Chapter: 05
Castiel picked nervously at the sleeve of his sweater as Dean stopped the Impala at the end of the Novak driveway. Dean's hair was sticking up messily from where Castiel's fingers had earlier teased it out of its usually controlled state of chaos, and his lips were swollen and red. His jeans were riding low, a thin strip of boxer teasing Castiel's eyes and his shirt sitting sideways on his shoulders.
The younger boy wasn't in much better shape, though; Castiel's sweater was wrinkled and his hair was a thoroughly mused mess. His bottom lip was particularly swollen from Dean's soft biting earlier in the evening, and there was a dark mark over his collar bone that he was glad his sweater's turtle neck hid.
Sam sat silently in the back, looking politely out the window to give the couple a moment of privacy as Dean grabbed Castiel's coat and beanie from the seat beside his younger brother and watched as Castiel put the clothes on. Tucking the beanie down over his ears, the smaller boy looked over to Dean with a shy smile.
"I guess I'll text you, then?" Dean asked, squeezing Castiel's hand where their fingers had been laced together the entire drive.
"I'll call you later if I get the chance," Castiel nodded, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to Dean's cheek. Dean turned his head just a fraction though, catching the younger man's lips. Castiel relaxed into the kiss despite the embarrassing events earlier in the evening, and the couple's lips moved together lazily until Sam cleared his throat.
"Bye Sam," Castiel muttered, knowing the younger Winchester was annoyed with his brother and Castiel both as he quickly pulled away from Dean and stepped out of the car. Shivering in the snow, he stood in the driveway and watched as Dean turned the car around and waved at Cas before heading down the road at a cautious speed.
Smiling to himself, Castiel turned and began the trek home with his hands buried in the pockets of his coat. His mind turned over the events of the evening, and his stomach twisted as he tried to drift past the idea that he'd very nearly lost his most prized possession; if it hadn't been for Sam's intrusion, he was positive he wouldn't have left the Winchester house with his virginity intact. Dean Winchester was like a drug, and Castiel was a born addict.
Kicking at a clump of snow, Castiel's mind drifted to the topic of the actual household. It was a sad excuse for a home, and it looked so terribly generic that Castiel could hardly believe a family lived within its walls. There were holes in the roof, and hardly any paint to speak of on the wooden structure. The rooms were small and cramped, the kitchen in desperate need of an update; the walls were peeling, and there was water stains everywhere you looked. The poor front porch had almost collapsed under his and Dean's joint weight, for goodness' sake!
There was no comparison between his own home and Dean's, Castiel realized with a frown as the lights of his own dwelling came into view. Locally nicknamed Novak Manor was a massive three-story structure painted a soft yellow, with a white porch that wrapped all the way around the building and personal balconies for most second floor rooms, and one balcony for the third floor suite. There were seven bedrooms and a joining bathroom for each one, alongside a dining room and a living room that now functioned as Ms. Novak's library.
The house was completed only a week before Castiel was born, a project his father had taken on upon his youngest son's conception; with four children and a fifth on the way, he had built the manor in attempt to provide his children with a life-long home. Here the house stood almost seventeen years later, though; only one of the seven rooms had a permanent occupant while dust collected in the rest.
Though the houses were different in every possible way, they did share one connection; they housed nothing but the broken fragments of a family, and the heartbreak that came with the situation.
Stepping in the front door, trying hard to silence his overactive mind, Castiel was glad for the heat. He shrugged out of his coat, hanging it in its usual place on the coat rack and combing his fingers through his hair as he headed towards the stairs. All he wanted to do was take a shower and read the latest book in his favorite series, but his attempt to get away was ruined as he heard the sharp tap of heels on the foyer floor.
"Jonathon Castiel Novak," He turned just in time to receive a sharp blow against his left temple, wincing as his mother stood stiffly before him. Naomi Novak was a strict woman with military grade posture and eyes that constantly churned like an angry ocean. Though Castiel hated to admit it, he had inherited the same square jaw and lean body of the woman before him; only her auburn hair differed from her younger son.
In her hand was clutched a bible, the corner worn from the countless times it had left swollen marks against Castiel's skin.
"Where have you been?" She demanded, pressing the bible tightly to her chest as she glared at Castiel.
"I thought I would take a walk," Castiel lied, well aware that this was an activity of sin. With the slowly rising knot on his temple, courtesy of the King James edition closed in his mother's hands, he honestly couldn't find the will to care.
"I thought I was explicit in my instructions," The older woman raised the bible, and Castiel made no attempt to protect himself as she hit him against the temple once more; protecting himself simply enraged her. "You are not to leave this house without my permission."
"You were away when I left," Castiel tried, biting his tongue as she narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"You are living under my roof, Jonathon, and I will not tolerate your disobedience. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mother," Castiel relented, bowing his head apologetically despite the urge to storm away like any other teenager would in the situation. His mother grunted, seeming pleased, and tucked the bible under her arm.
"Now that you've been disciplined, you need to go shower." She ordered. "Your brother and sister will be arriving shortly, and I expected you to participate in dinner. I will not allow you to ruin our evening, either; I will send you to your bedroom if you partake in any sinful activity, Jonathon,"
"Anna and Gabriel are coming?" Castiel's heart swelled at the prospect of seeing his older siblings.
"Yes. Anna is bringing along a boyfriend, as well," Naomi explained, then stepped close to her son. Castiel tensed as she shoved a dangerous finger into his chest. "If you try to tempt him into your ways, I will have Pastor Carlos drown you in holy water. Is that understood?"
"Yes Mother," He breathed, swallowing hard as she leaned away from him. With one last sharp look, his mother turned and walked quickly back from where she'd come. Castiel didn't hesitate to climb the stairs and climb in the shower, more than grateful for the gentle treatment he'd received. Usually, his mother was much harsher.
His mind didn't stay on the topic of his mother for long, though; instead it chose to focus on the idea that Gabriel and Anna were on their way to see him. Though Castiel had four siblings and two parents, the twins were the only people he considered family. Even before his parents had divorced, and everything about his sinful existence had come to light, Castiel never truly cared for anyone but them.
He hadn't seen the twins since they left for college a few months earlier, and his mother had refused to let him have contact with them either. It had been a blow that Castiel had taken awhile to recover from, but recover he had. He knew he couldn't risk getting overly-attached to either one of the twins while they were here, or allow himself to enjoy their presence even, because watching them leave again would be painful.
Stepping out of the shower, he toweled furiously at his hair and snagged his favorite orange sweater from its place in the closet. Slipping the worn fabric on over his head, he glanced down to make sure that the collar covered the mark Dean had left on his collarbone before he stepped into a pair of jeans and combed his hair into a damp but decent mess. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he was pleased to find a not-so-sad boy staring back at him.
"Jonathon, come down!" His mother cried just as he was crossing the room to collect his phone, hoping Dean had texted while he was showering.
"Coming, Mother!" He called, forgetting the mobile device as he moved quickly down the stairs and walked around the corner to find his mother helping three people carry a series of small suitcases into the room.
His breath caught in his throat as two very familiar faces turned towards him, both grinning. Gabriel and Anna both were practically glowing, bundled in their winter coats and rosy-cheeked from the cold. Anna's long red hair spilled down her back, and Gabriel's eyes sparkled as he rushed his younger brother.
"You grew!" Gabriel announced one he released Castiel from a lung-crushing hug, smiling fondly at his younger sibling. Castiel smiled, realizing Gabriel was right; the younger was now taller than the older by several inches.
"He definitely did," Anna smiled, standing on her toes to press a kiss to Castiel's cheek. "Hey, Castiel,"
"Hello," Castiel smiled, accepting a brief hug from his sister. He quickly pulled away as their mother hurried in beside a large man who towered over everyone else in the room, laughing as she gazed fondly up at him. Realizing his hands were shaking as he watched the dark eyed man across the room, Castiel tucked them in the pockets of his jeans and tried to make himself as small as possible as his mother's threat resounded through his head.
His actions didn't go unnoticed as Gabriel and Anna shared a look, raising their eyebrows at Castiel's actions. He pretended not to notice, rubbing at a scuff on the foyer floor with his toe as his mother led the large man towards the group.
"Jonathon, this is Eric," Naomi introduced, her eyes hard as her youngest son slowly raised his face. "He's Anna's boyfriend."
"Pleased to meet you Jonathon," Eric extended a meaty hand and Castiel warily shook it before quickly retreating. Anna frowned as she stepped close to Eric's side.
"He goes by Castiel," She explained as the large man glanced between the frightened teenager and his girlfriend where she was tucked under his arm. "He's very shy, but he'll warm up to you eventually."
Eric nodded and Castiel pretended not to hear the brief conversation, his eyes looking anywhere but at the couple. Gabriel asked the younger boy if he'd mind helping with their bags, and Castiel accepted to offer with silent gratitude. Picking up what he could carry, he followed Gabriel up the stairs and down the hall.
"What was that about?" Gabriel demanded once they were out of hearing range.
"What?" Castiel feigned innocence as he set the bags he was carrying just inside the threshold of his sister's old room.
"You looked like you were going to throw up when Eric walked in," Gabriel frowned, motioning Castiel to follow him into his bedroom. The younger sibling did so, pulling the door closed behind himself, and watched as Gabriel dropped his suitcase on to his bed and threw it open.
"He looked like he might eat me," Castiel shrugged, taking a seat on one of the bean-bags in the corner of Gabriel's room. His older sibling snickered as he pulled clothes from his bag, brows furrowed as he searched for something.
"He may be huge, but he wouldn't hurt a fly unless he had to," Gabriel assured him, grinning as he discovered what he'd been looking for. He pulled a wool scarf from his bag, the fabric soft in his hands as he turned to Castiel.
"Thought you might like this," He tossed the ball of cloth at his brother and Castiel caught it, smiling as he unfurled it and noticed Gabriel's college logo on the bottom right corner. "You've always had a thing for scarves,"
"Thanks, Gabe," Castiel smiled, winding the material around his neck and letting it rest there.
"No problemo, little bro," Gabriel smiled as he plopped down in the beanbag beside Castiel. "So what's the chit-chat, huh? You going to catch me up on what's been going on with you?"
"Nothing, really," Castiel shrugged, fingering the end of his new scarf and thinking of his old one- Dean had never returned it.
"Your goo-goo eyes say otherwise," Gabriel accused, staring evenly at his younger sibling.
"Goo-goo what? I do not have goo-goo eyes!" Castiel grumbled indignantly.
"So… Who is he?" Gabriel demanded, and Castiel's gut turned happily at hearing the simple word 'he'. If everyone in his life – in his town – was as accepting of his sexuality, as supportive of it, as Gabriel and Anna… He would be a much happier person.
"His name is Dean Winchester," Castiel admitted, smiling at how wonderful it was to say these words out loud. "He's my boyfriend."