When Cas woke up, he was lying in the dirt of the alley. The man he had been talking to before was unsurprisingly gone. What could you expect from a drug dealer? At least he didn't want to kidnap him. Not that Cas would've particularly cared at the time. He pushed himself back up to a sitting position against the wall. When he looked up, two policemen were standing at the base of the alley.
"You lost?" One of them asked.
"Not really." Cas answered.
"You got a home, kid?" The other continued.
"Yeah. I do. Why?" Cas replied.
"Well, this isn't a good part of town you know. Sleeping in an alley is normally not something someone chooses to do. So we're just a little confused as to why some random kid would be sleeping in one." The first policeman mused.
"Yeah. Well, I don't have to explain myself to you." Cas stated.
"You know, if you don't have a home, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We see lots of kids like you in these areas. We can take you to the station and they can find you a fo-"
"I have a home." Cas glared at them, standing up and brushing off his clothes.
"Well then what are you doing here?" The second policeman demanded.
"I was just sitting there last night and fell asleep. I didn't choose to sleep there. So if you don't mind, I have somewhere to be." Cas said, walking up the policemen.
"And where's that?" The first man asked.
"Home. Now can I borrow a phone?" Cas answered.
"Make it quick." The man fished his phone out of a pocket and handed it to Cas.
Cas dialed a number quickly and put it up to his ear.
"Who is this?" Gabriel asked.
"It's me." Cas replied.
"Cas? Where are you? Michael heard you leave last night and he is going to be pissed at you when you get home." Gabriel stated.
"He's already pissed at me. I don't think he could get much worse. As for where I am, the ghettos. Speaking of Michael, is he home right now?" Cas asked.
"No. He's going to be out most of the day doing a business deal in New York." Gabriel answered.
"Great. I'll see you when I get home then." Cas said, shutting the phone. "Thank you."
Cas adjusted his coat and began walking back to his house. Eventually, he saw a taxi waiting somewhere. Cas climbed in it.
"Where to, kid?" The driver asked.
"The Novak mansion." Cas replied.
"Okay. It's going to be kind of expensive to get there. This is a ways away." The taxi driver sighed. "Why you need to get there anyways? They don't let people in for tours."
"I live there. I think I can get in. Since when are taxi drivers so concerned in the motives of their clients?" Cas responded.
"I was just curious, kid. No harm meant." The driver stated.
"Yes. I know." Cas said. "Just get there as fast as you can."
The driver nodded and drove to the mansion.
"This is where I get off." The man smirked as they pulled up by the gates of the mansion.
"Actually, I'm the one getting off." Cas replied as he handed some money to the taxi driver.
The man chuckled. "Yeah. Well, good day."
"And you." Cas responded, sliding his access card and unlocking the gate.
Cas entered the house and saw Lucifer sitting at the table.
"Where'd you go last night? You're filthy." Lucifer commented.
"I slept in an alley." Cas grumbled and left it at that, walking up the stairs to his room.
When he opened his door, he saw Dean sloppily leaning against a wall, a half-smile plastered on his face.
"Dean." Cas breathed, running up and hugging him.
Dean chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Cas in reply. Cas started crying into Dean's neck. Dean softly rubbed his back in reply.
"It's okay, Cas." Dean whispered, causing Cas to hug him tighter. "I'm here."
"You look terrible." Cas muttered.
"That's kind of what happens when you're woken up by a text at 1 AM and you run five miles, then climb up six stories of tree." Dean chuckled.
"Oh..." Cas mumbled. "Sorry. You know you didn't have to come all the way out here or you could've slept on my bed."
"Well I wanted to come and I wanted to wait for you." Dean replied.
"I thought you'd never want to see me again." Cas said, looking up at Dean.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to get rid of me." Dean smirked.
"Good." Cas sighed.
"What happened?" Dean asked.
Cas let go of Dean and sat on the bed. Dean sat down next to him and wrapped a comforting arm around his waist. Cas rested his head on Dean's shoulder and placed his arms around Dean's waist.
"In short, Michael knows about us." Cas answered.
"Oh." Dean sighed.
"Yeah." Cas muttered.
"Why are you all dusty? You smell like drugs." Dean stated.
"I slept in an alley and met a drug dealer. I probably fell asleep on him." Cas replied.
Dean burst out laughing. "You're kidding, right?"
"No. I am not." Cas answered. "I ran away and ran so far I was in the ghettos. I saw a dark alley and I went down it. When I was down there, a shady man was talking to me and consoling me. He sat down next me and we talked a bit. He offered me drugs and then I gave him three hundred dollars. All I asked for was to borrow his phone. That's when I texted you. I woke up in the dirt and police officers were asking if I was homeless. So I ran. I got a taxi and I came back here."
"That is..." Dean chuckled. "I have no words. It's nice to know you're friends with a drug dealer though. It's good to have friends in low places."
"He's not my friend." Cas protested.
"Well I have his phone number if you want to be pen pals with him." Dean smirked.
"You're an idiot." Cas smiled. "I don't want to be friends with a drug dealer, Dean."
"Well he was nice wasn't he?" Dean asked.
"Well, yes." Cas answered.
"Then you should make friends. You need to be more social, Cas." Dean pushed.
"Dean. You're telling me to be friends with a drug dealer. Think about this." Cas stated.
"My point still stands. You need friends, Cas. You're anti-social." Dean said.
"I have you. I don't need anyone else." Cas argued.
"I'm flattered Cas, but you don't have me. I have to climb up a tree to see you. You need someone who you can let in your front door." Dean laughed.
Cas pouted. "I do to have you. You're my little bitch."
"I'm nobody's bitch." Dean protested.
"Except for mine." Cas whispered, leaning in and kissing Dean.
"Okay. Maybe yours." Dean teased.
Cas smiled at him and leaned in kissing his neck, Dean's head resting on his shoulder.
"Dean." Cas said softly.
"Yeah?" Dean answered.
"I don't want you to leave." Cas replied.
"Then I won't." Dean stated, wrapping his arms around him.
"Promise?" Cas asked.
"I promise, Cas." Dean whispered, moving his hands up to cup Cas's face, giving him a quick kiss. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good." Cas smiled, resting his forehead against Dean's.
Dean returned his head to Cas's shoulder as Gabriel entered the room.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at Cas. "If Michael knew he was here, he'd kill you both."
"I'd like to see him try." Cas challenged.
"Don't tempt him." Gabriel smirked.
"What'd you want anyways?" Cas asked.
"Lucifer mentioned you'd came home. And that you'd slept in an alley last night." Gabriel answered. "I just wanted to make sure that you were here in one piece and that Luci wasn't holding out on any crucial information."
"I'm fine, Gabriel. I still got a nice, long sleep. It just wasn't very comfortable." Cas replied.
"I don't think sleeping beauty over there could say the same." Gabriel snorted.
Cas turned and looked at Dean who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He smiled as he gently lifted Dean off him and laid him down on the bed.
"I have a gut feeling that you have something to do with his lack of sleep?" Gabriel chuckled.
"I'm not admitting to anything." Cas said.
"Whatever." Gabriel smiled. "Just when Michael murders you both, I won't help bury the bodies. Enjoy the little time you have left."
"Go away." Cas chuckled quietly.
Gabriel smiled as he shut the door to Cas's room. Once he was out, Cas stripped Dean down to his boxers and covered him with the blanket. Cas sat next to Dean on the bed and ran his fingers through Dean's hair. After a moment, Cas slunk down so he was laying next to Dean and wrapped his arms around him.
"Lucifer." Michael entered the house. "Have you heard from Castiel?"
"Yes actually. He came home around ten this morning." Lucifer answered.
"I suppose I should have a talk with him then." Michael mused before turning to the stairway. "Castiel!"
Cas groaned as he heard Michael call his name, just barely hearable from upstairs. He slowly unwrapped his arms from Dean and exited his room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
"Yes, Michael." Cas said as he approached the base of the stairs.
"My office. Now." Michael ordered.
"You aren't the boss of me." Cas replied.
"Yes I am." Michael grabbed Cas's wrist and dragged him off to his office, slamming the door behind them. Michael stood in front of the door making it impossible for Cas to leave until he said so. "That Dean was a terrible influence on you, Castiel. Before you met him you respected and obeyed me without question. Look what's happened to you."
"Yes, Michael. Look at what has happened to me. I've begun thinking for myself and stopped being scared to do what I want instead of what others want for a change. I've become independent. I've started taking interest in things I want to do and not things you want me to do. So shoot me for being a human being." Cas stated. "And I've never respected you, Michael. Never."
Michael scowled at him. "No, Castiel. You haven't become independent. You've become rebellious and unruly. Think back to a few months ago. You're life was fine. You were a hardworking student who had his priorities straight. You obeyed me and your elders. You knew your responsibilities. Now look at you. You're a mess."
"Maybe I am." Cas shrugged.
"Yes, Castiel. You are. Someone liked you sneaking out of the house normally means that you're a complete mess." Michael growled.
"I wasn't sneaking out. Sneaking would imply that I was doing it carefully and stealthily, having it premeditated as to not be caught by you. I was running, Michael. I didn't care if you saw me. I knew the gate would wake you up. I didn't care. I just wanted out. I was acting in, as Dean would say, the heat of the moment." Cas replied.
"Straighten up your attitude right now or I'll stop giving you money." Michael ordered.
"I don't care." Cas smiled smugly. "Your money means nothing to me."
"Maybe not, but still. Like I said, your life was so much better before. Don't you want that again, Castiel?" Michael asked.
"You know what? On some levels you're right. Before, I was a perfect student. I had great grades and did anything and everything I was told. Not to mention that you are constantly giving Gabriel and I money. I was a machine before. I'd give all the riches we have up in an instant. Because now I have something that's so much better than any material thing you could give me. I love someone." Cas replied.
"It's not love, Castiel. It's not even lust. And you know why? Becuase Dean do-"
"Yeah, Michael. I know. Dean doesn't love me. Dean doesn't care about me. Dean only wants you. Dean only wants the money." Cas said in a mocking tone.
"You know it's true, Castiel. You're just not thinking straight. You're letting his false charm and pretend care blind your judgement." Michael stated.
"No. I'm not. You're the blind one. You've never loved a person in your life. How would you know what love looks like? Not everyone cares about money and riches. Sometimes the best things are the things that are part of you and if they're lost, you'd be lost, too." Cas protested.
"So is that were you went last night? To be with Dean? To be with the thing you'd be lost without?" Michael scowled.
"No. I just ran, but you are correct. I would be lost without Dean. He taught me so much. He taught me things that even hundreds of years of schooling couldn't teach me." Cas answered.
"You ran? Where to?" Michael asked.
"I don't know. It was around 17th street. I know that. I found a dark alley and I went down it. That's where I was all night if you must know. I slept in a dark alley." Cas stated, almost proudly.
Michael's face contorted to one of utter disgust. "Castiel. That's a terrible part of town. And were you asking to get shot? You just thought it'd be fun to have a pity party in an alley in a part of town full of people who wouldn't think twice to take all your credit cards and money?"
"Obviously you wouldn't care if they took my life, but God forbid that they take a couple credit cards." Cas rolled his eyes. "Now I've answered all your questions. I wish to leave."
"Well you can't. Not yet. You have to do two things for me." Michael replied.
"What?" Cas sighed.
"First thing. Stop talking to Dean. He's terrible for you. I don't care if he's the richest man in the world at this point, Castiel. Anyone who causes you to go against your own family is a man born of hell, created for chaos." Michael ordered.
"Not going to happen. And very poetic by the way." Cas smirked. "Second?"
"Second of all. Turn off this damned phone!" Michael threw Cas's phone in his lap. "You were getting text messages all day yesterday and I couldn't work at all."
Cas smiled as he saw all the texts were from Dean asking if he was alright and if everything was okay. The texts went on all day long. Cas chuckled as he turned the volume off on the phone and handed it back to Michael, who locked it in a drawer.
"We're through here." Cas stated.
"I believe I'm calling the shots here." Michael replied.
"And I believe that I don't care." Cas sassed. "And obviously I'm not agreeing to your first term, so you can stop trying. All the threats and punishment in the world couldn't make me agree to that."
Michael huffed in annoyance as he violently opened the door. "Get out. And you should ask for repentance for your sins, Castiel. You are flawed and impure."
"Trust me when I say that you're the most impure out of all of us, Michael." Cas glared at him, then turned around, flipping him off as he walked back up the stairs.
It was midnight when Dean finally woke up.
"Cas." Dean said quietly. "Cas get up."
"Go away." Cas grumbled.
"If that's what you want..." Dean muttered.
"No." Cas grabbed Dean's hand and pulled it close. "You can't. You promised."
"I'm kidding Cas. Chill." Dean smiled. "Just get up."
"Why? What's wrong?" Cas asked.
"Nothing. Just pack your bags." Dean said.
"What? Why?" Cas mumbled.
"We're going on a road trip." Dean chimed.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Cas turned to face him.
"Just pack. Trust me." Dean swung his legs off the bed.
"Tell me where you're taking me." Cas demanded.
"It's a surprise. You can sleep in the car." Dean replied.
"I'm trusting that you're not going to kidnap or murder me, okay?" Cas smirked.
"No promises." Dean winked. "Don't pack too cold. It's a bit warmer where we're headed."
"Hell? I'm pretty sure we're both going there." Cas snorted.
"I'm going there and when you're an angel up in heaven, I'll annoy you until you come save my sorry ass." Dean smiled.
"Unless you stab or murder me. That's a deal breaker." Cas remarked.
"Oh, darn." Dean sighed. I was really hoping I could stab you eleven times sometime."
"That's not even funny, Dean." Cas glared at him.
"I thought it was." Dean muttered.
"You're not the one who got stabbed by the first person they had sex with." Cas retorted.
"You're so touchy." Dean mumbled.
"Well when someone wakes me up at midnight telling me he's going to kidnap me to some unknown place, I'm going to be a little grumpy." Cas smirked.
"I'm not kidnapping you. Feel free to be boring and butthurt and say no." Dean teased.
"Oh I'm going. I'll just never admit that I want to." Cas stated.
"That's my boy." Dean slapped Cas on the ass as he walked out onto the balcony. "Oh. And leave a note saying you'll be back in a week."
"A week?" Cas scoffed.
"Yeah. It's normally an 18 hour drive, but since I have a tendency to break a lot of speed limits, we can make it in 13 or 14. You can sleep on the way there. I'll just load up on coffee." Dean smiled.
Cas sighed as he followed Dean out onto his balcony. "Michael's going to kill you for making me miss school, you know?"
"Well, I'll see you in hell then." Dean said.
"I'm not kidding. If Michael knows that you are behind this, he will hire a fucking ninja to painfully slice you with shurikens until you die. He hates you enough already. You're playing with fire." Cas glared at him.
"Well I guess I better get used to playing with fire, since I'll be playing with a lot of it when I die." Dean laughed.
"Don't say that. I won't let you go to hell. I'll handcuff you to me when I die so you'll get dragged up to heaven." Cas protested.
"Or we'll both get sucked into the pits of hell." Dean replied.
"Shut up and climb down the tree already." Cas ordered, shutting his doors, dropping the note on the floor inside. "What about my suitcases?"
"Give them to me." Dean said.
"You can't carry these down a tree!" Cas exclaimed.
"Or you can walk out the front door and get caught by Michael and watch him slice me with shurikens." Dean laughed.
"I hate you." Cas mumbled as he handed Dean the first suitcase. "Be careful with those."
"I see how it is. Don't drop the suitcase, but it's fine if you break your arm in the process." Dean smirked.
Cas shook his head in disappointment as Dean quickly scampered down the tree, returning for Cas's other suitcase.
Cas climbed into the Impala and reclined the seat.
"Get some sleep." Dean smiled, turning on the radio.
"Do you honestly expect me to sleep with that racket on?" Cas scoffed.
"Racket?" Dean asked. "This stuff is awesome!"
Dean turned up the Black Sabbath playing from the stereo. "Listen to some stupid indie shit on your iPod or whatever it is you listen to."
"Just know that if I don't sleep, you're going to have a very cranky Castiel on your hands." Cas glared at him.
Dean quickly turned down the radio to a quiet volume. "Nighty night."
Cas smiled smugly. "That's what I thought."
A/N: I am literally uploading this from a hospital bed. ugh. But hey, finishing this chapter helped me pass the two hours I've been in here. Which sadly, brings me to my point. I am mega sorry if I don't get that many uploads in for the next few weeks because I've been having really bad shoulder pain and the doctor thinks I have a rotator cuff tear. And I've had this sling on for all of ten minutes and I already want to burn this thing. I mean, you really take your arm for granted when you can't have it. So, I'm all hunched over my laptop looking like a weirdo, which hurts my back. So it becomes a vicious cycle of back and shoulder pain. So, I'm probably going to need to take lots of breaks and slow down my typing, BUT I WILL NOT STOP WRITING BECAUSE OF COURSE WRITING MY STORIES COMES BEFORE HEALTH. So, sorry if I take a while to upload in short. :P