Day 09: Hanging Out With Friends

Title: Charlie Bradbury: Captain of the SS Destiel

Summary: Charlie Bradbury was known as many things: a queen, a nerd, a genius, and—most recently—the president of the Destiel fan club (also known as the one where everyone in the bunker ships Destiel, but Charlie's the one that makes it canon).

Note: I've always had a headcannon that Charlie ships Destiel, and now I've been granted an excuse to write it! Important: This is set somewhere in season eight(Warning: It has a little suggestiveness at the end).

"Charlie," Dean said, his eyes holding a silent warning before he glanced over at the trench coated angel, "This is Cas."

Cas stuck his hand out, beginning in a deep, gravelly voice that even had Charlie's nether-regions quivering, "It's nice to meet—"

"Oh my god, Cas!" Charlie cut him off, tackling the angel in a hug, "I've heard so much about you! Well, and read so much about you, including those Supernatural books."

Castiel remained stiff in her embrace, his tone possessing a hint of bewilderment as he repeated, "Nice to meet you. Dean has spoken often of you."

Charlie finally released the angel and arched an eyebrow at Dean, crossing her arms over her chest as she asked mockingly, "All good things, right?"

Dean shrugged, "Mostly."

Charlie rolled her eyes and picked up her suitcase, glancing back at Castiel, "Well, I hope I've lived up to your high expectations, Cas."

"High is a strong word." Dean teased gruffly, a corner of his mouth curling upward in amusement.

Charlie chuckled, shaking her head, "Whatever. Let's go hang out with the rest of sleepover guests. Onward, Gentlemen!"

Dean shot her a quick smile before turning around and walking further into the bunker to find Sam and Kevin, Cas and Charlie following after him. Even though she wanted to gush more to Cas, the angel walked diligently by Dean's side, leaving the redhead to walk slightly behind them. In result of boredom, Charlie swept her gaze around the bunker, silently appraising how much of a medieval castle it looked (it even had a freaking dungeon, for crying out loud!). But as she settled her gaze back ahead, she was surprised to find Dean's hand tucked in the crook of Castiel's elbow, the action seeming almost subconscious as neither men acted any differently in result of contact. Charlie tilted her head, interesting...

Charlie had only been at the bunker for one hour, and Dean and Castiel had touched each other a total of twenty-three times. It was small touches, of course—their shoulders pressed together, their hands "accidentally" brushed against each other's, the ghost of a hand on the small of the other's back, an arm slung around a shoulder—but Charlie knew what all that touching meant, and it sure as hell wasn't friendship-rooted. After all, Dean Winchester wasn't much of a touchy-feely kind of guy, and he was the one that initiated most of the contact. And Cas? Excluding the quick, reluctant hug Charlie attacked him with, the angel hadn't touched anyone else but Dean.

And sure, maybe she could have convinced herself that it was just a weird friendship thing if it weren't for all the eye-sex. Seriously, the very few times they weren't up in each other's grill, they were mentally making out with each other. Those soft, heated glances that were casted when they thought no one else was looking had been enough confirmation that something was going on between the two.

So when they finally agreed to go into the living room to watch a movie (Galaxy Quest—Charlie, Dean, and Cas had won by the majority), Charlie grabbed Dean's wrist and gave him one of those silent "I-need-to-talk-to-you" looks, immediately making the Winchester to come to a complete stop.

"Dean?" Castiel said just at the doorway, tilting his head, "Are you coming?"

Dean gave him a smile, "I'll be there in a minute, okay? Gotta talk to Charlie first." Cas hesitated, casting him a lingering glance, before he eventually nodded and disappeared off to the living room.

"What's wrong?" Dean asked as soon as he was sure everyone else was gone, "You in trouble?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine," Charlie assured him before a coy, knowing smirk spread across her face as she added, "I just wanted to know how long has that been goin' on?"

Dean furrowed his brow, "What's been going on?"

"You know," Charlie said exasperatedly, not sure why he was playing dumb, "How long you been bangin' an angel and not telling me?"

Dean's confused expression soon morphed into horror, "Me and Cas?"

She rolled her eyes, "No, the other handsome angel in the trench coat."

"We're not—we're just friends," Dean declared sternly, turning redder and redder by the second, "Where would you get a ridiculous idea like that?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow as she pointed out, "The touching, Dean? Or how about the staring? Seriously, I've been waiting this whole time for you two to rip each other's clothes off." Dean's mortified, embarrassed expression made a sudden realization dawn on the redhead.

"Wait a minute," She said, squinting her eyes skeptically at him, "Are you telling me you two aren't together?" She was kind enough to leave off the "yet" at the end of the question.

"No!" Dean denied strongly, "Cas is like a brother to me."

"Really?" Charlie said, unable to suppress a snort, "Then how come you don't shoot Sam those steamy looks?"

"You're insane." Dean snapped, spinning around and stalking out of the kitchen. Charlie furrowed her brow at his hostility and followed him out into the living room. Without a word to anyone, Dean flopped down on the couch, glaring stubbornly ahead at the television screen. Castiel—who'd been standing, probably waiting to see where Dean sat—glided over and sat next to Dean a lot closer than necessary, the two practically sharing the same cushion. Though as soon as the angel sat down, Dean abruptly stood up, saying curtly, "Personal space, Dude." Cas looked puzzled and hurt as Dean sat down as far away from him as possible.

Sam and Kevin raised an eyebrow at Dean's behavior but didn't comment on it, instead hooking up the DVD player and popping in the disc.

All throughout the movie, Cas shot Dean confused glances, but the eldest Winchester blatantly ignored him, his cheeks still painted red from his conversation with Charlie.

To be honest, Charlie paid more attention to the thick tension brewing between the two men than the actual movie (which was fine since she practically knew every line by heart). She couldn't help but feel a little guilty—and oddly curious—regarding Dean's sudden cold shoulder treatment.

"Tell me I'm not crazy," Charlie said to Kevin in a low voice as Dean, Sam, and Cas went on a snack raid in the kitchen, "Dean and Cas—they're, like, soul mates, right?"

Kevin snorted, "Yeah, everyone knows that. Well, except Dean and Cas, that is."

"Good," Charlie said with a relieved sigh, "I thought I just royally screwed up a friendship for no reason."

"You say something to Dean about it?" At Charlie nod, Kevin shot her a sympathetic glance, "Let me guess, that's why he's been acting like he has PMS?"

"I didn't know they weren't together already!" She defended herself, "Hell, they kept looking like they wanted to have each other's baby. How was I supposed to know that it was UST instead of just regular ST?"

Kevin sighed, adding, "And he's not going to get over it for a month either. I hinted at it one time—you know, just as a little joke—and he barely even looked at Cas for weeks after that."

"We need to get them together." Charlie declared, causing Kevin to laugh.

"I'm serious," She told him sternly, "This could be, like, our destiny or something."

"I thought my destiny was to be a prophet." He retorted, causing Charlie roll her eyes.

"That's just your day job; this is your real calling," Charlie then leaned to whisper intently, "Now, when they get back here, I want you to flirt with Cas, okay? It'll make Dean jealous."

"Why me?" Kevin complained, "It's your idea—your destiny."

"I like my lovers with boobs," Charlie reminded him, "And Dean knows that; he won't take it seriously if I flirt with him. You, on the other hand…"

"I'm straight," He pointed out stubbornly, "He shouldn't take it seriously when I do it either."

Charlie gave him a skeptical look, "You're straight, huh?"

His eyes narrowed, "What's that supposed to mean—"

"We have Cheetos and grape soda!" Sam announced as the three entered the living room and resumed their spots around the television (they were watching Clockwork Orange now since Cas and Kevin had never seen it, which Sam had deemed an absolute travesty).

Fifteen minute into the movie, Charlie elbowed Kevin in the ribs and motioned at Cas. Kevin rolled his eyes and sighed silently, turning towards the angel and putting on a bright smile, "So, Cas...did it hurt?"

Castiel gave him a confused glance, "Did what hurt, Kevin?" Charlie grinned when she saw Dean stiffen, his gaze locked on the screen though his attention was obviously on their quiet conversation.

Kevin swallowed, blushing slightly as he blurted out, "When you fell from Heaven?"

Sam busted into laughter as Castiel disappeared with a ruffle of wings.

Dean stood up and scowled at Kevin, walking over to smack him in the back of his head, "Nice going, Asshole."

"Where are you going?" Sam asked as Dean stomped down the hall.

"I'm going to see if Cas is alright." Dean told him curtly, giving Kevin another deadly look before he turned and continued on walking.

Once Dean was gone, Charlie smacked Kevin in the back of the head, demanding, "Really, Kevin? You use that line?"

"I'm a sheltered nerd with an overbearing mother, Charlie," Kevin exclaimed, "I'm not good at flirting!"

Charlie just stood up and sighed, "I'm gonna go explain what happened, okay? I'll be back."

When Charlie left, Sam glanced over at Kevin and grinned, prompting Kevin to demand tightly, "What?"

"Nothing," Sam teased, grinning like a madman, "I'm just glad I'm not the most awkward nerd on the team anymore."

Kevin retaliated by chucking a Cheeto at him.

It took Charlie a few minutes before she finally found the right door. It was almost shut with only a crack open, allowing Charlie to lean in and hear what they were saying without being seen.

"...didn't mean it, Cas. It was just a harmless pick-up line." She heard Dean say with a surprising amount of gentleness.

"It sounded like mockery," Cas replied sharply before he sighed, "Maybe I should just leave—"

"No," Dean snapped as Charlie heard a rustle of clothing that hinted at the hunter stubbornly latching onto the trench coat, "You always leave, Cas, and I have no way of knowing when—or more like if you're ever gonna come back."

There was a pause before she heard Cas reply quietly, "Dean, as long as my burrowed heart is beating, I will always return to you. Don't you know that?"

Dean sighed, "I'm not sure of anything anymore."

Cas swallowed hard, replying softly, "I told you once that I did everything for you—fell from grace, turned against my own kind, risked my life however many times you needed. And even now—with everything that has happened between us—all of my actions and decisions in this life stem from my unconditional devotion to you. You may not be sure you trust me, Dean, but you must know that I trust you; that I am loyal to you. You are the only person that had showed me mercy when I deserved punishment, that taught me freedom when all I knew was obedience. I don't serve Heaven or Man, but I do serve you."

"Dammit Cas..." Dean muttered before Charlie heard the bed bounce and lips slap together. Charlie's eyes widen in realization as a soft moan filtered through the door, and she quickly backed away and walked back to the living room.

Sam raised an eyebrow at her, "They doin' okay?"

"I'm pretty sure they're more than okay, Sam." She said, winking at him.

Once her meaning sunk in, Sam let out a relieved sigh, "Well, it's about damn time. You thought tonight was painful? Try living with it for four flippin' years."

Charlie just grinned and sat back down on the couch next to Kevin, saying cheekily, "Let's just keep watching the movie, Guys. They might be in there for awhile."

Three hours later, after Sam and Kevin had already went to their rooms to go to sleep, Dean finally walked into the living room, wincing slightly with every limp step he took. Charlie could only grin at him, "How was it, Dean?"

Dean smirked, "Heavenly."

The two busted into laughter and high-fived.

Author's Note: Stay tuned: next chapter has Gabriel in it (the charming, badass archangel that would really like it if you reviewed, followed, or favorited)!