Day Nine: Hanging With Friends

Dean and Cas waited eagerly for Merlin and Arthur's arrival. They had called to say they would be running late. Merlin said something about PDA and old ladies.

Dean double checked everything; the TV was ready for camera hook up, the chips had been set out, and the drinks were on ice. He sat back and admired his work.

Dean heard the shower shut off and Cas pull back the curtain. A minute later he came out; a towel wrapped loosely around his hips.

"Everything set up?" He asked, searching the room. His wet hair stood up at odd angles and water glistened on his skin.

"I think so. The TV was a bitch to hook up, though; we need to label those wires or something."

Cas wandered over to the couch. He leaned over the back, his face inches from Dean's. Dean looked over and admired the angel's profile. His bottom lip was between his teeth as he examined the TV set up. Dean wished he would stop squinting so he could see his eyes. Dean loved Cas' blue eyes. The way they shown bright when he smiled or laughed, or how they pierced him through to his soul when Cas was angry. The best was when they would soften when Dean kissed him.

A few droplets of water fell on Dean's shoulder and his eyes flicked up to Cas' hair. The smell of his shampoo wafted over to Dean whenever Cas moved. "You're dripping."

Cas turned his head to look at Dean, "I'm sorry?"

"Your hair, you're getting me wet."

Cas turned his head and squinted at Dean. His eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe as he looked up at his hair. His eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. "Oops."

Dean chuckled and grabbed Cas' chin. He pulled him in for a long, lazy kiss. As much as Dean liked some stubble on Cas, his clean shaven face was amazing to touch; so soft and smooth. He gave Cas a few quick pecks before ruffling his hair, sending water droplets everywhere.

Cas laughed as he pushed himself off the couch, "We'll finish this later to celebrate my win," he said as he ran a hand through Dean's hair.

Dean turned to throw a pillow at Cas, who ducked it and stuck his tongue out. He rushed to his room before Dean could throw another pillow.

Merlin and Arthur arrived ten minutes later, carrying grocery bags filled with everything to make the perfect burger.

"Awesome, thanks guys," Dean said as he took the raw patties from Arthur. He went out to their little balcony where he had a small grill. As he started it up, Cas came out of the room wearing jeans and one of Dean's black t-shirts.

He helped Merlin cut up the tomatoes while Arthur cut the watermelon. He noticed Merlin and Arthur exchange affectionate glances.

"Hey, so what's the story about an old lady at the store?" He asked, slipping back inside.

Merlin's ears went red and Arthur ducked his head to smile.

"Well, Arthur over here decided to make innuendos which got us dirty looks from this old lady," Merlin said.

Arthur pointed a finger at Merlin, "Yes, but you were the one who said you wouldn't give me a hand job for a whole week." Dean choked on his beer.

"Little did we know, the old lady was behind us, again-"

"That's when she said we should just tell the world we're fucking," Arthur said, dumping a pile of cut up watermelon in a bowl.

Cas was laughing so hard he had to use the counter to hold himself up, "She actually said that?"

Merlin nodded, "Unfortunately, yes."

Dean went back out to finish the burgers, still smiling from their story.

Once the burgers were finished and everyone had made a plate, they sat around the TV, ready to embarrass the hell out of each other.

"I say we go down the list and compare evidence for each task and then compare the team as a whole, sound good?"

Everyone nodded, their mouths full of food.

Dean hooked up Merlin's camera to the TV first. Both teams had taken a picture of the first task. Merlin and Cas' picture showed them in a candy shop. Cas was crouched down his bow and arrow pointing away from Merlin, like he was keeping watch. Merlin had his wand out pointing towards a bowl of sour lollipops. He appeared to be casting a spell to extract a lollipop from the jar.

Dean and Arthur's picture showed Dean hiding in the bushes, Arthur above him in a tree, holding his wand out. Between them in the air was a small parachute, carrying the lollipop down to Dean.

"Oh my god, no way. Your lollipop is from your 'sponsor'. Damn, that's good. I think you guys won that one," Merlin said, taking a bite of his burger.

Dean and Arthur high-fived; for they were victorious in task one.

Both teams did pictures for numbers two and three. The pictures were identical, both teams took pictures of their characters playing basketball and holding their weapons up to save Big Ben. They tied for those two tasks.

Task four produced a video from both teams; finding platform 9 ¾.

Dean and Arthur's video was up first.

Arthur's character, Neville, strolled into the picture. He looked around making sure no one was watching. He ran towards the brick wall, and they must've paused it to make the illusion that Arthur had simply vanished. Dean's character, Peeta, came into the picture, frantically looking for Neville. "Neville! Neville, not like this man, we've almost won! Neville!" People started walking by and Dean crouched against the brick wall, pretending to hide. The people passing by stared at him like he was crazy. Some whispered and other's laughed. Dean leaned against the brick wall and vanished, his scream cut off by the pause.

Merlin and Cas were rolling with laughter, "Shit guys," Merlin said, "That was brilliant." He wiped a tear from his eye.

"Yeah, yeah, let's see yours." Dean plugged in Merlin's camera. The same platform, but at a different angle, popped up on the screen. Merlin's character, Draco, came frantically running into view his wand out and aimed at the wall. Then all of a sudden, a girl dressed in black robes and wearing a mask, came out from behind the wall, firing spells at Merlin. "Everte Statum!" She yelled, but Merlin brandished his wand and shouted "Expelliarmus!" before the girl's 'spell' hit Merlin. "You're not taking over Hogwarts this time!" Merlin yelled. Another person cloaked in black came out from behind the wall. Merlin looked frightened before he turned back and yelled over his shoulder, "Kat!" Cas literally rolled into the frame, his bow pointing straight at the opponents as he stood up from his summersault. He let an arrow go and it hit the girl's friend in the stomach and he fell over. While the girl screamed for her friend, Merlin fired "Stupefy!" at her and she dropped to the ground. Merlin and Cas ran towards the wall, doing the same trick with the camera. Merlin disappeared first. Cas took a few sweeps of their surroundings with his bow and arrow before disappearing.

Arthur and Dean sat stunned, while Merlin and Cas rambled on about how epic that was.

Dean threw his hands up, "I'm done, that was awesome. You guys got that one." Merlin and Cas pumped their fist into the air while Dean prepared the evidence for the next task.

"Guys, hey, guys!" Dean threw the pillow he was sitting on at Merlin and Cas, "It's the pub one."

All four of them exchanged glances; this one ought to be good.

Dean put his camera on first. His face came into view and he looked horrified. "I am not getting on the table, Merlin!" He hissed to the camera. You could hear Merlin laugh and his hand came into view, giving Dean's shoulder a shove, "Come on, Peeta, show us your moves!" Dean looked mortified.

Cas sat on the couch covering his mouth, trying not to let his laughter escape his mouth. All four of them were in the pub that night, so they knew what was coming.

Back on the video, Dean rolled his eyes, "I can't sing!" Cas' voice could be heard in the background, "Bullshit, Dean, you sing all the time!" Dean threw up the middle finger to an invisible Cas. He growled, looked down at his feet, and then back up at the camera, "Fine!" He walked over to the table in the middle of the pub. He motioned for the bartender to turn down the music. Dean jumped up on the table. He rubbed his hands on his pants. He cleared his throat, "Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way!" Merlin chuckled behind the camera, "Louder, Peeta!" Dean shot him a look. Some people had swiveled in their chairs to look at Dean. He seemed to get some boost of confidence. He did a small bow, "Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay!" He stood up straight and held out his arms. People began to cheer and put their glasses of beer up in the air. Dean finished his half song, half speech of Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On". It was one of Dean's favorites, and he knew every word by heart. Arthur only knew the chorus. When Dean finally got to the chorus, Arthur joined him on the table. The other people in the pub had now stood around the table, ready to sing along. The mood in the pub had gone from calm to concert riot in seconds. Arthur and Dean had gotten hold of some beer and they were swinging it along with their singing. When their singing was finished everyone applauded and cheered. Dean and Arthur took their bows. Arthur pointed at the camera, "Your turn!" The camera shut off.

"That was fantastic! You guys actually sounded pretty good," Merlin said. At some point during the video, Merlin had moved over to sit on the arm of Arthur's chair; Arthur's arm wrapped around Merlin's waist.

Dean could feel his cheeks turning red. He plugged in Merlin's camera, "Thanks, but we can't judge yet, it's your turn." Dean hit play.

Merlin and Cas were already on the table, getting the crowd worked up. The song they chose was an easy one for Cas to learn in ten minutes. It was the West Ham United's song, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles". Everyone in the pub was singing along with them, even Dean and Arthur. "I'm forever blowing bubbles! Pretty bubbles in the air!" Cas' drink slopped out of his cup as he thrust it into the air. "They fly so high, nearly reach the sky! And like my dreams, they fade and die!"

As Dean watched the video, he recalled how Cas was more nervous than he was to do this. Dean had to actually help him onto the table he was shaking so bad. Watching the video now, you would've never guessed it.

Because their song was so short, Merlin and Cas had sung it three times, getting louder and louder each time. They received an ear splitting roar from the crowd when they jumped off the table, hands thumping their backs. Arthur let the video roll and followed Cas as he pushed his way through the crowd. "Dean! Dean!" He yelled. Dean came into view from the side and Cas ran into his arms, their lips locking instantly.

"Oh my God…you taped that?" Cas sunk into the sofa covering his face with embarrassment. Merlin and Arthur chuckled.

"Sorry mate, couldn't resist," Arthur said. Dean looked back at the video and watched as he and Cas grabbed at each other's hair and clothes, holding onto anything they could. Dean's heart fluttered as Cas pulled away from the kiss on the screen.

"I love you!" Cas yelled over the crowd. Dean's face lit up on the camera and his smile widened. "I love you, too!"

The video stopped, showing a still of Dean and Cas leaning their foreheads together, both smiling like idiots.

Dean couldn't bring himself to look at Merlin and Arthur. He only had eyes for Cas, who was looking at Dean through his fingers, his hands still covering his red face.

"If you and Cas were a team, I would've said you guys won, but I'm gunna have to say Merlin and Cas got that one," Arthur said.

Dean nodded, "I agree," he was still looking at Cas, who had a big smile on behind his hands. He finally pulled them away and rubbed them on his jeans.

"Alright, next one!" He said.

The next two were videos and again very similar in how they were done. Merlin and Cas had gotten a group of teens to do the three finger salute with them, while Dean and Arthur had gotten a group of old people. That one was given to Dean and Arthur, somehow they got one of the old people to shed a tear or two for the video.

"That's what happens when you show your face, Arthur, you make old people cry." While Merlin and Arthur had a tussle on the couch, Dean put on the next video; the pokeball fight.

Merlin and Cas' video showed them battling it out and dodging a car, but they went right on battling as if nothing happened. Arthur and Dean's weren't as extravagant and showy, so they lost that one.

Cas bounced on the couch, "We're in the lead!" Merlin joined him on the couch, giving Cas a high-five.

The pictures of London's very own Barad-dûr, were once again similar; both showing the two teams shielding themselves from the 'eye'.

"Man, we are so not a creative group of people," Arthur mumbled through a mouthful of chips.

"Wait, are there only two more?" Cas asked.

Dean nodded, "The horcrux and the Mockingjay symbol."

Cas counted in his head, "We're tied."

Merlin stared at Cas as if this were a life or death situation, "These two will determine who wins…"

Dean and Arthur exchanged glances, "Oi, you bet laundry and massages, not your lives, calm down." Arthur threw a pillow at Merlin's head.

It was true, it wasn't life or death, but there was still excitement and tension in the air as Dean played Merlin and Cas' horcrux video.

They strolled into an antique shop looking mysterious and serious. (Arthur and Dean laughed at them trying to be sly in the video, which earned them both a face full of pillow). Merlin walked up to the old man behind the counter. "Hello, I'm looking for an item. An heir loom of an old family." The old man looked down at a piece of paper. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy."

"You gave him a script?" Arthur screeched.

"Yeah, he was totally into it!" Merlin replied.

Arthur and Dean growled in annoyance, "It's okay Arthur, I think we got them on this." He gave Arthur a wink, and the two boys on the couch looked a tad bit worried.

"I think I have just the thing you're looking for." The old man ducked behind the counter and pulled out an old tattered diary. There were stains on the cover, and the pages were yellowed with age. "I hope this suits your needs." Cas took the diary from the man and inspected it. He flipped through the pages. A few of the pages in the front had writing, but the rest was empty. "It's perfect Mr. Borgin. How much?" The old man held it out to inspect it. "For you good sir, five galleons." Cas pulled money out of his pocket and gave it to the man.

"I hope you got your money back," Dean said. When he didn't hear a response he looked to Cas, who was, yet again, red in the face again and chewing on his bottom lip. "You didn't. You didn't get your money back? Merlin, why didn't you remind him?"

Merlin held up his hands in defense, "Hey, don't look at me, he actually wanted to buy the thing."

Dean stared at Cas, "You bought it?"

Cas shrugged, "Yes, it was my money so I bought it…plus it had interesting entries and I have an idea of what I want to use it for."

Dean sighed, "Alright." He still thought it was a stupid idea to buy an old, already used, diary.

The rest of their video was the old man putting it in a brown bag, and Merlin and Cas leaving.

Dean put in his camera and Arthur sat up rubbing his hands together, excited for what was next.

The video started by taping what seemed like bushes and flowers, but a closer look showed Dean hiding in the overgrown hedges. The camera zoomed in and Dean held a finger to his mouth, making a shushing sound. "Where is it?" Arthur whispered. Dean pointed, "I found her." The camera followed Dean's finger. Beneath a bush was a snake; a breathing, living, slithering snake.

"Holy…shit," Merlin breathed.

"You-you found a real snake?" Cas asked, mesmerized by the creature on the screen.

Dean and Arthur just smirked and turned back to the video.

Dean was now crouching close to the snake. (The tension in the room to see what happened next, hung heavy in the air). The video was silent…and then it happened all at once, the snake slithered fast towards Dean, who yelled and fell back. The camera shook as Arthur fell back with him. Dean was scurrying away, but the snake chased after him. "Sonofabitch, Arth-I mean Neville, do something!" Arthur's wand came into view and he yelled "Um, um, crucio! Diffindo! Expelliarmus!" "No! A REAL something you idiot!" The snake was no longer advancing on Dean, but it had him cornered against a tree. Dean was breathing heavy and he didn't take his eyes off the snake. They were still, "I-I don't know what to do. Try moving." Dean moved his foot and the snake hissed, "Jesus!" He clutched his chest. "This paint sucks! It's not doing its job! Katniss!" At this point Arthur was laughing hysterically behind the camera. "Yeah, thanks buddy, just laugh at me while Voldemort's friggin snake stalks me!" "Try parseltongue, maybe you'll tell it to leave you alone." "Or maybe I'll end up telling it I'm a juicy piece of ass that he'd love to sink its teeth into!" "Just try it!" Dean licked his lips and looked into the camera, "If I die, I blame you. Gryffindor my ass." Dean made hissing noises. "Holy shit, De-Peeta, you made it move…" The snake had slithered away. Dean and Arthur scurried away from the bushes. The camera pointed at Dean who looked like he just witnessed a miracle. He looked into the camera and the biggest smile spread across his face. The camera shut off.

The room was silent. Dean and Arthur looked to Merlin and Cas, losing it at their faces. Cas looked horrified, while Merlin's mouth formed a perfect 'o'.

"Fuck," Merlin finally said.

Cas looked at Dean, "What if that bit you?"

Dean just laughed him off, "Well, it didn't and if you don't mind boys, I say we won that one."

Merlin and Cas threw up their hands in frustration, "Okay, but there's still one more, and it's possible we could tie!" Cas pointed out.

"Fine, fine, what did you guys do? A picture or video?"

"Picture," Merlin said.

'Us too, Dean, if you would kindly bring up the pictures."

They waited in anticipation for Merlin and Cas' picture to load. The two boys leaned forward on the couch, waiting.

Finally it popped up.

It was a picture of a caricature artist drawing the last details of the Mockingjay symbol on a white canvas. Merlin and Cas sat in the chairs behind the canvas, posing, "oblivious" to the fact that the artist wasn't drawing them.

"Clever! Nice one guys," Arthur said.

"It was Cas' idea actually. He saw them drawing and he got all excited and told me his idea. Brilliant mate."

Cas smiled, "Thanks, what did you guys do?"

Dean hooked up his camera, he looked back at Arthur and smiled.

Their picture came up.

It was a group picture of elementary school kids with Dean and Arthur. They stood in the middle of the group; Arthur had a little boy on his back both of them holding out their 'wands' towards the camera. Dean had a little girl with blonde, curly hair on his shoulders, both of them with flowers in their hair, "camouflaged". About ten more kids piled around them, all of them with huge smiles and either holding wands or sporting camouflage. Every kid, including Arthur and Dean, wore different colored t-shirts; the Mockingjay symbol hand drawn on every t-shirt.

"Damn, kids? Really?" Merlin said, exasperated.

Cas shook his head, "You can't beat kids."

"How did you get them to do that?" Merlin asked.

Arthur shrugged, "We were desperate for this one. This was after the snake incident. We were sitting on a bench and some kids came over, the little boy on my back and the girl on Dean's shoulders."

"The girl loved my camouflage and the boy wanted to duel with Arthur. So, Arthur actually got up and dueled with him and the girl made flower crowns with me. That's when they asked what we were doing," Dean continued.

"So we told them and they offered to help. They introduced us to their, I don't know what they were, tutors, teachers, something, anyway, they were all going to make t-shirts in the park with whatever they wanted and they agreed to make the Mockingjay symbol," Arthur finished.

Merlin and Cas were stunned, not only because they lost the nerd competition, but because they were shocked that their boyfriends, who didn't want to do this in the first place, came up with such a brilliant idea.

Dean cleared his throat, "So, um, looks like you guys owe us a week's worth of full body massages and laundry…"

Arthur laughed into his hand.

Merlin and Cas gave each other defeated looks, then looked at their boyfriends. Dean and Arthur grinned wide, loving every minute of their victory.