When Cas steps into the Road House for the first time his toes press too snug against his sneakers. Dean insisted he needed a pair of shoes if he was going to come. He is dressed in a well-pressed shirt and tie loose around his neck. He worries about sweat staining the cotton and runs a hair through his combed hair. Another detail Dean stressed, have to make an impression if he wants hired. He runs his tongue over chapped lips and tries to decipher which uniform belongs to Ellen. A drawn out call from behind the counter lets him know.
"Dean get your ass back here we need hands! Who's your friend?" Dean tugs the sleeve of Castiel's shirt and guides him behind the bar.
"This is Cas-Castiel. He's the guy lookin' for a job," Dean's voice sounds nervous, something Cas has never heard until now.
"Well he certainly looks work material," Ellen's eyes scan over him.
Cas extends a hand and introduces himself again. There are other workers around with eyes on him, which makes him nervous.
"We are busy tonight. I guess we can throw you in the mix, see if you come out alive," she pats him on the back before ushering drinks to costumers.
Cas must look apprehensive because Dean pats him on the shoulder and tells him he will be fine. Cas sure hopes so.
The nights easy at first, he spends a few hours opening bottles and sliding them across the counter. He hasn't spilled anything or broken any bottles, so far so good. He bites his tongue when Jo, Ellen's daughter, starts teaching him to mix drinks. A customer complains about too much rum in their coke (not that it stops him from downing the glass) and Cas thinks this is going to be a long night. Jo just smiles of her shoulder at him and tells him he will get it right next time.
About midnight, the crowd dies down and Cas can finally catch his breath. Jo saunters beside him and laughs with a finger pointed at Dean. A young brunette is seated at a table where he is. He looks like he's flexing when he hands her a martini and Cas nearly spits out his drink.
"If that ain't the most piss poor attempt at flirting. You wait till he starts drinking, it gets worse," Jo says beside him.
Cas wipes coke off his hands and watches Dean slip a number into his pocket. Apparently it worked. He almost feels disappointed but shrugs it off. Dean's his own person and what he does with his personal life should not concern him. Jo shoots him a smile before attended to a couple that has just walked into the bar.
Cas spends another couple of hours learning the proper way to mix drinks he's never heard of. He also spends those hours taste testing them, which is why Dean has to nearly carry him home. Cas has never been much for the drink so he's embarrassed to as plastered as he is. The climb to Dean's door feels like it takes a century and Cas just wants to rip his shoes off already.
He's barefoot and on the couch when Dean throws down his keys and a napkin with scribble on it. Cas feels guilty, Dean could be enjoying the company of a girl instead of being stuck with his drunk ass.
"Dean, you don't have to stay here, I am an adult," he slurs.
Dean doesn't seem to be catching on so he grips the napkin on unsteady feet. "Go have some fun," he's waving it around now like a flag so Dean snatches it and sets it back down.
"Nah, it's fine. She'll be there tomorrow," but he doesn't sound convinced.
Cas still feels guilty and there is something about the way Dean sits with his legs open that Cas cannot stop eyeing. He returns to the couch and studies his hands, his own lap, Dean's lap. Maybe it's the quantities of liquor he's ingested but Cas really wants to do something for Dean. Since he ended up on his couch, Dean has spent most of his time in this small space.
Before Cas realizes he's doing it, he's pressing small kisses on Dean's thighs and working at his button. He hears a sharp exhale from Dean, but no attempt to stop him so he keeps going. First, his jeans, which are tossed to the floor. Then he is palming Dean through his boxers and kissing along his jaw. Dean just grips his hair and accepts it because he would be lying if he said he didn't want it. He pushes and pulls at Cas until he's in his lap and he can suck bruises into his neck.
Cas licks at his collar bone and presses cold hands under his shirt and he shivers. They don't know when they began rolling their hips together but neither want to stop. Taking each other's clothes off becomes trivial but their skin is finally flush together and Cas is tasting Dean's mouth. Dean's tongue pushing against his, becomes dominant, and Cas doesn't want it to stop. Dean grips Cas' thighs and carries him to his room, the couch is too small, it just won't work there.
He's positioned over Cas' small frame, working a finger inside of him. Cas just arches into the touch a whispers his name like a prayer. There's another finger and Cas is practically begging now. He moves in search of contact and before Dean's about to give him what he wants he's halting his movements and running the pad of his thumb over Cas' temple. He looks worried, scared even and Cas wonders if he's done something wrong.
"Is this what you want, Cas?" Is what Dean asks, but what he means is more. More than a one night stand, more than forced conversations over breakfast, more than just. Cas nods vigorously because he needs that contact again and whatever Dean wants he can have, he saved him and that's how Cas sees him. A savior.
Dean finally pushes in making Cas whimper and claw at his shoulder blades. They are going painfully slow and Cas wriggles to get some friction. Dean picks up pace, Cas meeting him with each thrust. There are moans and heavy breathes and Cas screaming Dean's name when he finally comes. There are a few more thrusts before Dean's unraveling, whispering Cas, Cas, Cas, in the crook of his neck.
When they have caught their breath, Dean wipes them off and wraps Cas in his arms. This is the first time Cas has ever been in Dean's bed so he takes in the room. Small, but not cluttered, a picture of a woman on his nightstand with a young Dean. Cas smiles and settles his head against Dean's chest. He presses a few more kisses there and then he's asleep.
Bacon and eggs waft into the bedroom when Cas wakes up. His head aches but he shoves on a pair of old sweat pants and joins Dean in the kitchen. He's buttering a piece of toast as Cas presses a kiss to the back of his neck. He's happy when Dean leans into it, returns the favor with a peck on his temple.
"How's that hangover treating you?" Cas groans and Dean laughs. "Yeah, I'll get you something for it in a moment. Get a seat, breakfast is almost done."
Dean sets a plate of food in front of Cas, a cup of coffee (black, the way Cas likes it), and two Advil. When Dean's finished his plate he indulges in the last piece of pie Cas made. Cas thinks the sounds he makes are sinful but smiles anyways. They share a couple glances before Cas is up and prepares for a shower. He smiles at the clothes Dean hands him and thinks he can get used to this.
A knock on the door surprises Cas, he nearly drops a shampoo bottle and just barely catches it. Dean does not get many visitors, usually neighbors complaining about the noise levels. He hears a familiar voice from the living room and drops the bottle on his foot, causing him to wince with pain. There is some shuffling in the bedroom, and then the bathroom door opens with an apologetic Dean on the other side. Finally he is toweled off, adorned in another band t-shirt and hurries to the living room to find Anna and Gabriel nursing coffee cups.
Anna taps at the return address on the envelope, as if Cas should have known they would find him eventually. He cannot say he is upset, just caught off guard. Dean stands beside him, rests an apprehensive hand on his lower back. Cas doesn't shake it off, rather leans into the comfort. He's nervous, the last time he saw Anna it was a good-bye, and not a good one. Too young to understand why he had to leave. She's grown up now, all smiles and tenderness in her eyes. Cas pushes one foot in front of the other until he's hugging her small frame. He catches a tear with his thumb and moves to hung Gabriel.
After they have managed their emotions, Gabriel is the first to speak.
"You are not an easy one to find, little bro."
"No, I guess not."
"Are you going to introduce us to hulking man meat over here or should we play guess who," always jokes with Gabriel.
"This is Dean, he's my," Cas searches for the right adjective. Partner, no, companion, definite no, hulking man meat, he likes that one, but no. He'd like to say savior but thinks better of it. "He's my boyfriend," he finally mutters, shooting a glance at Dean who nods in return. When neither sibling balks, he exhales.
"He's the one that gave me a place to stay." He smiles at Dean now.
"Reel them in with kindness, they'll never see in coming," Gabriel remarks and Cas holds his breath again. There is tension in his stomach and his head is still pounding.
"Gabe, it's not like that. He's a good man, he is even trying to get me job. Bought me shoes, got me-got me sober," his gaze drops to his feet. Dean's returns to his side and Cas revels in the warmth he brings.
"Alright, alright," Gabriel steps down. "I just, we just missed you is all. You had us worried."
"Me too."
It's a Sunday, Dean has all day off, so they spend it catching up. Anna nearly cries when Cas pulls out the wings. He finds out the Gabriel made it in a law firm working with an uncle. Anna wants to major is art and shows him an art blog she's put together. They skirt around anything to do with their dad until Gabriel lets it slip that his funeral was a few months back. Cas isn't sad, doesn't feel sad, but it doesn't stop the knot tightening in his gut.