Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Duh. A. N. Happy Birthday and many, many happy returns, my dearest Sendai! Hope you enjoy this. If you don't...well, there's better to come in the future. I am confident. ;D
On impulse
Dean doesn't much like surprises as a rule. In his life, getting blindsided usually means major fuckups. Not always of the 'someone is gonna die' kind, luckily, that's true. Not that the lack of bodies always helps. He still hasn't entirely forgiven Sam for fucking Flagstaff and probably never will. His baby brother was old enough to have a shred of common sense...or should have been.
So yeah, when he brings Cas (and Sam, in tow as ever) to yet another diner whose name seems to have attracted his boyfriend, and he's suddenly plunged into unspecified celebrations? He's not happy about it.
And he's even less happy when he suspects that Cas might have premeditated it. He's glad for Cas to have friends - alive, even - and he's thrilled that his angel might want to show him off. It's just, one word of warning would have been nice. While he can charm anyone as easy as breathing, socializing is a whole nother can of worms. If Cas wants to keep these people in their life...well, he should have known not to toss Dean at them unprepared.
Eventually, though, a few things become clear. One, Cas didn't actually expect it either. Which is awesome, because Dean would rather not have to argue. It might be a little of an asshole move, inviting yourself over to a friend's...universe without so much as a text. Because apparently this is a thing that happens, no bleeding archangels needed. Sam will figure it out, probably, and enjoy himself in doing so, the nerd.
Two, Cas' new friends are weirdly matched. You'd assume that the two who could pass for runway models - and as annoying as any - would be a perfect pair, and the soft looking blondes another. Then again, one of them said he's a veteran, and the other one is an angel, which really, enough said, so they're just good at hiding how deadly they are. Possibly that's what attracted them in the first place, someone had to stop the posh ones from getting murdered in frustration by anyone they came across.
A little later, with good food and good drink, things have warmed up. Cas vouching for them wasn't enough for Dean to immediately decide they're awesome, because frankly, Cas has a track record of not always being the best judge of character. He's half convinced this is why the angel is in love with him in the first place, though, so he'll take his luck with the downsides and all.
These ones, though? Hey, they definitely beat Uriel. Not that it takes a lot to do that, fine. Somehow, the conversation slipped from "I still can't believe we're finally together, " to, of all things, first meetings.
"I'm actually not sure," Aziraphale says. Which, what?
"Come on, don't tell me you've forgotten!" Crowley complains. The name still keeps tripping Dean up every time. No relation, sure. Not in another universe. But between that and the English accent... Their Crowley would probably laugh his ass off if he knew.
"Of course not!" Aziraphale looks positively traumatized at the idea. "It's just...you've changed a bit since. Including your name, so."
Crowley laughs. "Details, huh? I've changed, yeah, but not that much. It's the rest that - nah, don't get me started. OK, I'll tell you all then. Back back back then, like creation back, mum left me a few chores to take care of. So much space to fill, literally. And then this one comes along, and he's so distractingly adorable I actually forgot to start light going. It'd be awkward, huh? An universe plunged in darkness? If I hadn't wanted to impress him, I'd probably never have remembered in the first place."
Dean wonders for a hot minute if Amara decided to actually try her hand at creation, too. Frankly, so long as she doesn't go wild, he doesn't care.
"Well, depending on point of view, we got two first meetings too, right Cas? As grateful as I am for the first first, I kinda prefer the one I was actually whole for. "
Cas grins at him. "Sparks flew. Literally. I know, I know, I should know better...but you haven't seen him then. He got my heart."
"Yeah, with the demon knife." And Cas had smiled, even back then. Crazy, that's what they are. About each other, lucky him.
"What?" Of all the people, it's Sam who yelps. Oh yeah, he wasn't there, and Dean had been a little short on details when telling him. Their communication at the time was almost worse than ever, and it wasn't his fault.
"You know I assumed he was a demon," he says instead.
"Still not a reason to get stabby," Crowley grumbles under his breath.
"Maybe not in your universe." Dean shrugs. He doesn't want to start a fight, but that plan? It had been sound, given the limited knowledge he had.
"We only had one first meeting, no matter how you splice it, but if you'd strolled in right after and told me the supernatural was real, I'd have nodded along. Pretty sure I'd met a Fae or something. It turns out it was just pure human brilliance. That's how he knew everything about me."
"I didn't know Harry was your sister," Sherlock admits.
"I was so out of it, between the way you deduced me and your sheer gorgeousness, that I might have forgotten that myself if Stamford had asked me right after."
Aziraphale, given the amount of sweets they've all been demolishing, has ordered a cocoa sprinkled coffee, so there's a sugar dispenser on the table. Just to be sure, Dean accidentally knocks it over. Deft move, he thought, but from Sherlock's giant eye-roll, maybe not so much.
"What was that for?" the sleuth huffs.
"Can confirm. Not a fairy."
"Thrilling." Sherlock's tone is completely flat, and okay, maybe it wasn't strictly necessary. But better safe than sorry.
John mumbles something right in his boyfriend's ear, and that seems distracting enough that the tongue-lashing Dean could see coming stops in its tracks.
Still, that's his cue to shut up, maybe. Let Cas handle his friends. Concentrate on the food. Can't go wrong with that. He might actually need to ask for a recipe or two, and hope that the ingredients do not come from whatever other universes these people belong to.
Trying not to make a further misstep leaves Dean with time to think, though. Sam would probably say that's a bad idea - ok, maybe not, his brother has never mocked Dean's smarts half as much as his own internal monologue liked to do. He barely follows the others' soft chat. It's nothing important, after all, mostly silly anecdotes; besides, they're not going to see them again. Possibly. Probably.
How that segues into Dean's next idea, not even he could be able to explain. But he knows he's going to. Speaking of surprises - well. Maybe it's his turn to toss Cas in the deep end and see how things go. Sure, the angel didn't plan to. But Dean didn't either, not until fifteen seconds ago, so they're even? Sorta?
They've taken long enough between falling in love and actually admitting it, so if he wants to rush now...surely it's understandable? To anyone with a human lifespan, at least?
And yeah, he lacks the proper means, and this is a terrible idea, because maybe doing it the wrong way will finally be the thing that makes Cas figure out that he's chosen wrong. Especially with happier -and less stupid, he imagines - couples to compare them with. But recklessness has always been Dean's thing, in the first place, and if he stops now he'll talk himself out of it for another three decades, assuming he lives that long.
He keeps playing with the ring on his finger - his mom's, actually, and he still doesn't know why dad let him have it in the first place, much less wear it. Almost distractedly, he takes it off.
"Hey huh, Cas?" He nudges his boyfriend, now listening intently to Crowley complaining about his beloved's total lack of gardening skill, and how that could absolutely have made their Stop The Apocalypse plan stumble, if they didn't have the wrong antichrist in the first place.
Which, seriously? You'd think that the boy would be obvious, what with the freakishness around him. Dean's just relieved that he didn't turn himself blind that one time...Australia is still standing, so the kid (must be a young man, by now) seems to have taken Sam's words to heart.
His angel turns to him, a smile on his lips.
"Wouldyoumarryme?" All on one breath, before he loses his nerve, so soft maybe John and Sherlock haven't even heard.
...And the lights are gone, again, in a storm of sparks. Cas and Aziraphale shield everyone, wings spreading over the table.
"Sorry," Cas mumbles, loud, and Dean tries not to be sick, because of course, what was he thinking... but then his angel rumbles, "Yes, please," and - this is about them, right? Someone hasn't offered him a pastry while he was trying not to dissociate?
The lights are back, and he's blinking, trying to get his bearings back, only he's being kissed, and - okay, he hasn't fucked up. He's melting a little, and then someone's speaking, and - can't people give them a minute? Seriously?
"What?" he huffs, when Cas - always mindful of human lungs' limitations, not that Dean would mind pushing them - parts from him.
"Sorry," Sherlock says, glancing at John. Possibly the man tried to stop him. "Just wondering if we're invited."
"To?" John asks, while Cas looks at him. For...confirmation? Dean shrugs - if that yes was his yes, Cas can invite anyone he likes - and sneakily slips his ring on his angel's finger. He doesn't argue, so this is it. The yes was for him. Jimmy Novak was married, as confused by humanity as Cas can sometimes be, he wouldn't be unaware - or let Dean get away with it if he didn't mean it.
"Oh. Congratulations!" That's John, again, and the other two are grinning their blessings, too, and he's not checking on Sam because there's no doubt the boy's going to be happy for him. (Sammy's a boy, no matter how old they get. His brother's lucky he upgraded from kid, really, and that's not a constant, where Dean's concerned.)
"Of course you're invited, if Clara could..." Cas says, and Clara - the waitress - gives him a thumbs up.
"You know, we aren't that far from Vegas," Sam mentions. And it's true, they're not, but -
"I'd like my wedding to last a little longer than yours," he snaps, and that's a low blow, because. The Becky debacle. Definitely on the list of 'best forgotten' things in their lives that seems to be ever-growing.
"Besides, they're going to need time to organise all the details of the ceremony. Menu, seating, colour schemes..." Sherlock interjects.
John grabs him by the wrist, "Oh no, mister, don't even think about it. The only other wedding you're taking over is your own."
"I didn't know we had a wedding planner here," Aziraphale remarks, looking almost interested.
"Not a professional. You wouldn't have guessed when it was my turn, though." John's warm chuckle makes his partner blush.
Wait... "You married?" Look, Dean knows better than anyone that relationships don't necessarily last. But John seemed so besotted, and they've known each other a long time, from what they said, and... it just doesn't compute.
"Long story. In my defence, I was left...well, I'm pretty sure not unsupervised, but if Mycroft had bothered to mention that my new girl was freelancing in murder - yeah, MI6, but I'd bet not just that - I would have reconsidered."
"Well, who has never picked a less than wholesome partner?" That's Sam, of course, and Dean almost laughs. Not that he has a perfect record, not by far, but yeah, his brother...it's no wonder he sometimes gets the urge to actually supervise. Well, pre-approve. When Sammy's exes list includes a kitsune, a werewolf, and possibly a couple demons (he's not sure how far things went with Meg), and that's just off the top of his head, he's pretty sure anyone else would too, in his shoes.
Aziraphale raises his hand, with a beatific smile. Crowley's eyebrows shoot up - didn't he know? - but then, he follows suit, with a smug one. He offsets it immediately with, "We met at literal creation, angel. Most others aren't as lucky."
"I'm just answering, darling boy. You know me better than that. I don't judge."
Crowley actually snorts. "Well, you're right - not on that subject. Otherwise? I could talk a little."
"I admit when I'm wrong, don't I?" Aziraphale pouts a little. John throws him a surprised look. Of course; the man is green still. He doesn't know that angels come in the widest range of...everything, really. If he's being truthful, at least people will be less tempted to stab him in the face (or somewhere else). They could all do without losing more friends.
He has to admit, though, the detective's rant on all the technicalities involved in wedding planning have scared him a little. So many things he can ruin. Sure, he could simply defer to Cas. At the very least, Dean's good at doing what he's told - so long as it doesn't involve absolutely monstrous things like killing Sammy. But the idea of Cas in charge of such eminently human things... He involuntarily smirks a little.
"What's up?" Cas asks.
It's useless to lie, especially in this company, so he shrugs and say, "Just wondering how you wanted our wedding."
"So long as it happens, I am supremely unconcerned about the minutiae of it," Cas rumbles. "Whatever makes you happy."
Dean shivers. Look, he really can't help it, between the meaning and the tone of those words. Can they get home now? Or - the motel, at least. Anywhere that has at least a modicum of privacy and, preferably, an horizontal surface. He's not picky, though.
By the way, they're going to have to get Sam another room. Since this was supposed to be work, and Cas doesn't sleep...well, Dean can control himself a couple days, when there are other priorities. So there was no reason to book more than one room. It's getting late, though, and he can't exactly kick his brother out to sleep in Baby, huh? They're not twenty anymore...surprising as that sometimes still is.
"So, huh, are there rules to this way of travelling? Since you're invited, you know, if you're going to have to be gone in three hours or something, there might be some planning to do around it." If they're disappearing soon, it'll be a pity to cut Cas' time with them short. If they are going to be around a lot more, maybe he can persuade him to leave right now. Hopefully see them again tomorrow.
It's the waitress that answers him. Clara, her nametag says. " Don't you worry, Dean. While she can't stay here indefinitely, she can - and will - be around for much longer than the wildest revelries you might want to indulge in."
"She?" He frowns a bit. Everyone else at the table is a he...or at least looks like one.
"This place is my TARDIS. Travelling through time and space, and every subset of it. Of course she's a she. I don't suggest you offend her." And Clara winks.
"My apologies to the lady." And he's serious. "Does she have a name?" When speaking to someone, it's always more effective to call them by their proper name.
"Not one for polite company," and Clara chuckles. "Been a guest of her sister Sexy for a long time, though. But I think you might get it."
"Oh, I do." And he pets the table's edge a little, gently. If she likes Cas, and helped him, well, thanks are in order. "Baby does, too."
"That'd be the car," Sam points out, deadpan, and hopefully needlessly. Cas couldn't have made friends without mentioning Baby to them even once...could he? He wouldn't do that to her.
"John, is this normal among vehicle owners?" Sherlock asks, quietly - but not so low that Dean doesn't hear him.
Before he can snark back, John shrugs. "Kinda. Besides, you count your brother's fleet under the 'public transport' option you prefer to stick to."
"And what car would it be?" Crowley asks, leaning towards him.
"A '67 Impala." Ok, Cas is forgiven if he never explained that - it's not his field anyway.
"Mmm...pretty, I bet. But I gotta see if we can carry mine over too, next time. A 1926 Bentley. They did know how to do things back then."
Dean can only nod enthusiastically. "Must be hell to find spare parts for, though...it's complicated enough for Baby." Ok, maybe other people don't have quite as many monster-related crashes, but still. Wear and tear.
Crowley laughs. "Hell helps. It's as easy as snapping my fingers. Wait, don't you miracle things into existence here?"
Dean doesn't want to gape, but he probably does. Fuck. That's...some calibre of friends Cas got himself there. Lucky they're actually friends. "That's...archangel and above. Here." Wait, they said Crowley changed his name... It couldn't be - one of them, right? I mean, yeah, parallel universes, and friendly, and all you want, but he can't help being a little on edge.
"Someone was stingy when sharing powers," Crowley remarks.
Dean actually snorts, because. If only that was the worst Chuck ever did.
But Crowley asks, "Huh...Clara? Could we actually go say hi to her? We'd pop right back in, I just think. Someone needs appreciation."
Sherlock groans, long and loud, but that's all of his protest against people acting like idiots (his face is eloquent). Well, he could probably bond with Sam. Dean's a bit ashamed of not having managed to make a car geek out of the kid, but after all, Sam didn't have to be, Dean was there to handle Baby. Except when he wasn't, fine. But he eventually came back.
Clara gives them a thumbs up, and they leave, quietly. Dean, Cas (of course), Crowley, Aziraphale (unsurprising)...and even Sam. Maybe he does suspect that Dean wouldn't mind taking advantage of this to leave. He can't exactly hide a lot from his brother.
He points her out, in the parking lot, and Crowley comes forward, an appreciative grin on his face. "Pretty...and see, angel? Black. All the best ones are."
Aziraphale groans a little. "I put it back, didn't I? I still think yellow's way more cheerful."
"What?" Dean shields his baby, just in case.
"I borrowed the Bentley, and well. I do love her, okay? And she likes me too, for the record. She didn't protest when I made her a little less gloomy than usual."
"You gave his car an unsanctioned paint job?" That's Sam, and he sounds terrified. Good.
"And you didn't marry him the second he didn't kill you for it?" is Dean's much more important question.
Aziraphale has the gall to laugh. "That is quite the hyperbole. Surely, you don't actually think..."
"Dude, I might or might not have hoped adding an iPod to her would be enough to warrant being haunted at one point. Paint job? I didn't want to be drawn and quartered," Sam interjects.
"Kind of a pity we didn't meet them earlier, angel. I mean, not marrying, don't want to rush you, but I wouldn't have minded you getting the bloody point back then." Crowley huffs.
Aziraphale kisses him, soft and slow, and at least that's going to distract him from trying to mess with any car.
Dean nudges Cas. "Since they can stay, and come again - and again - what do you say about going?" he breathes in his boyfriend's - wait, no, fiancé's - ear.
Surprisingly, he looks conflicted. "We didn't exactly say goodbye. Sherlock would - "
"Understand." What? When did the detective get here? And his boyfriend too, of course. You can't leave him around on his own. Even Dean has figured that out, and they aren't exactly childhood friends. "It was rather obvious that your fiancé would have wanted to move on to celebrations of a more private persuasion, Cas. Not even John could make me fake interest in a car, but on second thought, you coming back inside didn't seem likely, so. Here we are. See you soon...and if you need a not investigative consultation, Clara will know how to reach me."
"I'll keep it in mind" Cas replies, with a smile.
"Speaking of Clara and consultations, she'd like to borrow Sam for the night. She says she's well aware there's no universe where she could hide if she was tempted to steal him," John reported.
"Why didn't she come herself?" Sam says, and frankly, good question.
"She said there's someone else she wanted you to meet, so she's gone to fetch her. "
Sam looks at him, a little unsure.
"We'll be busy, so - whatever you like, Sammy."
"I guess I could - see what they want to talk about."
"Almost forgot - if it's relevant, they're both functionally immortal," John adds.
And he almost wants to call Sam back, because what the fuck are they, the last thing Sam needs is another monster lay, but...his brother is all too happy with the reassurance that , if things turn interesting, he won't have to worry about them joining the list of his dead exes. Dean contents himself with 'functionally', and shuts up. If this ends up being in any way close to the Ruby situation, he'll find a way to murder everyone involved. Or Sam will. You gotta start trusting your brother at some point.
Everyone else gets back inside, with a last, "See you" to the two of them.
"Relax" Cas rumbles against his ear.
Dean can never argue with that tone.