Author's Note:
So this one's a bit short but I wanted to write something like this for a while - just needed the right moment and I think interrupting a cliffhanger is the right moment ;)
Also I wasn't entirely sure if I mentioned their parents previously (I had a bunch of different ideas throughout but I can't remember what I've said or written) I scanned all the chapters and found nothing so here is this chapter! Enjoy
"Don't get me wrong," Castiel said as he dropped a box with the few others they had, all packed hastily and sloppily at best. "I'm ecstatic that we're moving so close to Charlie's place, but would you mind explaining again why we're staying in town?"
"You don't mind but you want answers, is that it?" Michael sighed tiredly as he leaned against a much heavier box than Cas' had been, Castiel wasn't much for heavy lifting if he wasn't asked to do it.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Because they'd expect us to skip town, that's why. Also grandma comes here during her city shopping runs so she told me to stay around here." Michael paused and looked at his little brother's slightly worried expression. "We'll be fine, alright?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks Mike."
Cas still couldn't quite get his mind around it. Just a few days previous he'd come home from school, everything seemed normal. His parents were tired but they always seemed to be, except this time it was a sort of distant tired. Like they weren't willing to acknowledge him. He'd said hello and out of habit or politeness they replied but something was off, he hadn't been able to put his finger on it.
He'd gone to his room to relax and Michael slipped in with a simple demand; pack your stuff. Cas hadn't understood at first, why would he have to pack? Pack what? Going where? And so many more questions. Michael's answer was 'Pack everything that's important to you. Leave the garbage. Do it fast.'
On the trip away from home Michael explained that their parents found out about Cas' less than 'Christian' beliefs. Mostly about his sexuality and how he wasn't straight - there was mention of conversion therapy and it sent chills down Cas' spine.
Their family was poor, his parents worked their hardest but neither had a high school diploma and minimum wage wasn't particularly a living wage. They gave everything they had into raising their kids, Michael was older and Cas knew that they pressured him into taking care of his little brother. Everyone thought it was a secret but Cas knew that his parents had sort of written Michael off as soon as Cas was conceived. It was like they believed they'd already messed him up and that Cas would be their true ticket to heaven or something. He never bothered to ask, it didn't seem right to pop their bubble.
But it was pretty evident in how the brothers were treated in church and at home. In fact, their parents didn't even care if Michael went or not but if Cas ever skipped? He was in some serious shit. Cas was expected to get higher grades, never get detentions or into any kind of trouble at all. Michael was his support and saving grace in a lot of instances. Their parents had left babysitting up to Michael while they worked overtime, he always had a list of shit Cas needed to get done and things he wasn't allowed to do etc.
All the things that Cas could be tested on were all things that were finished but Michael didn't give a shit about the rest. He let Cas stay up super late, bought junk food with his own money so Cas could enjoy it too. Michael even let him watch horror movies and stuff like Harry Potter despite their parents being adamantly against it.
Thinking about that, Cas figured them discovering his more queer tendencies was a shock for them. He'd heard horror stories about people coming out to their parents, which was a big reason he didn't say anything directly to them. If he ever brought another boy home it was cute that he had a friend - if they were home long enough to see, that is.
Part of him felt the fear that he knew he should but it wasn't registering quite right. Michael did most of the hard work already; he took Cas away from a dangerous environment, he found a place for them to stay and he even made sure they'd get help from their grandparents if need be. Cas was shaken up but there wasn't anything to be afraid of, he just had to wrap his head around the changes.
He couldn't imagine living away from his mom and dad; the first fear was that of change. He didn't know what to do about it; he didn't know what to say. He wouldn't see his parents for a long time, he had no idea how that would affect him. He didn't hate them, they were his parents and to imagine that they were about to turn on him like that… it was painful but he was so numb to it. He felt like he drifted through the first steps, but it was more like he was being carried.
Michael prepared for everything so fast, like he'd been waiting to take Cas away forever already. Cas was in a whirlwind of confusion and change but his brother was like an anchor, head on straight and eyes focused on what mattered. Cas didn't know exactly what Michael was so motivated by, he had a guess it was the ingrained demand to 'take care of Castiel.' But that just sounded selfish.
The first few days Michael had put them up in a cheap motel, Cas knew that Michael was saving up for something but he never thought that money would ever be used on him. He didn't know how to express his gratitude, he didn't even know if he was grateful at the time. All the serious conversations that happened regarding him happened between his parents, grandparents, and Michael. Cas was spared the commentary, and for that he was sure he'd thank Michael one day.
All negotiations were made and it was decided that Castiel's guardians would be his grandparents officially, however they didn't have space for him since they were in a nursing home. Michael stepped in and that's how Cas ended up living in a small space, just him and his big brother.
Every box was in the house now, Cas wasn't sure how he felt about the building but it wasn't so bad. It wasn't better than where their parents lived but it wasn't worse either. Plus he knew that Charlie's place was within walking distance so all was well. At least, that's what he would tell himself until it was true.
"You okay?" Michael asked as he sat down next to Cas on the empty living room floor, they didn't have any furniture to fill it just yet.
"Yeah," Cas muttered distantly, "I just… this' gonna take some getting used to, you know?"
"Yeah," Michael nodded and stared at the same beige wall that Cas' eyes were drawn to; there was a crack that split the paint in some areas that kept their attention for a few quiet seconds. "I'm sorry Cas," Michael said, breaking the silence and getting a look from his brother.
"Why?" Cas scoffed a dull laugh, "You did what you had to; I would've been in some crazy camp right now if it weren't for you."
Michael sighed and dropped back, lying flat on the floor and staring up. "I know, but maybe if I-"
Cas hit his stomach hard enough that Michael had to cough and sufficiently cut him off. "Shut up," he whispered as Michael recovered from the sudden assault, "Your stupid is getting out."
His brother smirked and elbowed him hard, "Fine, I get what you mean." Despite the harsh return gesture Cas knew Michael understood. It didn't matter what could have happened or might've been done, this was where they were now.
Cas lied down on the floor too, his gaze stuck on the weird oval-shaped light fixture above them, "Do mom and dad hate me now?" he blurted out and Michael didn't skip a beat in replying.
"No."
Cas couldn't help but smile at that quick response though his mind was still working overtime. "But we're not living with them anymore."
"They love you, they just think what you're doing is wrong and they want to 'fix it.'" Michael raised his hands to show his air quotes though his tone was sarcastic enough that Cas got the picture.
Cas wanted to ask all the obvious questions, why they couldn't understand or why it was so hard to just love your child unconditionally. He wanted to know why people hated things they didn't understand or even cares about things that had nothing to do with them. It was a waste of breath though. He exhaled heavily, a symbol to himself to let those words and questions go unanswered.
"Are things going to change a lot?" He asked after another few minutes of silent gazing at the ceiling.
"Things have changed as much as they're going to for a while," Michael said easily, like he was on the verge of falling asleep or something. "We didn't see mom and dad very often so that's not so different. You're closer to school now; you can walk instead of taking the bus, that's different. I've adjusted your bedtime to midnight, that's different. You can watch all the stuff I watch, that's different."
Cas laughed at the stupid way Michael said 'that's different' as if it was a whole new revelation each time. "We pick out the groceries together, that's different." He mimicked and Michael snorted.
"Exactly. Different doesn't mean bad, Cas. Everything that happens to you is just a new situation you'll eventually learn to live with regardless."
Cas hummed and turned his head to look at his big brother who's steel eyes were open, staring at nothing. "I guess we don't always have a choice, huh?"
Michael looked back at him and smiled, reassuring and warm, "No, but it's okay, Cas. Right now you've got me."
"Likewise." Cas grinned and sat upright, "Okay then, let's get this stuff unpacked."
"Sure." Michael groaned as he pushed himself up onto his feet again.
Cas was a little excited, he wanted to try and see the good side of what was happening and that meant letting himself get swept up in the moment and staying there. He was looking forward to organizing a new room, sure he didn't have a bed yet but it was okay, he and Michael would spend the time together.
Pizza was ordered that night after they separated boxes into the right spaces. They didn't have a lot of stuff yet, their grandparents would get things to them later but at that moment all they had were the few belongings they owned between them. They set up base camp in the soon-to-be living room space, each had a blanket and a pillow and they set up Michael's laptop for entertainment.
With no Internet they were left to scour through his downloaded films – Cas was surprised to see the number of things his brother had stolen.
"Pirated," Michael argued and Cas rolled his eyes dramatically.
"You wouldn't download a car, Michael."
"Hell yeah I would," his brother muttered under his breath and Castiel laughed.
"Whoa you downloaded Kung Fu Panda?" Cas leaned in as he scanned the list, "I wanted to see that one! Can we watch it?"
Michael smirked and clicked on it without a second pestering required.