This is the same day as in the previous chapter, only from Cas' POV. Hope you'll enjoy.
And I feel the need to point out that none of my works are beta read.
Castiel had a good day, he really did. At least, his day had started quite well. Most days did when he got his breakfast set under his nose by his brother, who was usually using Cas' taste buds as beta testers for his new inventions — not that he was complaining.
His older brother Gabriel was a baker, pastry inventor, and a proud owner of 'Treats with Tricks' bakery and coffee shop. He had plenty of great ideas, which he mostly applied to inventing inappropriate names for his creations. Right now Castiel was faced with classics — Venus' Nipples. And that was one of the more traditional names one could find in the shop.
"Dig up, baby bro," Gabe called as he plopped on the chair next to his brother and grabbed few Nipples from the plate. "I'm testing the market, so tell me what you think. If it sells well I'm thinking of putting some more of the goddess' body parts on the menu. And maybe have an ice-cream line so you can savor it more," he added, grinning widely, which was nothing out of the ordinary. Cas would even say it was Gabe's permanent expression. He got that after their mother — she was as creative and always coming up with some unconventional idea.
"Gabe, you do realize there are children visiting your shop, don't you?"
"Well, this is gonna only show them human sexuality is something you can play with when you grow up!" Gabriel replied cheerfully.
The reply was met with an eye-roll "Just remember, the day parents come to your shop to tar-and-feather your ass, I'll be there sitting in front row, laughing mine off," Cas warned his brother in the spirit of sibling solidarity.
"Come on! Parents love me. Have you got any idea how many fruits I manage to smuggle into these pastries?" he said, walking toward the exit.
Cas just sighed because, seriously, nobody understood the pain of having a brother like Gabe.
"Oh, that reminds me!" The man in question back-peddled from the door. "I'm gonna need a car for the whole next week. I've gotta prepare for Children's Day."
"Gabe, don't be obnoxious. Who celebrates Children's Day in April?"
"Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, and a whole bunch of different countries. I'm planning on doing themes and flavors on each day."
"Will it offend patriotic feelings?" came a half-hearted question, because he already had an idea regarding the answer.
"Oh, come on! It's an innocent El Día Del Niño. What could go wrong? Besides, we're all the world, we're all the children, hermano."
"And how am I supposed to get anything done without a car?"
"If you need a ride just let me know and I'll put on my chauffeur cap. And besides, Balthy called, he's flying in sometime next week. I'm sure he's gonna rent some sweet ass ride to show off his posh."
"When did Balthazar call?"
"Yesterday. He weaseled his way into the house. British bastard played the 'family' card; like he couldn't bother some poor hotel staff instead of us."
Gabe was always bitching when they had guests, despite the fact they liked their cousins and their company.
"Well, I for one am glad we're gonna see Balth again."
"Of course you are, baby brother. You will have a nerd companion through all the mausoleums you're probably gonna scout to try to loot dead-people stuff from. And, if it's necessary, just take a cab. I'll even pick up the tab, but I need the car next week. And what about today?"
"Today I plan to work on the pieces in the workshop, and later an acquaintance of mine is gonna visit. She will maybe have some small, private project for me to participate in."
"OK, I'm leaving now. There are some newly invented muffins and the pie on the counter. You know the rule–all guests must fill out my Pastry Performance Card. Feed them even at gun point."
"You know, not everyone has as much of a sweet tooth as you. Some people just don't like sweets."
"Now you're just talking crazy," Gabriel said, sounding almost offended. "Gotta go now. Good luck on your mission to bring joy and beauty into this glum world." And with a final wink he left.
Cas was really glad Sarah asked him to take part in this project. He loved his job in restoration—being able to bring older pieces back to life. But every time he did, it was accompanied by a pang of disappointment that those beautiful furniture, tableware and other artifacts wouldn't serve their purpose anymore. After he was done with them they would go back to various museums or private collections to be set on display and never being used. That's why he decided to start working on new pieces, decorating objects that could be used daily but still be made to look beautiful and unique.
That was also the reason he needed to talk to Balthazar. As a art merchant his cousin had a great insight to where he could even start building the client base, what the best way to acquire broken down pieces he could work on was, and he could help Castiel with appraisal. Cas had basically no business instinct because he was always focused on the aesthetic aspect of things, which was totally unlike the other Novak. Balthazar and his partner Crowley run a London based firm that Gabe fondly named 'The Chop Shop', and laughed at the fact that Cas wants to become their forger. He didn't find it any less amusing even after Cas pointed out that the two terms don't fit with each other, which was of course useless.
Not that their cousin wouldn't appreciate art. In fact, his vast knowledge of the subject left everyone stunned. As he would say, he was just finding another way to make art more useful by applying his knowledge of current trends in real life.
Like the Chippendale chair that was sitting in the barn-turned-workshop. It was way more common that the pieces Cas usually handled, and he did it only because he trusted Balthazar's judgment. In the merchant's opinion it was a hot piece among people who couldn't afford really pricey stuff and yet gave them an illusion of luxury. So that sort of furniture was always worth some effort since there were always buyers looking for them.
Cas took in the work he did so far and started planning his next course of action. He always worked with some music, preferably from the period matching the piece, so now he decided on music from Farinelli. He soon got so focused on the work he didn't even take notice of the horn sounding from outside of the gate. He also didn't hear anyone walking up to him.
It was just a voice that broke his concentration, though Cas didn't pay much attention to the words, shoving them to the back of his mind, more focused on the enticing sound of it—really masculine but also extremely soothing. And it said much as Cas would usually jump out of his skin if startled like that. So Cas got up and smiled a little, glad that for once in his life he's not gonna embarrass himself with some undignified shriek, jumpiness or general lack of social graces; unlike his siblings and cousins he was never the outgoing type.
His newly acquired confidence died quickly though. The second he took in the stranger's appearance he couldn't come up with any constructive thought apart from 'fuck my life' that was thrumming in his head.
The man standing in front of him with a coy smile was simply stunning. Cas wondered if he'd maybe agree to pose for Cas, because he sure as hell could be the inspiration for the modern days' David. Castiel thought of the way he would try and fail constantly to mix the paints in order to mimic this man's eye color, how he'd have to use various brushes to replicate the spatter of his freckles, and how painting wouldn't be enough and he would have to find his sculpturing supplies in order to copy his jawline and the shape of his lips. Oh, God, the lips... The lips that are now opening as the man in front of him is saying something. "Focus, Castiel..."
"Hey, man. I'm Dean."
"Nice to meet you." Cas was still a little confused as to what this man was doing here, but then it all clicked and he forced him to tear his look from those mesmerizing eyes because the sight was not for him to appreciate and worship.
"You're here with Sarah Winchester." Cas grounded himself. Sweet, intelligent and pregnant Sarah Winchester, who asked him to decorate a crib for her baby. And who's apparently waiting in the car he could see parked outside the gate.
So they started walking in her direction, and Cas should be a good host and start a conversation, but he's too focused on walking straight because if he'd let his mind wander on other subject his body would involuntarily drift towards Dean. So the entire time he's concentrating on the silhouette of the pregnant woman inside the car and his even steps.
He's also thinking about a way to detach himself from the other man, so he asked him to drive up to the barn while he and Sarah were about to walk.
"That crib is really beautiful." He only took a peek, but it was artfully built from what he could tell.
Where did you find it?" "Nice, Castiel, you don't have problems striking up the conversation now," he thought derisively.
"I didn't," Sarah answered and smiled at the thought. "Dean made it himself."
"Of course he did," Cas thought, resigned because that man needed one more skill to make Cas weak on his knees.
"It's his work. When we met he already had this business and it's only expanded since then. And he's great at what he does. I think like half of our furniture was made by him." She seemed to be calculating something. "The other half was a present from Mary," she said, and added upon seeing his questioning look, "Mary Winchester. My mother-in-law."
Their conversation didn't last long as they came up to the truck, Dean already unloading the furniture into the barn. As it stood there Dean inspected it for any dents or damages it might have suffered during the transport. As he finished he gave one last gentle stroke the headboard as if to remove some nonexistent pollen. The sight of those slightly calloused, tanned palms caressing the dark wood was so arousing Cas had to bite his lip to stifle a moan.
Luckily Sarah was there so he could focus on her and the ideas she had for the project. Cas had agreed earlier to do the work on the entire nursery, and apparently Dean was going to help out as he made some of the furniture.
He noticed that when he had no choice but to talk directly to the other man, Dean was fidgeting and looking rather uncomfortable, especially after Sarah confirmed Cas' homosexuality. "Nice job Cas, you scarred the man with the whole ogling him." So he tried to act neutral and suggested their course of actions. They would meet Monday in their house and professionally talk about the whole deal.
Too bad it was only after that Castiel remembered that he was going to be without any means of transportation that day. Of course he could demand Gabriel take him into the city, but the opportunity was too enticing to pass. He wanted to learn as much as he could about Dean, to spend some time with him even if nothing would ever come of it, and that was a good way to start.
"Could I maybe count on you retrieving me on Monday? I currently share a vehicle with my siblings and it's my brother's turn then..."
But Dean was already smiling at him. "I'll come by in the morning and take you myself. It'll be my pleasure." And, God, Cas imagined these words being said in different settings...
They soon parted their ways and Cas shuffled towards the house.
As he entered the house his eyes fell onto the cabinet. Ugh, he'd forgotten to serve them pie. Gabe was gonna be pissy. He shrugged. He'd tell him he tried. After all, not all people are as enthusiastic about pie as his brother is. With that thought Cas decided to call it a day and head upstairs.
Upon entering his room he didn't even bother to switch the light on. He just fell onto the bed and groaned into the pillow. Yeah, so he had a fairly nice day, and as it progressed Castiel met the man of his dreams. Too bad he already knew his beautiful, pregnant wife…
OK. I've got the impression that Gabe is not as much out there to be believable. Don't know. Gonna work on that.
And I promise more dialogues less internal monologues, cause this chapter was a whole new achievement, even for my standards.
