The next few months went by in a blur, and with each day Dean grew closer to Castiel. He didn't understand what that feeling was. It wasn't like a brotherly thing, and it definitely wasn't that family feeling he had for his coach. But whatever it was, he didn't mind it. Sometimes, when they were in public, people would mention how weird it was that they were always so close, and Dean would laugh it off, reminding Cas about "personal space" and to "get out of his ass." But usually, he didn't mind how sometimes when they were alone, Cas (as he liked to call him) would sit just a little closer together when discussing what Dean had to do to improve his techniques. Or the long runs he would go on with Castiel. He also didn't mind that sometimes, on a rare day, they would sit close enough to the point where they were barely touching hands. It felt good to him... like it was right. Then there was this one time when Dean had to come back to the pool before class because he forgot his backpack, and he found Cas sleeping under the bleachers, which he found amusing. Maybe even amusing enough to snap a quick picture of it before he left, and maybe, just maybe, made it his phone's wallpaper. There was nothing wrong with that right? It's not like the age gap between them was substantial. Dean was 18, and Cas 22. If Cas hadn't been his coach, they could have even been friends. Just...friends. Which was okay with Dean.
One weekend Cas had been looking for Dean's kickboard to hand him while he was in the pool, and walked back up to the pool, Dean's phone in hand, to show the screensaver.
"Oh that? I found you sleeping in the bleachers and I thought it was funny." Dean said, like it was whatever, but he felt a little embarrassed about it. Cas just chuckled and tossed the kickboard that he was holding in his other hand.
"Do two laps of freestyle kicking and two of breaststroke. I'll be right back" he said and walked away.
'Did he not like the pictures or something? I mean they're just pictures,' Dean thought to himself as he swam. 'Maybe it was weird...' Before he could think any further, he suddenly heard a splash behind him, and felt the water ripple as his body moved with the current. Looking behind him, he saw Cas holding onto the wall of the pool, gesturing him to finish up the lap he was on and come straight back.
"Your kicking technique on the freestyle is wrong. Watch," Castiel said, before kicking off the wall and gliding through the water. Dean marveled at how effortlessly Cas could swim through the water, like it was as easy as breathing. Dean wanted to continue watching, but he was stopped short as Castiel had just finished a lap around the pool, and had returned to Dean's side. "You're kicking too wide. You have to make the kicks smaller, and you slow down a little whenever you turn your head to breathe." Dean just nodded in silence. He didn't know what to say, he was still so dazzled by how Castiel had just swam. "And your arms…" Cas began, gently grabing Dean's arm. "They're not close enough to your head when you swim. Got it?"
"I-I uh… I- Yea, I-I got it." Dean stuttered. He felt like an idiot. For some reason he didn't know how to respond. It's like he forgot all manner of speech. All he could think about was how warm Cas' hands felt in the cold water. How nice his hair looked when it was wet… and his lips… Dean snapped out of the trance he had put himself into, only to notice how close Castiel was to him. His hand had moved down from holding his arm, to his hand. When did that happen? They were close enough that Dean could barely feel the warmth of Castiel's breath, and he inched in closer, because he liked it. He enjoyed being so close to Cas, and he wanted to be even closer. Then, before he knew it, his lips had met Cas' and they were kissing. Gently kissing. It felt good to Dean. He leaned in a little bit more, listening to the soft splash of the water with every move he made. He felt Cas' hand below the water, gently touching his waist, pulling him closer. He could feel his leg against Cas' swimsuit... and something else underneath. His one hand held the wall to keep his head above water, and the other was slowly making its way down Cas' side. Gently tracing his body. Then suddenly, the moment was gone. Their lips parted, and Cas put distance between them. But he never broke eye contact until he hopped back out of the pool. Dean just stared at him. Listened to the splashing of the water as Cas jumped out, and watched the water drip down his body. It all felt so surreal to him, and he was left there, in the empty pool, completely dumbfounded