hugging him tight. "We've not been formally introduced, I'm Sam"
"I have heard much about you from Dean and my brother" Castiel said shaking his hand.
"Little old me" a voice said behind Sam and Castiel tilted his head to see Gabriel. Gabriel's eyes were glazed and blown wide from alcohol.
"This is where you disappeared to?" Castiel said amused looking up to Sam who blushed looking away from him. Gabriel grinned stroking a finger across Sam's lower back causing him to jump a little and nod.
Dean hummed drinking back his beer and pulling out a cigarette lighting it. Castiel turned his head when he heard a commotion and saw a man arm wrestling.
"That's Ash" Dean muttered into his ear watching Ash get beaten and holler loudly.
"One more"
Dean snorted tipping back half of his pint and smacking his lips together and noticed Castiel's still full.
"Chicken, Cas?" he said turning to face him.
"Chicken?"
"Or do you need a fine wine?" Dean teased puffing smoke in the air. Castiel glanced over to Sam and Gabriel sat at a table talking in hushed tones and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't care for wine" he murmured and staring him dead in the eye as he tipped the contents back into his mouth swallowing over and over again till the beer was gone. Dean stared in awe feeling his cigarette dangle from his mouth unnoticed till Castiel took it taking a drag and blowing it back into his face.
"I also don't care for…chicken" he murmured handing it back. Dean smirked at him and nodded handing him another beer.
"I think my brother may have taken a liking for your brother" Sam murmured in Gabriel's ear.
"Do you not hold the same feeling?" Gabriel whispered brushing his lips over his ear. Sam hummed grabbing his drink and tilted his back enjoying the coldness of it hitting the back of his dry throat.
"I think you do, kiddo, don't you?" he murmured softly. Sam trembled under his touch when his hand moved down to his lower back.
"I already know a weak spot, I think I win" Gabriel whispered into his ear. Sam moaned gently and shook his head.
"We can't…"
"Why?"
"Because-because we can't…not here"
"Is that a promise?"
"I don't know"
"I think it is"
"This is…different" Castiel said looking around at the people chatting and dancing as a small band played in the corner.
"Good different?"
"Yes" he replied and inhaled when he realised how close Dean was to him. Dean scanned around the area thoughtfully when an idea struck him, he pressed closer to him and grabbed his hand tucking it into his own and bringing it up.
"What are you doing?" he whispered shocked.
"Dance"
"We can't…Dean, we're two men…men do not dance together" he whispered looking around but no one took any notice.
"You have to open those pretty blue eyes, Cas, and see the world differently for once" he whispered before spinning him out and back into him. Castiel laughed shocked and openly looking around at everyone, Dean smiled at him.
Unknown and unaware to everyone, Zachariah stood on the staircase under Rachel's orders. Rachel ordered out of suspicion for Zachariah to follow Castiel where ever he went without being noticed. Zachariah narrowed his eyes at the scene in front of him confused.
"I think you're right" Gabriel murmured into Sam's ear. Sam looked up at his brother holding Castiel's hand in the hair and the other placed on his back was somewhat gentle and soft. His expression was open and full of undiluted happiness as he looked at Castiel who whispered something to him which made Dean laugh.
"Is Castiel feeling a little intoxicated?" Dean said letting go of his hand and handing him a drink.
"I have not drunk like this since my mother's wedding" he murmured looking over to Gabriel. "The same cannot be said about my brother"
Dean hummed with a nod. "The fiancée?"
"Rachel does not care for alcohol, she will not be pleased" Castiel said with an uncomfortable cough. "I…better take my leave"
Dean moved closer to him inhaling Castiel's smell. "It's been a long day"
Castiel nodded passing him the now empty glass.
"I thank you for your hospitality; I have learnt a lot about you, Dean"
Dean smiled in return watching him turn on his heel and walk back up the stairs.
"Whoa, where's my little bro?" Gabriel said stumbling and touching Dean's arm.
"Returned to his fiancée" Dean said with a sigh pulling out a cigarette. "Shouldn't you follow after him, Mr First Class?"
Sam frowned standing up and watching Dean walk out of the room. Gabriel looked back to him as he stood by his side.
"I've never seen him like this"
"He's worse?"
"Dean likes both of the genders, men and women, we've travelled the world and each time he's been in one of their beds but he's never…felt that spark, that instant attraction…" Sam murmured looking at Gabriel who cocked an eyebrow at him. "But this time it's different, he's different, and I think it's because of your brother"
Gabriel pressed a hand to his back and looked up at him.
"I know the feeling"
~0~
Castiel closed his bedroom door and leaned against it feeling his mind and stomach swirl with dizziness and nausea. His heart thundered in his chest and he opened them staring at the large bed in the room. Moving forward towards it, Castiel stroked his hand over the silky material. The four walls stared at him and it felt like a cage trapping him inside.
His reckless and irrational behaviour tonight spoke volumes and he knew his mother would be ashamed of him. Castiel buried his face into his pillow feeling tears prick his eyes and sighed wishing for some sleep.
The second day of the Titanic came and passed as it continued her journey across the waters towards her fate and her doom.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews.