Gabriel couldn't help himself. It was almost on auto-pilot that he rose, got dressed, grabbed his car keys and snuck out of Sam's apartment. Everything that had happened yesterday was running through his mind with clarity, and he had no excuses for what he had let occur. There had been no alcohol or dugs involved to induce them to have sex, but yet, they had. Panic constricted Gabriel's chest. 'I always wanted him, but fuck! He's Dean's brother…jesus, what have I done?' was all Gabriel could think as he shoved the key in the ignition, started up the engine and drove away. He was ridiculously early, but he couldn't stay in Sam's apartment, that was for sure. 'Okay, he was just upset. That was the only reason. I'm sure he realizes just as much as I do, that it was a mistake.' Gabriel thought to himself, parking outside Cup-A-Cabana.
'Shit, shit, shit.' Gabriel repeated in his mind like a mantra as he walked inside, doing everything he could to appear normal. He flashed Dean a smile that made his face hurt. And his best buddy could see it. Dean stared at Gabriel suspiciously, but said nothing. Instead he glanced at his phone. Gabriel, glad for the fact that his friend was just as distracted as he was, crept to the backroom to get at some much-needed candy.
Dean unlocked his phone with a secret smile to a message from Castiel.
'I went to the museum. How is work?'
'Barely started.' Dean typed furiously. 'Gabe still in same clothes as ytd.'
Dean had just flipped the sign when he got a text from Castiel. 'He did not come home last night.'
'Guess some1 got laid' Dean chuckled as he typed. 'Gtg Cas, working.'
The reply was instantaneous this time. 'Have a good day Dean.'
Dean smiled and shoved his phone in his pocket as he greeted the first of his customers. He was sure it'd be a good day.
Gabriel started on some chocolates he'd been working on in the kitchen in an effort to dispel all thoughts of last night from his muddled brain.
"Hey." Dean popped his head in, casually.
"Hi." Gabriel answered like his head wasn't throbbing with all the thinking he'd been doing.
"So…" Dean pretended to study his nails. "Got laid last night huh?"
"What?" Gabriel's voice came out an octave higher than he meant it to.
"C'mon dude, you act like I'm an idiot." Dean half scowled, half smirked. "You're still in the same clothes as yesterday and you have some major sex hair."
"What can I say?" Gabriel managed. "I'm a sexy beast." He added with a wan smile.
Dean narrowed his eyes. "What's up with you man?"
"What do you mean…?" Gabriel asked, as he piped a tiny squiggle onto a chocolate truffle.
"Dude, we've been best friends for three years and every time you get a hook up, you describe it to me in painful detail. But this time, nothing." Dean raised his eyebrows at Gabriel, arms folded over his chest.
Gabriel put down the piping bag, and braced himself on the counter.
"Someone special?" Dean guessed tentatively.
Gabriel's shoulders tensed. "No."
"Gabe…"
"Don't Dean."
"I know ever since Michael, you've never been-"
Gabriel turned on him, eyes flashing. "No, Dean, you don't know. You don't know anything about Michael. I loved that man. Do you have any idea how painful it was when all I wanted to do was make it better and he just pushed me away? Like I meant nothing to him?"
"Gabe…" Dean's chest tightened. He'd never seen Gabriel this angry before.
"I gotta get this done." Gabriel muttered as he picked up his piping bag.
7 Missed Calls from: Dean
Sam's phone flashed. Blearily, Sam pulled himself out of bed, and dialed Dean's number.
"Sammy?"
"Hey Dean." Sam's voice sounded harsh and scratchy with fatigue.
"You didn't come in today Sam." Dean sounded concerned.
"I called in sick from the school." Sam told him.
"What? Why?" Dean asked.
"I'll tell you later, when I come by." Sam rubbed his eyes. He wasn't looking forward to seeing Gabriel.
"Sure, Sammy. I got a hot cocoa with extra marshmallows with your name on it."
"Thanks Dean." Sam whispered, before hanging up. Groaning he checked the time. 3PM. Christ, he'd been sleeping for half the day.
An hour later, he got himself to Cup-A-Cabana and walked in, feeling his heart sink as he laid eyes on a familiar face, one he'd kissed, framed with honey like hair that he'd run his fingers through. Sam almost felt physically sick. Ignoring Gabriel, he turned to Dean. "Balthazar was cheating on me with a student. I caught them together."
Dean's face fell. "I'm so sorry Sammy."
"I'll resign before the new school year starts. Today was the last day anyway."
Dean frowned. "You can't let him make you quit like that Sam."
"I can't stay there, Dean, you know that." Sam sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. It's already decided."
"Couldn't you report him to the board for having an affair with a student?" Dean suggested.
"What good would that do, Dean?" Sam snapped. "I'll probably have to quit anyway. He's got the board wrapped around his finger. Teacher-principal relationships aren't permitted either. If I show him up, he'll admit to having had a relationship with me too. Then I'm screwed out of any jobs in schools."
Dean passed him a hot cocoa wordlessly. Moodily, Sam fished out the marshmallows and ate them, one by one, refusing to even look at Gabriel, who was uncharacteristically quiet.
"Jesus!" Dean exclaimed. "What the hell is the matter with you two?"
Sam gave silent thanks that his brother was the more unobservant of the Winchesters.
At 6PM Gabriel walked out of the café. Having thought it over for the two hours he was sitting there, Sam had decided to confront Gabriel.
He waited until Gabriel was safely out of the view of the café windows, then rushed out after him. It was drizzling lightly, and Gabriel had a blue knitted scarf wrapped around his neck, billowing in the biting wind. Sam called after him and he turned slowly. Sam pushed his hands into his coat pockets when he reached him, his breath coming out in wisps. "Why'd you leave?"
Gabriel heaved a breathy sigh. "I don't do relationships Sam."
"That doesn't mean you had to leave." Sam hissed, wanting very badly to punch Gabriel.
"Sam, I know you want a relationship, and I'm not going to be able to provide for that. It's better this way." Gabriel turned to leave, but Sam grabbed his hand.
"I don't want a relationship either. For once, I just want to feel pleasure, without any pain." Sam's voice cracked slightly.
Gabriel's forehead creased. "You understand that I cannot offer anything in the way of a real relationship. No breakfast, no dates, no emotional stability. Just sex."
Sam nodded. "That's what I want."
Sam didn't waste another moment on speech. Leaning in, one hand clutching Gabriel's collar and another hand on the back of Gabriel's head, he kissed him, and Gabriel kissed him back. Sam stopped thinking.
Before Dean knew it, three weeks had slipped by, and he and Castiel were getting on amazingly well. Dean found the other man did not judge him no matter what he said or did, and that was refreshing to Dean, who was used to being judged his whole life.
It was pouring outside, one of those torrential downpours that winter in SF always brought. The café was empty save for him and Castiel. Knowing he'd have no customers until the rain held up, Dean collapsed in the chair beside Castiel, who put down the book he'd been reading with a slight smile.
"Hey there, Cas."
"Hello, Dean." Dean shot Castiel a goofy smile. Nearly a month into knowing him, the fuzziness just wasn't letting up.
"You want anything Cas?"
Castiel did not reply for a moment, only cocked his head to the side and gave Dean a thoughtful look. "Actually…"
"Yeah?" Dean asked, trying not to sound too eager to give Cas something.
Castiel blushed. "You may consider this an odd request."
Dean shook his head. "Ask anyway."
"My father used to have this special recipe for hot cocoa and well, I was hoping you might make it for me. I haven't tasted it in years, ever since Michael left to live in Florida."
"Why don't you just make it yourself, if you know the recipe?"
Castiel cleared his throat, the flush spreading from his cheeks all the way down his neck. "Well you see, I am rather inept at anything to do with cooking."
Laughter bubbled up, and Dean laughed at the image of Castiel burning his kitchen down trying to make a simple cup of hot cocoa.
Looking up, Dean realized he was making Castiel feel self conscious. The other man was looking down awkwardly like he was ashamed. Covering Castiel's hand with his own, Dean smiled gently. "I just think it's cute Cas." Castiel returned Dean's smile with one of the small, shy ones that Dean loved.
'Holy shit, I'm so going gay for this guy.' Dean thought to himself in surprise. 'Oh well. Better Cas than anyone else right?'
He led Castiel behind the counter and gathered up the ingredients as per Castiel's instructions.
"Okay, Cas, we've got candy mints, whipped cream, semi-sweet chocolate, peppermint candy canes and hot cocoa." Dean stared down at the myriad of stuff he'd never imagined putting in hot cocoa. "I'm guessing we just mix this all together?" As Castiel looked on, Dean put 20 tiny candy mints into a plastic bag and crushed them. He added whipped cream to the hot cocoa and sprinkled the crushed mints over it as Castiel instructed. Next, Dean grated the semi sweet chocolate over the hot cocoa. As decoration, Dean popped in a multicoloured candy cane, and gave it a stir. "There we go." He watched Castiel as he took his first sip.
"Dean." Castiel said his name like it was a revelation, as he looked up, the whipped cream dotted with little blue candy bits clung to his upper lip.
"Is it good?" Dean asked, nervously.
"Just like how Dad used to make it." Castiel sighed, taking another long sip. Dean smiled at his cream-stache.
"He committed suicide." Castiel said softly. "There was too much debt after my mother died. He couldn't take it. Michael raised me after. He dropped out of school and worked two jobs, trying to provide for me. I'm glad he's happy now."
"What's he doing?" Dean asked quietly. Castiel took another swig before replying.
"He works as an IT professional in Florida. He settled down with his partner Raphael there. As I understand from our last conversation, they will be adopting a child soon." Castiel's eyes lit up with pride. "I will be an uncle soon."
Dean smiled, feeling his heart expand and swell in his chest. He was relaxed in a way he'd never known as he reached out and wiped away the cream on Castiel's lip with his thumb. "Oh. Thank you." Castiel murmured, eyes wide.
"I've never met anyone like you." Dean moved a little closer.
Castiel said nothing, simply watched his approach with his big blue eyes, filled with light and innocence. Dean could have looked at him like that for eternity. He inched closer, achingly slowly. His face was so close to his friend's face that they were sharing breathing air. Dean paused, silently asking Castiel for permission to proceed. "Dean." Castiel whined.
"Yes, Cas?" Dean grinned.
"Are you going to kiss me or not?" Castiel asked, impatiently.
Dean let out a short huff of laughter before slipping his arms around Castiel's waist and pulling him into a kiss. Castiel's mouth parted beneath his, his tongue swiping Dean's lips and mating with Dean's tongue fiercely. Castiel kissed with all he had, holding nothing back. Dean, too, let go of his worries and insecurities and kissed Castiel with every fibre of himself, putting all that he felt into Castiel.
Dean let his arms slip lower to Castiel's ass, and hitched Castiel upwards so that Castiel would wrap his legs around him. Castiel laughed, a melodious, carefree sound as Dean carried him upstairs.
"Dean!" Castiel chuckled.
"Yeah?" Dean was busy removing Castiel's trench coat.
"You left the door open downstairs."
"Shit." Dean kissed Castiel's lips. "Don't go anywhere," He growled. "I'll be right back."
Dean flew down the stairs, flipped the sign, locked the door and ran back up to his apartment where Castiel was still lying on Dean's bed, trench coat discarded on the floor. Dean stood there, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty that was Cas. His dark hair was messed up, his blue eyes heavy and lidded, a lazy smile playing at his kissable lips.
"Dean." Castiel's gravelly voice pierced Dean's reverie.
"Sorry babe, just appreciating the view." Dean grinned.
Dean climbed on top of Castiel pulling that sweater vest he liked so much off him and pulling his pants off. Castiel tugged at Dean's shirt, which he pulled off, wriggling out of his jeans and underwear. As he tossed Castiel's underwear to join the clothes on the floor, Dean let his eyes rove over Castiel, his breath hitching when he saw Castiel's thick erection lying against his stomach, already leaking beads of pre-come.
"Cas, have you ever done this before?" Dean asked, in a low voice as he kissed Castiel's chest.
"I've been gay for quite a while, Dean." Castiel chuckled wryly. "I assume you have not."
"Never." Dean gulped and reached for the lube from his bedside table.
"Dean." Castiel reached for Dean's face, and Dean instinctively leaned into his touch. "I need you to fill me."
"Really, Cas?"
"I need you, Dean." Castiel whispered, throatily. That was all Dean needed. He licked at Castiel's body greedily, tasting sweat and cologne and soap, and beneath that, a clean taste that was all Castiel. It was addictive and heady, like the best whiskey money could buy. Dean kissed the base of Castiel's cock and licked the entire length, drawing a mewl from Castiel. "More, Dean, more!" he whimpered, clutching Dean to him, his fingernails digging into Dean's back.
Dean slicked his fingers up with lube and slid a finger inside Castiel. "Just do it, Dean." Castiel pleaded. "Now."
Dean applied lube to himself vigorously then slowly filled Castiel. The other man groaned and repeated his name like a prayer. Dean finally settled himself deep inside Castiel. He felt amazing and tight and Dean cried out when he started to move. It was quite literally, the best sensation Dean had ever felt. Castiel was tight around him and Dean made sure to angle slightly so that on each thrust he would hit Castiel's prostate. On each thrust, Cas cried out his name.
"Dean! Ah, yes, Dean, yes!" Dean thrust harder, curling a hand around Castiel's erection and squeezing.
"Oh, fuck! Oh Cas, Cas, I'm gonna come baby, come for me baby…oh god!" Dean moaned as he spurted, hot and wet inside Cas. Cas tipped over the edge a moment later, and Dean guided him through his orgasm, gently jerking Castiel's erection. Quivering, he pulled out of Castiel and flopped onto the bed next to his lover.
"Oh Cas." Dean sighed. "Best sex ever."
Castiel smirked (a gesture he'd picked up from Dean) and snuggled into Dean's warmth. Dean pulled the covers up around them and brought Castiel into the circle of his arms, nosing at Castiel's collarbone with a sigh.
"Night Dean."
"Night Cas. There's an alarm by the way."
"Charming." Castiel said, snarkily.
"Sarcasm?" Dean teased. "Didn't know you had it in you, Cas."
Dean could hear the smile in his voice when Castiel next spoke. "Only for you, Dean. Only for you."