Note: This chapter was published Saturday but I didn't remember to update here. Sorry! Which means this note is from Saturday. I had a lovely time.
EDIT: messed some stuff up, which means you guys accidentally got chapter 14 for chapter 13, and I don't think you ever recieved chapter 12. I'm fixing that now, sorry I didn't see it sooner!
I am AT DESTIELCON THIS WEEKEND! That's super duper exciting, obviously. And in all my excitement, it has turned out that I don't have time to edit this chapter. (It's not my fault I only got five hours of sleep last night and six the night before I HAVE BEEN BUSY HAVING FUN).
I'm not going to lie, it's most likely never going to be extensively edited, but if you see something that just ruins the entire chapter for you feel free to leave it in the comments (if that's all you say in the comment tho I'll be a little bit upset I need more love than that) adn I'll try my best to fix it at the very least on AO3.
About this chapter particularly: It sets up for another important plot point, (looking back it probably should have been a little earlier in the book but whatever), other than that it's just a fluff and a lil bit of smut chapter.
I sort of count this as semi-public sex so you might want to skim over it if that's not your thing.
The smell of food filled the air; it wafted around them, leaving everything in a warm glow of what smelled like chicken. Dean's stomach growledloudly, reminding him that he hadn't had anything that wasn't plant-based in a week and a half.
"I hope you know that I can hear you from here." Castiel mumbled, pushing past an old woman who had her umbrella out too far and was partially blocking the walkway.
Who the fuck even carried umbrellas anymore? Nobody did. Nobody carried umbrellas, except for old women fae at the fae market.
Which, surprisingly enough, was narrow a narrow category.
There was barely enough room for four people to walk side-by-side between the stalls; they had been built on either side of a path left and abandoned by animals, which didn't leave a lot of wiggle room. The shops, row after row after row on either side, sat close. There seemed to be no real order to their placement, although they all looked vaguely similar.
Made out of sticks and a leaf awning, some with small clay ovens in the back and others with things lain over the edge of the booth or across the counter. Small trinkets and children's playthings and jewelery, even some things Dean didn't have a name for.
"This all seems a little... overwhelming." He said, watching a child zip by and barely avoid crashing right into a person by flapping their wings and actually jumping over them last-minute. He mumbled, "Well his parents certainly aren't around to see that."
"It is, but I grew up here. The thing that's really confusing is that it's first come first serve with the booths. Every Saturday, people will come and grab the closest booth to where they are. So the places that things are are constantly shifting and changing." Castiel informed him, eyes scanning the place for some kind of store. Dean watched with mild interest, uncertain of how they were supposed to actually go to wherever Cas was looking for.
"I don't understand. How are we supposed to find the right place, then?" Dean questioned, tilting his head to the side. Castiel's mouth quirked up in amusement.
"We don't. We slowly descend into chaos and we end up at the right place anyways." Castiel said. Dean stopped, mouth going slack in astonishment.
"You're messing with me." He said, like an accusation.
"Well, I didn't say it to provide you a warm sense of comfort." Cas confirmed, his wings puffing up indignantly. Dean let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. For some reason, Cas's jokes always tended to throw him off the slightest bit. It was unnerving and exciting at the same time.
"You know, I think you're starting to like me." Dean teased, catching up and slinging an arm around Cas's shoulders. Castiel gave a halfhearted shrug.
"I'm also quite fond of lightning bugs, you know." He said. That confused Dean a little bit, but he decided to go along with Cas's joke.
"Oh, really? You wouldn't let a firefly fuck you until you screamed, would you?" He questioned, making sure to keep his voice down so that nobody overheard their conversation. Castiel turned a little bit, eyes darkening. Not enough for most people to realize, but enough for Dean.
Castiel leaned forward, lips hovering inches away from Dean's. Dean's breath caught in his throat and he forgot, for a moment, where they were.
"No. Because beastiality is wrong." Cas said, flatly. Before Dean knew what had happened, Cas had leaned away, acting like nothing had happened. Dean's eyes widened as he looked at his lover, feeling his lips tingle with the disappointment of still not having been touched by another's.
"That's..." Dean started, but then cut off. He didn't really have anything to say now. He jogged a few steps to catch up to Cas, who was walking along contentedly as if nothing had happened. He saw that little smirk, though. He knew that Cas knew exactly what he was doing.
Fucking kiss-blocked me . Dean thought, still trying to adjust to the idea that he wasn't going to be kissed. Boy, did that throw him off.
Cas's hand came to settle in his own, Cas still refusing to make eye contact with him. Cas took a small turn, suddenly, and Dean was dragged along with him. Suddenly, he was yanked into a tent. An actual, tarp-draped-over-the-stall, tent.
"Oh. So this is how you find the place you were looking for." He said, seeing clearly that this tent could be taken down and moved to any of the other stalls.
Inside, there were glowing rocks. Not unlike the ones Castiel had at home, but these were of varying sizes and varying colored glow. Some of them were a smoldering orange-red, like the sunset, others a pure white, like moonlight. A few changed colors; one seemed to move with the patterns of a roaring fire, dancing across the surface of the stone like a dancer.
Beside each of the rocks lay a small bucked, labeled with the color it corresponded to. Castiel immediately walked over to the green, looking at it for a moment. Dean knew that was the color his current stones were, and expected Castiel to just go with the same. However, that's not what Castiel did.
Cas stopped, pulling his hand back. "You know, I've been using the same color for the last forty years, maybe it's time for a change. Dean, do you have any preference?"
"You... Want my opinion?" He asked, looking around. All the colors caught his eyes, there really wasn't any one that he would prefer off the top of his head. Plus, he was going to be leaving soon. If Cas stayed here, he would end up stuck with whatever Dean would choose. "Nah, man. It's your house."
At the thought of Cas staying behind, Dean's chest gave a painful squeeze. He looked up at the ceiling, forcing his chest to stop squeezing. It felt like there was a very small boa constrictor wrapped around his lungs, which was not as cute as it sounded. Once the "snake" released it's hold, he looked back down to find Cas, looking torn.
"Yeah, I know that. But your opinion matters to me. I think it would be a good idea if you were to help me pick something out." Castiel said. "I'll tell you if I absolutely detest it. I won't let you pick something awful."
"Okay, Cas. I don't really have a lot of experience in home décor, though, so don't be disappointed if it looks awful." Dean warned.
So began the long process of looking at every color the store had. He carefully watched Cas's reactions to each color as they looked at them together, immediately scrapping it if Cas made a face or didn't look all that happy. In the end, they were down to two final choices, both of which Dean approved of.
There was a soft purple, which seemed to light up the room in a calming presence. Then, there was the one that looked like a crackling fireplace; dark and romantic. It was a little more expensive than the purple one, but Cas seemed to not care about his budget. He looked between Dean and the choices, seemingly waiting for further instruction.
"I like both of them, how about you pick for this?" He suggested, gesturing towards both of them. Castiel thought for a few moments before he relented, reaching forward to pick up the cackling fire one.
Dean internally smiled. Okay, so he liked both of them, but he had to admit he was hoping Cas would choose that one. He liked the way it bounced off of their skin; he thought it would be interesting to watch, especially if he could get it dancing over as much of Cas's skin as possible...
Cas walked up to the register, handing the woman the can of paint. She glanced between the two of them and the paint, her lip quirking up the smallest amount.
"Well, now. Mostly, this is bought by young lovers. Tell me Cas, in my hundred and twenty years of selling you paint, have I ever seen you with a lover before?" She teased him, winking at Dean. Dean smiled a little bit. This was much better than the time that store clerk had assumed he and Benny were a couple.
They didn't get kicked out, but they had ended up leaving. If they hadn't, Dean would have punched that self-righteous prick right in the nose, he would've. He was sure there were still idiots here, but it seemed to be a lot less common. The kind of world people were shooting for.
"I-I'm very happy to say that I am involved with Dean, yes." Castiel stammered out, blushing. Dean smiled at him, feeling his eyes glaze over.
"Best wishes to you!" She said, smiling at them.
"Thank you very much. You have a good day, miss." Castiel said. She nodded her head. Cas turned then, sensing the end of the conversation and anxious to walk around with Dean again. Dean followed, picking up the paint.
"You two be good now!" She shouted, as they walked out the door. Castiel waved one last goodbye before he shut the door of the tent.
"Are you ready to go home and get this stuff all over some rocks?" Dean offered, raising his eyebrows. Castiel paused, frowning.
"Actually, I was thinking that we should walk around for a little while. I wanted to show you the market place, not just get some paint and leave." Castiel explained.
Dean smiled a little bit, nodding. "Alright then, show me the way."
They kept walking, row after row of vendor. Dean's stomach let out a loud gurgle yet again, and Castiel rolled his eyes before walking over to a vendor and buying two slices of some sort of meat. It was a little chewy for Dean's taste, but he absolutely scarfed it down, body craving it after so long.
"God, what is this?" He asked. It was spiced just right...
"It's rat meat." Castiel said, casually, taking a bite. Dean paused, looking at him with wide eyes. "Don't worry, the rats had been tested for illness before being cooked. We're not barbarians, Dean."
Dean paused, looking down at his half-finished treat. Then, he promptly decided that "yolo" applied, and bit in yet again. Damn, if he could just bring that cook some more tender meat, like a steak. It would taste delicious.
"So, what are we gonna go check out now?" He questioned, following Cas. Cas turned and looked at him for a moment, tilting his head to the side.
"I'm not sure. Do you want to pick a place?" He offered. Dean shook his head.
"Alright then. Do you want to go home?" He offered again.
Dean hesitated. "You know what? Let's go look at that stand." He said, pointing to a random one. Castiel followed him as he marched over to it, throwing out the empty wrapper of his food in a trash can, which was conveniently located by the stand.
Dean approached, looking down at the objects, strewn across the table. Most of them were rings, but some looked like pendants and still others looked like they were bracelets, made out of leather.
He picked up a small ring. It looked so lifelike; green and brown metal sculpted to look like twigs and leaves, all twirling around a bright green gemstone. Actually, it sort of looked like a class ring. Castiel came up beside him, Dean only noticing when a hand reached out to take the ring he was looking at from his hands.
"This is a better piece of work. Do you like it?" Castiel questioned. Dean shrugged.
"Sort of reminds me of a class ring. It's pretty, though. Really well done." He said, glancing at the jeweler. He seemed pleased with Dean's reaction; one of the reasons Dean said anything in the first place. He'd figured a lot of love went into the ring.
"What's a class ring?" Castiel questioned, setting it back down on the table. Dean paused, trying to think of a way to describe it.
"Well, when humans graduate their high school, a lot of them get class rings with the year that they graduated engraved onto them. Sometimes when humans date, they give their significant other their class ring, sort of as a promise. I never got one of my own because we were always moving around and I didn't much see the point in it. So, yeah." Dean said, shrugging. Cas nodded thoughtfully.
They left the jewelery store, walking a little bit further. Dean absentmindedly followed Cas, not really paying attention to what was happening. He was mostly just... zoning.
Eventually, he realized that there weren't many people anymore. The vendors were spread far and wide, and the people were mostly just the people selling the items.
"I think we should head back now, Cas." Dean said, dreading the walk back. His legs were already tired.
"I think I have a better idea." Castiel said, looking over at Dean. He leaned down and scooped Dean up into his arms, his wings unfurling from his back as he did so. Dean relaxed, figuring Cas was just going to fly them back.
Castiel did not, however, fly them back. His wings took into the air and he rose, higher and higher, through the trees and sunlight and branches. Eventually he came to rest in a small hollow, just big enough that Dean could have comfortably laid down without worrying about falling.
"What are we doing up here?" Dean asked, being careful not to look down. Castiel smiled, and his eyes darkened just the tiniest bit.
"Remember earlier, when we almost kissed, but I pulled away?" Castiel reminded him, walking forward. It wasn't long until Dean and Cas were pressed up together, and Dean's dick twitched with interest in his pants. "Do you really think I'd leave you hanging like that?"
"I don't know. Do you... Want to leave me... Hanging like that?" Dean asked, because all of his blood was currently in his dick and even when that isn't the situation, comebacks and responses aren't his forte.
"You know, this place is secluded. Nobody can hear us up this high. It's private, tranquil." Castiel said, his hands coming to rest on Dean's shoulders. Dean nodded a little, leaning down and pressing a small kiss to Cas's lips.
"Then why are we still wearing pants?" Dean questioned. Cas smirked.
"Because we don't have any lube. I do, however, have a good alternative." He said, pressing his lips back to Dean's. Dean's tongue delved into Cas's mouth, exploring and licking and nipping. Cas let a small moan slip out, his hips bucking eagerly against Dean's in an attempt to get any friction.
They broke apart, a thin trail of saliva attaching their lips. Castiel's pupils were blown and his hair was wrecked as he glanced hungrily downwards.
Slowly, Castiel sank to his knees. He looked up at Dean through his eyelashes, large blue eyes sparkling with mischief. He unbuttoned Dean's pants, unzipping them by putting the zipper between his front teeth and giving a rough tug downwards. Dean thought that he probably could have came in his pants just from that sight.
Cas's hands raised again to grab a hold of his pants and underwear, pulling them down over his hips. He watched as Dean's cock was finally released of it's confines, curving upwards. Castiel leaned forward, letting the tip of his tongue just barely trace a vein. Dean smelled like musk; he felt drunk off of it.
Dean let out a long moan, looking up and bringing his fist to his mouth, biting it so that he wouldn't buck or curse. Holy crap, Cas had just applied the right amount of pressure; Dean was panting and wanting, and he'd hardly even touched him.
Castiel had apparently decided to have a little fun, because he kept doing the same. Exact. Thing.
His tongue would run, light and promising, over Dean's shaft, and stop before he'd get to the head. Dean's hips would buck or he'd bite his hand or let out a long, embarrassing whine, but Cas seemed to have infinite patience when it came to this.
By the time he started lavishing Dean's cock with sloppy, wet licks, Dean was already throbbing and aching. Castiel got him as wet as possible, lips sinking down almost to his base and moth filling with salivia, before he choked and pulled off. He looked at Dean's cock for a few moments before he decided that it was, indeed, wet enough. He stood up, working quickly to pull his own garments off.
Cas's beautiful cock was swollen and already leaking at the tip; he was clearly not going to last long.
"Did sucking me really do that to you, Cas?" Dean purred, leaning forward to nip his ear. Cas let out a groan, throwing back his head and exposing his throat. Dean immediately went to work, determined to cover all of the fading hickeys with new, brighter ones.
"God, Dean," Cas said, moving their hips together.
Dean pulled away from Cas's neck only when Cas began to rut against him, quickly connecting their lips instead. Dean's left hand came down to grasp their cocks together, twisting his hand to get some of Cas's spit on his own cock and avoid chaffing. Cas's hips began to move, hands coming to rest on Dean's shoulders as he fucked up into his fist.
Cas's moist length moving against his put Dean in absolute heaven. He reached out to rub fingers through Cas's feathers, his own hips working against the other man's in an attempt to fuel the fire raging in both of them. Dean moved his hand up and down, squeezing their cocks together softly as he did.
"Dean!" Cas cried out, thrusting speeding up. Dean let out a moan in return, pressing his forehead to Cas's and looking deep into his eyes. Castiel refused to move, his gaze trained on Dean and body taught, hips still, trying to hold on for as long as he could.
"It's alright, Cas." Dean purred, increasing the pace. Cas was struggling with it, not wanting it to be over so soon but at the same time anticipating the long waves of pleasure that would take over his body, maybe even his wings, too, if Dean kept rubbing them that way.
In the end, the decision was made for him.
Dean's fingers hit a sweet spot in his wings, and they fluffed out. Pleasure, tingling and wonderful, exploded across his shoulders. His hips unfroze and began to move at an incredibly fast pace, fucking up into Dean's fist as he moaned and his wings jerked, feeling on the edge of even more, so close...
His vision turned white as he began his climax, crying out. His dick pulsed against Dean's, hips still working furiously. The pleasure and euphoria washed over his body in waves, sending him higher and higher into ecstasy. He let his hips slowly come to a halt, eyes still shut and leaning against Dean. Dean's hand continued to work on him, pulling out the last drops of his nectar.
Dean let out a loud moan as he climaxed, cum covering his own hand. Castiel made a small sound of contentment, nuzzling into his lover's neck. A long time passed in silence, Dean removing his hand from their spent dicks and looking for a place to wipe it.
"Well, that was kinky." Dean said, smiling.
"This is kinky, too." Cas said, grabbing the wrist of Dean's cum-covered hand. He lifted it slowly to his mouth, tongue darting out to begin to lick at it.
Dean watched, eyes hungry as Cas's tongue darted in between his fingers, cleaning out every crevice and plane. Cas lapped it up as if it were milk, tongue curving around Dean's skin in a way that was so deliciously tempting, it almost had Dean hard again. He stared in utter and absolute shock as Castiel pulled away, leaving his hand entirely clean and cum-free.
"That.. Was very kinky." Dean agreed, nodding his head in agreement. Castiel smiled.
Castiel rummaged through his closet (Which, of course, Dean had found cool as fuck because the door to it blended into the walls. He hadn't noticed it before. Which, of course, somehow made it cool,) (Cas would never understand humans). He looked left and right, trying to find what he was looking for. It had only been six months since he'd painted the rocks last time, it should not be this damned hard to find-
He emerged victorious, a pair of brushes clutched in his hands.
He handed one of them to Dean, the smaller one. Dean pouted at his tiny brush, but quickly moved on with his life. Castiel grabbed one of his rocks and dragged it to the middle of the living room, placing it on a big pad he'd laid out earlier. He plopped himself down in front of it, popping the paint can he'd purchased open and sitting it on the side of the rock.
Dean laid across the couch. "Hey, Cas. Paint me like one of your french girls."
Castiel looked at him, brow furrowing in confusion. "You... Want me to paint you as a woman?"
"No, it was... Never mind. You wouldn't get it." Dean said, giving a small sigh. Castiel shook his head, turning his attention back to the task at hand.
Dean sat across from him, brush in hand and dipping the bristles slowly into the paint. He got a glob and just started smoothing it around, trying to imitate what Cas was doing.
Castiel looked up from the rock to look at Dean. He felt his eyes glaze over as he stared at his hunter, affection pooling in his chest and warming up his entire body.
Dean Winchester, the only being who had made him desire . Not just sexually, either. Castiel had never felt romantically towards another human being before Dean. He was certain that, were Dean to leave, he would not find someone who could make him feel like Dean had. He would live the rest of his days... alone.
And, while alone wasn't bad, and Cas could make it work... Well, he didn't want to. He wanted Dean, he wanted kisses on cool nights and winks at each other and the ease of talking and speaking and being that they'd seemed to develop. Nobody would connect to him like Dean would, and that was just fact.
He didn't want to lose Dean. Dean was the most important friend he'd had in quite awhile. Dean was brave and loyal and kind, and with his friends beginning to do things that could potentially pin them on opposite sides of a confrontation, Cas wasn't sure there was anything he had to stay here for. Still, it seemed like he was determined not to make up his mind until the very end of his allotted time. He refused to decide.
"Cas. You've been staring at me for two minutes straight now. Well, I mean, maybe "straight" isn't the right word for it, but I think you get my-"
"Dean, you're ruining the moment." Castiel teased, immediately. Dean laughed a little, looking down and shaking his head.
"What moment? There was a moment?"
"Yes, I was just plotting which way I would kill you. Strangulation sounds like the best route for now." Castiel said, thoughtfully. Dean rolled his eyes and playfully kicked him in the calves.
"I hate you."
"That's not what you said last night." Castiel muttered. Dean's eyes widened, and he busted out into a fit of laughter.
"You... Fae have jokes like that? That's like, a meme in the human world." Dean said, finally overcoming his fit of laughter long enough to get out the rest of his thought. Castiel stared at him until he finally stopped.
"I don't know what a "meme" is. Dean, what is that?" Castiel asked, tilting his head to the side. Dean laughed even harder at that, leaving Castiel feeling a little bit confused. "Dean. What is a meme?"
"It just... It doesn't matter." Dean choked out, smiling. He caught his breath a little, seeming to adjust after his long bout of laughter.
"Okay." Castiel said, doubtfully.
Seeing that this rock was finished, he picked it up and moved it back into it's place. As soon as that was done, he grabbed another one, carrying it over to Dean and setting it down gently between them.
Dean raised his brush, and began to paint again.
The next morning, Castiel got up before Dean.
The sun had barely began to rise; he knew he had plenty of time before Dean would wake up. And, yet, he felt am odd sense of urgency about what he was doing.
He quickly dressed, putting on his casual attire and grabbing his bag of money. He wrote a note on his only spare piece of paper, folding it up and placing it tenderly beside Dean's head as he slept. Dean turned over, letting out a large yawn, but remained asleep.
"I'll be back soon." Castiel mumbled, mostly to reassure himself. He walked on the tips of his toes, creeping into the living room and through it, where the flickering light was just beginning to die down. Castiel had to admit that he liked the pattern a lot. He was actually astounded he'd never tried it before.
Then again, he had to acknowledge that the only reason he'd decided to try something new now was because Dean was here, and he was feeling adventurous.
He flew as fast as his wings could take him, still managing to admire the warm air and the occasional patches of sunlight against his body as he flew. He wanted to be able to be back before Dean woke, so that hopefully he'd never actually know he'd gone anywhere.
He reached the vendor quicker than he had anticipated. Quickly, he sifted through the jewelery, until he found the ring. It was fairly large for something that was admittedly feminine, and looked as though it would fit Dean perfectly. Castiel couldn't wait to see his reaction to being given the object he was admiring...
Castiel put the money on the table and slipped the ring into his bag, nodding to the man silently. The man nodded back, his eyes smiling as he took in the milling customers.
Castiel flew back with slower flaps of his wings, taking his time. He let the air sift through his feathers, even did a few tricks he'd been working on. He knew that, if he chose to go with Dean, he wouldn't have as many opportunities to fly. In fact, he'd be pressed to say he'd get to do it once every three or four months. Humans destroyed nature just like they destroyed their relationships with the fae, which wouldn't leave many secluded places to stretch his wings.
Of course, he'd have new things to explore and people to talk to and even more beyond that. He couldn't just pretend like he'd be crushed to move in with Dean; Dean wasn't his only reason for wanting to go. Primary reason, yes. Only reason, hell no.
Castiel was beginning to get his interests back. He was beginning to like studying again, beginning to enjoy listening to Dean blab on for hours about human culture and technology, and his passion was returning, flaring bright like a star. He wanted to learn; and this way, he could also help build the knowledge of the clan. There was no losing.
He got back home and looked around, listening carefully for any sounds. After determining that he was, in fact, alone, he crept forward and set down his bag. He went back into the bedroom, finding Dean still sound asleep in the bed. A small smile crept up onto his face.
He crawled back into the bed, snuggling up with Dean. His eyes closed slowly as his body became heavier, drifting off to sleep.
The last thing he could remember feeling was an arm draping itself over him.