"I almost didn't stop for you, that first say." Castiel always spoke quietly, as though anticipating he wouldn't be heard. Of course, that just made Dean-and the rest of the Winchesters- listen all the harder, to make sure the small boy was never overlooked in their rather loud family.

"Why did you?" Dean had convinced Cas to have lunch outside with him, since the weather was so nice. It was warm and sunny, and very pleasant where Dean and Cas lounged in the shade of a tree. Cas was nestled between Dean's legs, his back to the other's chest. Their entwined fingers sat on Castiel's thighs. Cas lay his head back onto Dean's shoulder so he could look up at his face.

"You said my name. My first name. Everyone else calls me Novak." Dean smiled and squeezed Cas's hand affectionately.

"I would have chased you down, even if you hadn't stopped. Though, come to think of it, maybe not if I had known how much of a cuddle-whore you are." The author chuckled.

"You know you love it. Besides," as let his yes drift shut. "I'm more of a cuddlebug. I don't let just anyone have the honor of being my pillow, you know." Dean snorted.

"My mistake." he lay his head on the tree, closing his eyes. "Cuddle-slut."

"Hey, faggy. Wake up." Dean felt a sharp jab to his side and woke with a start= three boys surrounded himself and Cas. Instinctively, he drew the still-sleeping boy closer to his body. He grinned.

"Can I help you?" he started shaking his leg, hoping to wake Cas. The boy directly in front of Dean sneered.

"Don't like faggots." Dean's eyes grew cold but his smile didn't falter.

"And this affects me how?" Cas began to stir.

"Don't like you, don't like your boyfriend." Dean didn't bother to correct him- he figured everyone would think him and Cas were dating, and it didn't really bother him. The school was clearly filled to the brim with jerks anyway.

"Maybe you like him a little too much?" The boy's face turned red and scrunched with rage. He kicked at Castiel, with mixed results- his two friends also started kicking (hard) Cas woke up, and Dean went from angry to furious. The boys scrambled to their feet among the barrage of kicks and Dean launched himself at the one who tried to kick Cas first. After they hit the ground, Dean lost it. The next few moments became a blur of anger and pain and he wailed on the boy beneath him. The next thing Dean really knew he was being bodily hauled off his victim.

"Principal's office, now!" a voice boomed in his ear, blocking his line of vision to the boy. "I said now!" As all five boys were led away, Dean took stock of Cas- he had a split lip and a cut above his eye, and looked absolutely livid. He glanced at the boys Cas had been fighting. One of them was a clutching a bleeding nose, and the other's eye was swollen shut.

"Good job." Dean murmured it in Cas's ear, making the boy smirk.

"You too." Dean couldn't see the last boy's face, but he was sure it wouldn't be pretty.

The principal watched the security footage in stony silence, not even bothering to look at the incident report or the boys in front of him. He stopped the video when the teachers entered the shot.

"It seems to me that Misters" here he glanced briefly down at the paper "Calvin, Young, and Graham were clearly provoked and will therefore not be punished." he had to raise his voice to be heard over Cas and Dean's furious shouts. "Quiet! You three may see the nurse and return to class-" the principal directed his words to the other boys but Castiel stood.

"No." he seethed. "Do you know who I am? You will do this right or I will lawyer up so fast your great grandchildren will be paying for it out of their asses. Do you understand that, sir?" Castiel didn't wait for an answer. "My friend and I are going to go to the nurse. If you don't want a lawsuit filed against this sorry excuse for a school you will keep them far away from there for the rest of the day. Am I understood?" The principal stood as well.

"You listen to me, boy. Just who do you think you are, coming in here-"

"I'm Castiel Novak. Get it now?" As the man's eyes widened Castiel grabbed Dean's wrist and hailed him from the silent office. As soon as they were in the safety of the empty hallway Cas dropped Dean's arm and wrapped his own arms around himself, sinking to sit against the wall, shaking.

"Cas?" Dean was about ready to panic and ruch back inside the office for help, but Cas stopped him.

"I...I'm o-ok-k-kay. J-just a p-pan-nic attack." Cas curled into a small ball and closed his eyes, taking short shallow breaths. Uncertainly, Dean sat next to the quivering boy, rubbing his back soothingly. About ten minutes went by in almost complete silence, when suddenly Castiel took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm okay." he whispered it but didn't move. "I'm okay." Dean wrapped his arms around the smaller boy.

"That sucked." Cas snorted softly.

"You're telling me.

Later, at Dean's house, Cas was laying in the middle of Dean's bed.

"I hate using him that way." Dean looked over at him from his spot on the floor.

"Who?" Dean turned down the ever-present music so he could hear.

"Castiel Novak." Dean lifted an eyebrow.

"Uh... aren't you Castiel Novak?" The other boy sighed.

"No. I'm just Cas. the boy who hates going home and writes in a ratty notebook to make himself feel better. Castiel Novak is famous, has millions of screaming fans. He's outgoing and funny and everyone loves him." Dean pondered for a moment, hating the sadness evident in Cas's voice. He stooed and climbed onto the bed, forcing Cas to scoot over or be laid on. "He's how I get through all the interviews.: Dean finally understood.

"He's your mask. If you're not Castiel Novak it makes it less scary to know everyone's watching, right?" Cas nodded slightly.

"Yes." Dean smiled and wrapped himself around Cas, tangling their legs together and pressing his face to the other's neck.

"Sure, Castiel Novak's famous and has screaming fans all over the world. But he's not my best friend." Dean felt himself beginning to blush but continued speaking. "He's funny, sure. But you're funnier. I know you didn't like showing up that asshat, but it had to happen. Isn't Castiel Novak pro-gay anyway?" Cas nodded again.

"Thank you." Dean smiled against the blue-eyed boy's neck. "Cuddle-whore." Dean pulled back, aghast and Cas laughed, wrapping his arms around Dean. "I think I must be rubbing off on you." Dean snorted but allowed the snuggles, both boys quickly falling asleep.

Dean woke a few hours later, Cas still firmly pressed to his side. He rubbed his eye with his free hand as he began to process what woke him up- Cas's phone was ringing. He didn't bother trying to wake the other boy. Instead he fished around in Cas's pockets until he found the obnoxious device.

"'Lo?"

"Castiel? What is this I hear about you getting into a fight at school? The press already caught wind and they're out for blood. We have to do major damage control fast or you can kiss your good name and reputation goodbye. Why aren't you talking, did they hurt your throat? Hang on, let me call this great lawyer I know, he owes me a favor..." The woman on the other end finally paused for breath so Dean decided it was his turn to talk.

"Not Cas. He's sleeping. Call you back later, yeah?"

"Who is this?" Dean shook his head.

"Sleeping." he shut the phone and curled into Cas, phone still clutched in his hand. Cas stirred but Dean drowsily pet his arm. "Sleep." They both did.