#even when dean was mad at cas he made him popcorn

[babygirlwolverine]

7, 18 or 21 for the kisses? <3

7. I know we're fighting but come here (swoons) and 18. stealing kiss after stealing last slice of pizza

Movie nights really were Dean’s favorite type of date night. Maybe it was the Western movies that he got to share with Cas. Maybe it was the way his legs were tangled with Cas’ and the way Cas’ hands traced patterns over Dean’s thighs or up along his hip. Or maybe it was the pizza on the table and the spilling packets of candy and empty bag of popcorn on the motel table.

It was just… home. Even with them being on the road, traveling anywhere and everywhere just because they wanted to. Cas was home.

With one hand resting on Cas’ knee, Dean reached out to the pizza box blindly without taking his eyes from the TV. But when his hand fumbled around the empty box, he quickly dragged his gaze away from the screen.

What the…?

That couldn’t be right.

Yet, his eyes didn’t deceive him. There was no pizza left. Dean turned his gaze up to Cas, shooting him a look of betrayal. They had a deal.

“You dirty filthy little cheat,” Dean said, shoving at Cas’ shoulder, bumping the angel from his place tucked against Dean’s side.

Cas played innocent, flashing Dean a little pout. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and you’re interrupting the movie.”

“You took my last pizza slice,” Dean grumbled, faux-glaring at Cas.

“Are you sure you didn’t eat it already and just forgot?” Cas said.

Dean’s face scrunched up as he made a face at Cas and rolled his eyes. “No. You’re a pizza thief. And now you don’t deserve this,” Dean said, gesturing at their curled up position together as he shifted away and tucked himself into the corner of the couch away from Cas.

That pout was back on Cas’ face, but there was a playful glint in his eyes that had Dean fighting to tamper down the smile tugging at his own lips.

“No cuddles because I ate the last slice of pizza?”

“My. My last slice of pizza,” Dean said, crossing his arms and huffing.

Cas shifted a little closer on the couch, gaze flickering down to Dean’s lips. “What about kisses?”

Dean turned his eyes back to the TV. “You don’t deserve to be kissed, pizza stealer.”

“Stealer, huh?” Cas murmured, closing that final gap between them so he was hovering in Dean’s space. “And what if I steal a kiss right now?” Leaning close, Cas ghosted his lips against Dean’s in just a hint of a kiss before backing away a little with a little smirk on his lips.

“Still mad at you,” Dean muttered, a clearly blatant lie as he snagged Cas by the waist and pulled him close. “Now come back here and kiss me again.”

Cas laughed, happy and soft, as their mouths met again in a slow kiss that stole Dean’s breath away.

Okay, maybe he could forgive Cas for stealing the last slice of pizza, only if Cas kept kissing him like that.

Roadtrip kisses drabbles!

[orionsangel86]

The first Valentines Day they spent together wasn’t great. Taking out a horseman of the apocalypse and consuming an obscene amount of red meat wasn’t exactly a great start for a whirlwind romance. But Dean still remembers the butterflies he got in his stomach when Cas stood too close, or held his gaze for slightly too long.

The Valentines Day’s that came after that were mostly painful, or just another day that Dean wanted to forget:

- Handing Lisa a crumpled gas station valentines day card and a bunch of flowers that had already seen better days.

- Drowning in grief at the loss of Cas and Bobby.

- Hiding in the dark of Purgatory, trading rough hand jobs with Benny, and sending Cas tearful prayers, wishing he’d come back.

- Comforting a scared girl being chased by Hellhounds, wishing his angel would answer his prayers yet again.

- He doesn’t recall specific days whilst he had the mark of Cain.

He remembers the valentines day whilst under the pull of Amara, pining for something both frightening and unnatural, knowing deep down he was longing for something else, something that he thought he could never have.

The valentines day the year after reuniting Amara and Chuck, he had only been out of solitary confinement a few weeks, Cas was there, in the Bunker with him. But he was stubborn and angry at Cas for putting himself in danger. Dean had been giving him the silent treatment the whole time, but God, does he remember wishing Cas would come to him. Cas never did.

So much had happened in the year that followed that one. Cas had died, and returned to him, they had found Jack, and lost him to an alternate world. Even with all that had happened, Valentine Day that year was one of his favourites in recent memory. Dean had shyly invitied Cas for a movie marathon in his room. They had put on a Scooby Doo episode whilst making popcorn, and Cas had teased him for his “ascot phase” that had lasted only a few weeks. Dean still thinks he looked awesome though. They had curled up on Dean’s bed, eating popcorn and watching old horror movies. Dean had fallen asleep on Cas’s shoulder, and woke up on the morning of February 15th with his arms wrapped around Cas’s waist, and his face buried in his side. They were both smiling that morning, but neither had mentioned it again. Dean wishes they had.

The following year things had gone wrong again. Dean was too preoccupied trying to keep Michael at bay in his mind to even think about Valentines Day.

Last year on Valentines Day he was full of rage. Still hurting over all the crap that had happened. Chuck controlling their lives, being mad at Cas, Cas leaving and only returning to help the fight. He was terrified that Cas was just another part of Chuck’s story, another way to manipulate him. But Cas turned out to be one of the only things in the universe that Chuck wasn’t able to control. The one thing Dean had wanted most was the only thing that was truly real in his entire life. The thought still took his breath away. He wished he had known that at the time.

This Valentines Day, Dean was feeling high on happiness and love. Another year where too much had happened, but Dean and Cas decided that they had wasted enough time. Too many years had passed where they couldn’t be together, now they were finally free, finally able to make their own story, and they had chosen each other.

Just over three months ago Cas had confessed his love, and been ripped away from Dean once again before he had even had a chance to process what had happened. Defeating Chuck, and finally freeing themselves from his story had come at a terrible price, but luckily Dean’s adopted son was God now, and this time the deus ex machina was just what he needed.

Dean had wasted no time in finally letting his heart speak. Sobbing confessions of everlasting love into Cas’s lips, his neck, his cheeks, his chest. It had all happened pretty quickly after that. Jack had fixed everything, and Dean and Sam could finally retire.

The wedding wasn’t even their idea. Sam had blurted it out one day that they should hold some sort of ceremony as a final fuck you to all the forces of Heaven and Hell and beyond that had tried to separate them over the years. From the most powerful Gods, right down to the nasty little men in expensive suits who didn’t appreciate their love for one another. Eventually Dean had whispered the words to Cas one night, whilst they were still naked, sweaty, and wrapped around each other, gasping for breath. Marry Me just slipped off his tongue, and had got him a tearful yes and another four orgasms before the night was over.

So the valentines day “fuck you” ceremony became “Dean and Cas’s wedding day” and here they were. Exchanging vowels in front of their whole family. Even Crowley miraculously showed up which put Dean on edge for all of 10 minutes before the former King of Hell smiled and raised a fruity cocktail in his direction.

Their first dance was to “All My Love” by Led Zeppelin. Because of course it was. In the dim lights of the dance floor, pressed close to Castiel’s solid form, cheek brushing cheek, breathing in the scent of him, Dean was in the only Heaven that mattered. Right here on Earth. Real Heaven could wait until he was ready to go, which wouldn’t happen until he was old and wrinkly and his hair was grey (but still fabulous and not at all looking like a party city wig).

Once the stragglers had finally left the reception, or past out in the corner, Dean and Cas slipped away to the wedding suite, and drunkenly made love until long after midnight. It was by far, the best day of Dean’s life, let along the best Valentines Day of the past 12 years.

It’s the morning of the 15th February. Dean is lying in bed, on his back, with his new husband wrapped around him like an octopus. He thinks of all the valentines days of the past 12 years, and then forgets them, and thinks of the ones to come.

Next year he will spend the entire day in bed with his husband. Maybe he’ll get up long enough to make pancakes to bring Cas breakfast in bed. Maybe he’ll slip on some anniversary/valentines day panties. He thinks Cas may be into that.

In five years time he’ll spend their anniversary/Valentines day in their home by a beach - the one he plans to build himself. They’ll sit under the stars and listen to the ocean crash into the shore, wrapped in a huge blanket and whisper sweet nothings into each others ears.

In twenty years time, they’ll celebrate with their family. Perhaps he’ll throw Cas a party. He can picture Jack and Claire grown up with their own families, and Sam and Eileen with their own children, also grown by that point, and ready to move on to college and beyond. He sees a future full of love, and happiness, and peace. A future he has chosen for himself. A future where he is truly free to live the life he wants.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if they make anniversary/valentines day plans in the future or not, so long as they are together, so long as he gets this. So long as Cas remains in his arms. So long as he gets to kiss his husbands handsome face and see the love and happiness in his eyes. So long as from now on, nothing, not Darkness, Hell, Heaven, or even Death can separate them. After all, past experience has proven that they never succeeded before. Dean and Cas will always find their way back to each other.

[nuclearr-wessels]

°☆.Mistletoe Angel.☆°

Destiel Christmas fluff for @all-hail-the-prophet-chuck as part of the @destielsecretsanta2020  ♡ 7k words, rated M, with Saileen as a background pair.

Happy Holidays! @ Dimitri I hope you enjoy your gift (´ ∀ ` )

Dean holds his coffee cup with concentration. “What’s that?” he asks on his way out and points upwards.

Sam looks up from his computer and bites back a laugh. “A mistletoe, genius.”

“Mistletoe?” Dean squints his eyes. “Where are the spikey leaves? And the red berries?”

“You’re thinking of hollies,” Eileen says helpfully.

“Huh,” Dean says, “I knew that.” He takes a sip of his coffee and walks back to the kitchen. “Either way,” he calls over his shoulder, “I’m gonna get you two under that bad boy.” Or Cas, he adds in his mind. It’s too cute a picture to not imagine it.

Dean loves that Eileen would stay for Christmas; it adds to his already giddy mood. With Sam the Grinch being gone and Miracle the dog added to the family, nothing stood in the way of a truly wholesome Christmas. The end of this year would be completely over the top in the schmaltz department. Maybe even with a Christmas tree, if it were up to Dean. He figures that they kind of earned it – and that they maybe have things to catch up on, considering they had never really had the real thing, not even with Mrs. Butters.

Last Christmas with Jack has been amazing, but this feels like the first true family festivity in years, having Eileen around and basically nothing to worry about besides missing holiday decorations. The only downside is Sam’s lovey-dovey smugness. And the fact that the thought of never having something like they had made Dean slowly lose his mind.

Last week they went on a romantic hunt à deux. Vampire nest. When they had returned, Eileen had accompanied a blood-covered Sam to the bath with such a wide grin that Dean couldn’t even be mad.

Weirdly romantic. Good for them. Dean tries to not let it get to him too closely.

“Hiya, kid,” he greets Jack, who pours himself a tea in the kitchen, Miracle lying by his feet. There is another green bundle above the doorway, Dean notices as he enters. “Jeez,” he says, “the lovebirds really don’t wanna push their luck, hm?”

“Oh, the mistletoes,” Jack says. “Yes, I’ve read about that. I like them.”

Dean gives him a confused look.

“You know, kissing when two people stand below a mistletoe,” Jack clarifies helpfully and cradles his mug with both hands. “I like it. It’s… so random. I mean, Christmas isn’t necessarily a romantic holiday, is it?”

Dean shrugs. “Depends, I guess.” A grin creeps onto his face. “So, you hung them up?” he asks.

“I didn’t,” Jack says with an innocent shake of his head.

“Right,” Dean says, knowingly. Miracle walks over to him for some tender loving care. “Aw, boy, c’mere. Jack, you seen Cas?”

“He said he wanted to read in his room.”

Dean tickles Miracles ears and straightens up to put his empty cup on the counter. “I’mma go get him. The Charlie Brown Christmas Special is on soon,” he says and takes a bag of popcorn with him before leaving. He kind of wishes they had cookies instead, he should bake some soon. Preferably with Cas.

Dean often jokes about it, but he is incredibly thankful that Cas is now permanently living with them, in his own room, not randomly leaving anymore. It’s nice. Now Cas is always available for movie nights. And, more importantly, for family holidays. Dean doesn’t want to let his mind wander too far, because he knows it’s pointless, but he likes to imagine Cas loves staying with them, too.

He adores Christmas pop songs, which should come as no surprise to Dean, really, considering they bought a CD player for the pimpmobile just so Cas could listen to Destiny’s Child while driving. But Dean still kind of thought Cas would be the kind of person to put boy choirs singing hymns on repeat. Something on the more religious side of Christmas. But, no. He listens to Mariah Carey, and Toni Braxton, and Wham. On repeat.

It’s obnoxious, but Dean couldn’t care less, because it’s too much fun to watch Cas move his hands to the music when he thinks nobody’s looking.

“Dean.”

“Hey. You ready for Charlie Brown?”

“Yes,” Cas says with a nod, putting his cheesy novelette down, and stands up from the bed. He meticulously straightens the creases before they leave for the Dean Cave. “I, um… thought about getting pie,” Cas says on the way. “When I’m walking Miracle tonight.”

Dean laughs enthusiastically but tries to tone down his adoration. “Urgh, perfect. He ran out last week.” He points at Cas. “You know what? Let’s go together.”

Cas agrees with a smile, and, although Dean has made a habit of it by now, it takes him a moment to realize that Dean is holding the door for him. Adorable.

read the rest on AO3

[jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets]

So Much for Movie Night

Title: So Much for Movie Night

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Destiel 

Rating: Teen 

Tags: fluff, and a little hint of almost smut

Summary:  The boys finally get a night off from hunting, and Sam's planned solo movie night unfortunately does not go at all how he had hoped it would.

A/N: And this ones for the lovely @thebridgekid <3

AO3

*** My works are not to be posted on any sites without my permission! But comments and reblogs are love! <3 Please and thanks!!

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     Finally! He thought to himself as he sat down on the couch, popcorn in hand, cold beer, and Netflix ready to go on the tv. It was the first night they'd been home for weeks. For the last month they had been neck deep in vamp nests, werewolf packs, djinns, and everything else in the book. They'd been jumping from state to state, motel to motel, case to case, and he was exhausted. But he would be damned if he was going to miss out on this perfect opportunity to finally watch that movie he had been dying to see. 

     He flipped through and found the movie he was looking for, and was just about to press play when his name being shouted through the halls of the Bunker had him sighing hard. 

     "Sammy?! Where are you?"

     Sam contemplated for a moment what would happen if he just ignored Dean, but he thought better of it and shouted back, "Here, Dean!"

     Two seconds later Dean was popping his head into the man cave. "Sam, what are you…" Dean eyed the popcorn and beer on the table, then looked over to the tv and saw Netflix ready to go, then turned back to Sam, "Are we having movie night?!"

     "I…" He was going to tell Dean no, we're not having movie night, I'm having movie night. All he had wanted was a quiet night to himself, but Dean just looked so excited so how could he say no, "Yeah, sure, come sit."

     "One sec, I'll go get Cas!"

     Sam didn't even try to protest as Dean hurried off through the halls. So much for watching the movie alone, but maybe a movie night with Dean and Cas wouldn't be so bad. 

     It wasn't too long before Dean and Cas came back and each had sat on either side of him on the couch. He may have let up and allowed them to join him for movie night, but he was not giving up his seat in the middle of the couch. 

     He played the movie, sitting back and settling in, Dean's hand instantly diving into the popcorn bowl on his lap. Popcorn flew everywhere, all over his pants and the couch, and it took all of his effort not to lose his patience. 

     "Dean, ease up." 

     "Sorry, man," he dove in for another handful of popcorn, "I'm so glad we're finally having a movie night!"

     "Yeah, me too," Sam tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice, and just hoped that this movie night didn't end up like all the others. Unfortunately, his hopes did not come true. 

     Not too long into the movie, the popcorn bowl was practically empty and Dean's hands had to find something else to keep them occupied, and that something else was Cas's hair. Dean had laid his arm across the back of the couch and was running his fingers through Cas's hair on the other side of Sam, all the while his arm kept bumping into the back of Sam's head very quickly annoying the crap out of him. But he kept his cool, shifted forwards a bit and kept his eyes on the screen. 

     Not too soon after that, Sam suddenly found himself fighting off both Dean and Cas's legs. The two of them had started trying to play footsie over top of his legs and now the three of them were a tangled mess no matter how he tried to move his legs to escape. Sam knew what he was doing, he knew exactly what Dean was up to and he was going to be damned if he let Dean win. This was his night, damnit, his one night to sit back and relax and that's exactly what he was going to do! 

     In one swift movement he trapped both Dean's and Cas's legs with his own and turned on the two of them, "Guys, stop. I wanna watch the movie, not the two of you flirting overtop of me." 

     He eyed them for a moment longer then slowly released their legs. They both pulled them back to their own sides of the couch, and Sam was finally able to sit back and watch the movie. 

     After Dean and Cas had finally settled down, they made it peacefully to the halfway point of the movie, and Sam was really starting to enjoy it. He was beginning to think that maybe they could make it the rest of the way without anymore incidents, but then of course, when do things ever go Sam's way. 

     Dean started to get restless again, not so much restless but more so the fact that he wanted to be next to Cas, not Sam. So he started doing what any brother would do, annoying the shit out of Sam so he would get up and move. It started with the occasional tug of Sam's hair that was spread out over the top of the couch, but Sam ignored it. He was not going to move. 

     When Dean realized that wasn't going to work, he started flicking the top of Sam's ear, his neck, his forehead. Sam tried his best to just watch the movie and not pay attention to Dean, but a well placed flick to Sam's cheek bone had him turning on the couch and grabbing Dean's outstretched arm. 

     "Dude!" Dean just grinned back at him, which made Sam even more mad. "If you two don't wanna watch the movie, then why don't you go to bed?"

     "Just switch spots with me."

     "No," Sam shook his head, standing his ground, "I'm not switching spots with you. I'm going to sit here and watch the end of this movie, and I want to do it in peace and quiet. Got it?"

     Sam let Dean's arm go and turned back to the movie, hoping that his little blow up would have put Dean in his place… of course not. 

     "So you're really not going to switch spots with me so I can sit beside my boyfriend?"

     "No, Dean," Sam rolled his eyes, "I'm not going to switch spots with you so you can sit beside your boyfriend and make out the whole time instead of watching the movie. If that's what you wanna do, then go to bed."

     Dean just huffed out his annoyance at his brother, then decided that if Sam wasn't gunna move then he'd just have to go around him. So that's exactly what he did. 

     He shuffled closer to Sam, got up on his knees on the couch, and leaned across the back of the couch behind Sam. He grabbed Cas and pulled him closer so he could get at his neck, and Sam was now sandwiched between the two of them. 

     "Guys, seriously," Sam barked out the warning, but it didn't do anything. In fact it did the exact opposite, Dean actually pushed closer to Cas, squishing Sam even tighter between them until finally he could not handle it anymore and jumped up off the couch. 

     "Fine! You win, have the couch!" And he walked over to angrily throw himself down in the armchair off to the side, watching as Dean giddily jumped across the couch and into Cas's open arm.     

     After Sam surrendered and gave the two of them the couch to themselves, exactly what he feared was going to happen, happened. He could see them out of the corner of his eye, not only that but he could hear them, which was making his blood boil to an all new level. Dean was snuggled up to Cas, kissing and sucking on his neck, and in Sam's opinion getting a little too into it for a common area. 

     But still, he tried his best to ignore them and not let them ruin his one and only night of freedom. He tried so hard to just focus on the movie, but it was becoming harder and harder.

     "Guys, come on," he groaned, leaning forward and running a hand down his face, "not only do I not wanna see you two making out on the couch, but I also really don't wanna hear it. Can I please, please just watch the rest of the movie?"

     Dean didn't say anything, didn't even lift his mouth off Cas's neck, just waved him off and kept going. Cas on the other hand looked towards Sam, and was about to say something when Dean shifted his weight more into Cas's lap and he groaned, turning his attention back to Dean.

     Sam rolled his eyes and leaned back in the chair. He knew what was coming, he knew he was not going to get to finish this movie, he was going to explode and Dean was going to get his way. And that's exactly what happened when Dean suddenly let out a very loud moan, and Sam turned just in time to see Cas grab Dean by the thighs, and flip their positions so that he was now on top, settled between Dean's legs and sucking on Dean's neck. Dean's hands then wandered down Cas's back to his ass, he pulled him closer then wrapped his legs tightly around Cas's waist to pull him flush against himself, and Cas let out a quietly groaned, "Oh, Dean." But it was loud enough for Sam to hear, and that was the last straw. 

     When Cas groaned and very obviously ground down into Dean, Sam stood up so fast he knocked what was left of the popcorn all over the floor and knocked over a beer on the table. He jumped forwards to grab it before it spilled everywhere, throwing napkins at it as he yelled, "Okay!" And Dean and Cas both stopped and looked up to him, "I've had enough! All I wanted to do was sit down, relax and watch a movie in peace. I didn't mind that you guys wanted to join, I was a little miffed at first but I decided to just deal with it, because when was the last time we had a full night to ourselves in the Bunker without having to worry about some monster at our heels. And now I've missed most of the movie because I've spent all of it trying to ignore the two of you and your raging equivalent of teenage hormones. This is the first night we have been home in I don't know how long, and who knows when we'll have to leave again. It could be tomorrow for all we know, but it doesn't matter anyways cuz my night is already ruined. And look, don't get me wrong, I'm super happy for you guys, but could you not have kept your hands off each other for two damn hours so I could watch a damn movie?! You know what, forget it, have the couch, have the room, I'm going to bed."

     They watched Sam storm off out of the room, Dean giving a little triumphant smile at winning his battle, then turned back to Cas to start kissing his neck again. 

     "You should go deal with that, Dean," he said, but still tilted his head to give Dean better access, "go talk to your brother, then we should both apologize for being rude."

     "Yeah, or…" And Dean lifted his hips up to grind mercilessly into Cas, the two of them moaning together, panting slightly now, "We can give him some time to cool off, finish this, and then go talk to him later "

     Just to drive his point home he lifted his hips to grind against Cas once more. He could feel Cas's arms shaking where they were placed beside his head, holding him up. And Cas let his head fall into the crook of Dean's neck, letting out another moan that shook Dean to his core as he did it again. 

     "Yeah," Cas panted into Dean's ear, "that sounds like a better plan. Let's finish this first."

     Quick hands made work of removing clothes as fast as they could, roaming already hot bodies and squeezing delicious moans out of Dean that has Cas swimming in ecstasy above him. Yeah, Sam would be fine for now.

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A/N: Hope y’all liked it XD

[blueaura]

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart

A/N: This was written as a birthday gift to a very good friend of mine @only-for-cee​. She was the first person to encourage me to post my stuff online and I absolutely adore her. So M, hope you enjoy this one-shot and Happy Birthday! Love ya ❤

Pairing: Dean x Mukta

Word Count: 2.3k

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart

The cold was what woke her up. She couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t have her own personal heater wrapped around her when she woke up in the morning. Dean Winchester wasn’t an early riser by any means, and the fact that he was somehow up before her perplexed Mukta.

She got out of bed and made her way down to the library. Sam was there, still in his jogging attire, dripping in sweat. She wrinkled her nose at the stench – he’d clearly just come back from his morning run. Mumbling a quick ‘morning’ to Sam, she went to the kitchen in search of coffee. And Dean.

To her continued displeasure, the kitchen was also empty, the freshly brewed coffee being the only sign that someone had been in there that morning. Grumbling, Mukta poured a cup for herself and again went in search of her soon to be dead boyfriend. This was not how she wanted to spend her birthday.

Coming back to the library, she asked Sam, “Where’s your brother?”

“Someone’s in trouble,” Sam snorted, clearly amused by Mukta’s pissed off expression. He quickly composed himself when her glare turned to him. It tickled her to no end that the giant was afraid of her.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen yet. I thought he would still be with you,” Sam decided to be helpful but only managed to piss her off even more. She wasn’t mad at Sam though, just her stupid partner. She sighed, cursing herself once again for falling for Dean instead of the younger Winchester – but the heart wants what it wants, and hers had been steadily enamoured by the green-eyed hunter, even if he forgot her birthday and drove her crazy half the time.

“I’m gonna freshen up and go out for a walk. If you see him, tell him he’s dead,” she said and started to walk away.

“Hey, M!” Sam called out, smiling at her when she turned around, “Happy Birthday.”

She grinned at him – at least someone remembered. “Thanks Sammy! I would hug you but,” she gestured to his sweaty appearance, “I don’t want to,” she cheekily said.

Sam suddenly got a playful, evil gleam in his eye, and she knew she’d put her foot in her mouth yet again.

“Oh no. Don’t you dare!” she started running away as he chased her around the library, before picking her up like a sack of potatoes and mushing her face in his sweaty shirt as she squealed.

“Let me go, you monster!” Their laughter echoed in the empty bunker, a feeling of contentment washing over her as Sam finally put her down.

“I hate you,” she tried to sound angry but the grin wouldn’t leave her face. Sam just laughed at her and pushed her out of the library, urging her to go on that walk as the weather was lovely.

The weather was actually lovely but her mood only got worse the more time she spent away from the bunker, without Dean keeping her company. This was the first-year things were quiet on any of their birthdays’ and even if she was too old to get excited for this shit, dammit she was excited for it! At least she had been yesterday.

She had met the Winchesters like any other hunter did – on a hunt. She was one of the few hunters who actually hunted because it was fun and felt great. She didn’t have a tragic backstory like the Winchesters – she even had a job which she loved. She had heard about the Winchesters, of course, but meeting them had been surreal. They just instantly clicked, working like a well-oiled machine to gank the monster, and trading hunting stories over celebratory drinks afterwards. There was also an instant attraction between her and the elder Winchester. Although she thought both of them were ridiculously attractive, she’d only had platonic feeling for Sam since the get-go.

After a few more hunts together, the brothers had invited her to their bat cave and she’d decided to crash there for a few days while she explored the rich history of the place. Her very first night in the bunker, she didn’t even make it to her room, following Dean into his instead. Dean made her happy, and from what she could see, the feeling was mutual. He still acted like an asshole from time to time, but she loved the jerk and had decided to stay with him.

Mukta spent the rest of the walk reminiscing about the past 3 years and all of their greatest hits – like the time they went to Vegas and almost got drunk-married before Sam saved the day, or that time when Dean almost got into a fight with a group of drunk guys who had been making lewd comments about her before Sam steered him away. Come to think of it, they probably would have been arrested ten times over if it weren’t for Sam. God, she loved that moose.

Her stomach grumbled, making her aware that she hadn’t had anything except a cup of coffee that morning. Deciding to head back to the bunker, she pulled herself out of happy memories and focused on thinking up different scenarios to dismember and torture a certain hunter.

The bunker came into view and she pushed open the giant door, making her way down the steps. She paused halfway down at the aroma filling the air. Curious, she made her way to the kitchen. Sam certainly wasn’t the best cook, neither was Cas, leaving only one other person. Sure enough, her boyfriend was slaving away in the kitchen, meticulously handling several dishes at once, with a content look on his face.

She felt herself unintentionally melt at the sight, her anger abandoning her at the sight of Dean dancing around the kitchen, making breakfast. Dean looked at her and grinned, as she tried to school her face into an angry scowl, finding it more difficult by the minute to not smile back.

Before she could even say anything, Dean was making his way towards her, still grinning away like an idiot.

“Heya sweetheart,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it, pulling her towards the table. And just like that, she was no longer mad, only curious as he pulled out a chair for her and made her sit down, kissing her swiftly on the forehead before going back to his food.

“Where were you?” she tried to ask sternly but it ended up coming out as a whine. Dean just winked at her, not saying anything, humming softly under his breath.

“I was cold,” she tried again, this time with a lilt in her voice, making Dean pause for a minute.

“I went out to the store to get all this,” he gestured around the kitchen, smiling apologetically.

“You were supposed to still be sleeping,” he said, raising a brow, “since when do you wake up at 7 am?”

“You weren’t in bed,” she just shrugged, making Dean shake his head and come back around to quickly kiss her – an apology.

“What is all this anyway? Where’s Sam?”

“This was supposed to be a surprise, but since it isn’t anymore, I’ll just have to think of something else,” he said, eyeing her and licking his lips, making her blush. Even after all this time, the man had a way to unnerve her with just a look. He smirked knowingly at her.

“As for Sam, he’s made himself scarce for the day, going to visit Eileen, I think. He’ll be back for dinner to celebrate,” he said, not phased at all. “Cas dropped by earlier but since you weren’t here, he’s gonna be here later as well.”

“Celebrate what?” she was fishing, yes, and she wasn’t even ashamed.

Dean knew how to play this game though, and didn’t say anything. Her frustration started to rise again, but then he was there, pushing a plate of French omelette, fresh cut strawberries, sausages and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. He went back to get his plate as well and they shared a lovely breakfast together. Talking with Dean was always effortless, and she didn’t even realise that their plates were empty and they had been sitting and talking for a long time.

“Come on,” he held out his hand for her to take after he had cleared away the dishes. She instinctively put her hand in his, allowing him to pull her along.

“Where are we going?” she asked, already knowing she wouldn’t be getting an answer.

The Dean cave, she realised, taking in the set-up. The chairs had been pushed aside in favour of a mattress laid on the ground, surrounded by at least eight pillows. There was a comfy blanket and even a make-shift headboard to lean against, which she had no idea how he managed, but was a welcome addition none the less.

He made her sit down and covered her with the blanket before going out of the room. 5 minutes later, he came in with a bowl of pop-corn and more than enough candy, plopping down next to her in front of the big plasma TV.

“Guess which movie we’re watching?” he asked, pecking her cheek and nuzzling his head in her neck. Settling down into the mattress, he pulled her into him, wrapping his hands around her.

“Harry Potter?” came her muffled reply.

“Harry Potter,” he confirmed, kissing her head again. Dean was very affectionate when he wanted to be and all the hardness seemed to leave him when he was with her. Well… almost all the hardness, she thought to herself and giggled.

They watched three movies, skipping lunch in favour of popcorn and candy. Dean kept throwing the popcorn at her which she tried and failed to catch in her mouth.

“You know you still haven’t apologised for leaving me alone in bed this morning,” she said halfway through the fourth movie.

“Wasn’t the amazing breakfast apology enough?” he said in that deep voice he used when he wanted to tease her, cocking an eyebrow and smirking down at her.

“No. But I can think of some ways you can make it up to me,” she smirked right back.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, muting the now forgotten movie and pulling her into his lap, “go on.”

Instead of saying anything, she leaned down and kissed him. He responded in kind, deepening the kiss. He pushed her down into the mattress and spent the next few hours thoroughly apologising.

Sam retuned early evening and found them sleeping in the Dean cave. He woke Dean up so he could get started on dinner but not before clicking an embarrassing picture of his brother’s best impression of a koala bear.

Dean left a note for when Mukta woke up, telling her to go get ready for dinner. When she woke up in another hour, she did just that and came down to find Dean, Cas and Sam chatting in the kitchen while Dean was working on patties for burgers. Dean Winchester and his burgers, she thought wryly as she walked up behind Dean and wrapped her arms around his waist. His own hand immediately came up to rest on hers.

“This is the second time you’ve left me alone in bed today Winchester,” she said, only half-joking.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you later,” he quipped back, turning around to wink at her. Leaning down, he kissed her again.

“Gross,” Sam said loudly, interrupting them like the shitty younger brother that he was.

“Oh yeah? And how’s Eileen doing Sammy?” Mukta asked innocently.

Sam threw a piece of tomato at her and petulantly mumbled out a ‘shut up’ as he hid his face behind his hair.

“Hey! No food fights in my kitchen,” Dean ordered.

Mukta walked away from Dean in order to hug Cas. She always had a soft spot for the angel.

“Happy Birthday, Mukta,” said the angel, awkwardly hugging her. He hadn’t yet fully grasped all human habits, but Mukta was working on it.

“Thanks Cas,” she grinned as he too smiled at her.

She looked at Dean and raised an eyebrow in question, but again Dean ignored her. Sam snorted, making her find the very piece of tomato he’d thrown at her to return the gesture. He looked like he wanted to retaliate but one stern look from Dean stopped him and he went back to making his salad.

Dean finished up with the burgers and Cas opened a bottle of wine instead of their usual beers, marking it as a more formal celebration even though none of them were dressed up. She was wearing one of Dean’s shirts because somehow, they were more comfortable than anything she owned, but it still felt like the best celebration she ever had – with the people she loved all around her.

Dinner was spent imbibing copious amounts of alcohol (even Sam indulged for once) and telling old stories. It was all laughter and food and wine and cheesy jokes and it was the best fucking birthday she could have asked for.

After dinner, Sam and Cas both hugged her and wished her again before each bidding goodnight and leaving her and Dean alone.

Instead of closing the bottle of wine, he took it and their glasses and lead up to their room. Putting the glasses on his bedside table, he pulled out his phone and pressed play. The sound of Billy Joel singing Vienna rang out in the room and Dean put out his hand to her.

Shaking her head, she willingly went into his arms and they swayed to the soothing melody. He twirled her around, making her laugh. As the song was ending, he asked, “Am I forgiven yet?”

She straight up laughed, leaning into the hand that came up to cup her cheek.

“Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.”

Tags: I’m going to start the ‘forever tags’ thing so that I know who wants to be tagged for all spn posts and who just wants to be tagged for Lost and Found. Send me an ask or message if you want to be tagged in all spn fics written by me!

[verobatto]

Destiel Chronicles

Vol. XXXVIII

It was a love story from the very beginning.

I can't be mad at you.

(8x21/8x22 1st part)

Hello my friends!!! We are so close to finish season 8!!!! I can't believe how far we have come with these series of metas! I'm emotional right now... 😢💚💙

I had to put episode 22 in two parts so I can analyze in a better way.

I want to say thank you to my friend @agusvedder because she made the gifs for this meta, Thank you girl!! 😘💕💕

Now let's start talking about Castiel... And how after ran away, he had Dean present...

Smart Heart and Beer

In episode 8x21 The Great Escapist (Edlund's) we are in front of a great strategist as Castiel is. He was avoiding the angel using the different locations of Biggerson's restaurant.

He had a little chat with one of the waitress, and asked for an interesting dish with tempura...

KARA: Uh, I'm sorry, mister, but you're gonna have to order more than coffee if you wanna keep the table.

CASTIEL: Of— of course, um. [glances at a menu] I'll have the smart-heart beer-battered tempura tempters.

KARA: Of course. Coming right up.

Read at that dish choice, the name is so symbolic... Smart heart... Is Castiel battered in beer... Is Dean.

Even knowing he had to left Dean behind, choosing the was decision over any other emotion, Cas is still battered in beer, he's still thinking about Dean and what he did to him. We will know better in episode 8x22 when he will try to fix things with the hunter.

What other proof do we have to say Cas was thinking about Dean, to protect him, and missing him and worried about how Dean would be feeling now? Well... This scene right here ...

Who's that good friend? Obviously he is talking about Dean, so, we had two comments Cas made about Dean. Proofs that he had him in mind, worried about him... Gawd... Destiel is gonna be the death of me... I'll be writing Destiel metas from my grave when I get old and die.

Castiel is special

The whole conversation Cas had with Naomi was revealing to us, because we understood there how many time the angel tried to control Castiel's rebellious and unpredictable behavior.

CASTIEL: We were supposed to be their shepherds, not their murderers.

NAOMI: Not always, angel. There was that day, back in Egypt, not so long ago, where we slew every first-born infant whose door wasn't splashed with lamb's blood. And that was just PR.

The word angel here, is used with irony, because it seems Castiel had an odd idea about what an angel should be. Against what an angel really is. Castiel talks about a divine and Righteous mission, angels should follow, is the same thing he said to Hester, because he really believes it. But Naomi knows that's an utopia. And that mission isn't in their priorities.

CASTIEL: Well, I wasn't there.

NAOMI: Oh, you were there. You just don't remember it.

NAOMI: (...)You have never done what you were told. Not completely. You don't even die right, do you? Where is the angel tablet, Castiel?

Naomi is just naming and naming what she thinks is failures of Castiel... But those are not failures... Those are characteristics that not angel has, and that's what make Castiel unique. Hated and Loved by his own kind.

Sam in front of too much Destiel drama

Okay, jumping now to episode 8x22 Clip Show, at the beginning of this episode we had a Destiel fight... It was very hard, because ... Poor Sammy was there... But ...

First of all we have to pay attention to the first scene... We had this character Tommy, from Wendigo episode in season 1, and there was this line...

GIRL: I can't believe you finally came up here with me.

TOMMY COLLINS: Why wouldn't I?

This is like the feeling inside Dean right now... He can't believe Castiel is back, but he can show him he's happy, because he's mad at the same time, and he need to show him how hurt he's, like a lesson, a hard one. Because he's so in love, he needs to overreact to it...

Dean's reaction is too way too much my friends, for just a buddy mad at his buddy, you know? Like... Dean was the jiltter lover here, I'm telling you... Look at this scene...

Ugh... Cold war my friends... Look how I'm ignoring you, because Dean is a schoolgirl in love, he will apply the cold war on Cas...

CAS: (...)I like this bunker. It's orderly.

SAM: Oh, give us a few months. Dean wants to get a ping-pong table.

CASTIEL: I've heard of that. It's a game, right?

Okay, why I'm pointing this out? Because a ping pong warnof cold words is about to start between CAS and Dean.

Ohhh this quote... The "I can go with you" a classic... But it doesn't work this time...

DEAN: Everything? Like, uh... Like ignoring us?

CASTIEL: Yes.

And here is when the US/WE gets started... Dean, heartbroken as he was, he confessed his feelings for Castiel and he was REJECTED, he saw Castiel didn't trust him, so he covered his soul again with this armor, pushing his feelings down, and there will be no more YOU AND ME, but this shield named YOU, ME, AND DAM. WE / US .

And he said it... He said what it hurted so much... But that's no everything... He said I NEED YOU, and Cas didn't respond to that, "I GAVE YOU NU HEART AND YOU JUST SMASHED IT".

That's why there's not apologize that would work with Dean right now.

Oooooohhh boom! Okay... That's one of the things, I think, Dean likes from CAS. Castiel is always trying to do the right thing. But right now... That's one of the things it took him away. So... Yeah... He's being hard with Castiel. He needs Castiel to realize how hurted he was... He needed Castiel to be worried about it. To recognize what he did to him by running away, after he confessed, and not trust him. Just the same feeling he had when he came back from Purgatory...

And the eye fucking... Okay guys...this is too much...

And pray for Sammy please. And the subtext in his words... "Do we have a room 7B?" Immediately after the old married couple fight and the eye fucking... Is reflecting his truly thoughts... "Guys... Just get a room."

Once Sam and Dean were alone, Sammy tried to be a mediator between them, but there was not resolution, Dean was very hurted, more hurted than mad, even if Sam said he should forgive him BECAUSE IS CAS.

But even so we had this scene...

Obviously we know who made that pop corn to CAS, right? It was Dean... Maybe after Sam's words... Okay... Dean can't be mad at him... For too long.

Crazy love is crazy...

But also... Castiel eating popcorn, could work as a foreshadow for Human!Cas.

Miscellaneous

The whole meaning with curing a demon, was a foreshadow for Demon!Dean and the way they will cure Dean. Even Crowley tasting the humanity, will be a Castiel mirror, and a foreshadow for Human!Castiel too.

To Conclude:

Castiel is a smart angel, he takes war decisions and is a very clever strategist.

He is different form other angel, and the things Naomi marked as failures in him, is what make Castiel unique.

Cas was away from Dean, but subtextually he named him twice while he was in his dangerous mission, what makes us infer, he was aware and thinking about Dean, and he knew his actions towards him will have some consequences.

Dean acted like a jiltter lover. He felt abbandoned and betrayed and rejected by Castiel in the crypt, after he manifested his feeling for him, so, it wouldn't be easy for him to forgive Castiel.

Even so, we saw he prepared pop corn for CAS .. like a contradictory behavior towards him, but a delicate attention to his friend. Also, Castiel eating pop corn could work as a foreshadow for Human!Castiel.

Hope you liked this, see you in the next Chronicles.

Tagging @metafest @magnificent-winged-beast @weirddorkylittlediana @michyribeiro @whyjm @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @angelneedshunter @trickster-archangel @dea-stiel @poorreputation @bre95611 @thewolfathedoor @charlottemanchmal @neii3n @deathswaywardson @followyourenergy @dean-is-bi-till-i-die @hekatelilith-blog @avidbkwrm @anarchiana @mishka-the-angel-of-saturday @dickpuncher365 @vampyrosa @foxyroxe-art @authorsararayne @anonymoustitans @mybonsai1976 @love-neve-dies @wildligia @dustythewind @wayward-winchester67 @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @deeutdutdutdoh @destiel-is--endgame @destiel-shipper-11 @larrem88 @charmedbycastiel @ran-savant @little-crazy-misha-minion @samoosetheshipper

@shadows-and-padlocked-hearts @mishtho @dancingtuesdaymorning @nerditoutwithbooks @mikennacac73 @justmeand-myinsight @idontwantpeopletoknowmyname @tenshilover20 @teddybeardoctor @pepevons @helevetica

If you want to be tagged, just let me know

If you want to read the previous metas, here are the links...

Vol. XXXI, Vol. XXXII, VOL. XXXIII, VOL XXXIV, VOL. XXXV, VOL. XXXVI, VOL. XXXVII

Buenos Aires, November 19th 2019 7:43 PM

[pathetic-has-been-rockstar]

Memories and a movie

Pairing: Castiel x Dean

Written for: @spnchristmasbingo

Square filled: Miracle on 34th Street

Warnings: none

Summary:   Dean Winchester has never been one for holidays, but he's fond of his few good childhood memories. When Castiel unwillingly upsets him, he will have to find a way to make up for it.

Words: 2391

Beta: @raspberrymama

my work can be found on AO3, here! If you’re interested in the whole series, you just have to click here!

Dean is in the kitchen again, making popcorns and humming a cheesy Christmas song that he heard while grocery shopping, and just won't get out of his head. He's not too bothered about it, all in all.

You won't be joining them at the bunker at least for another day, due to the closed roads, but the rest of them can start to get in the Christmas spirit. They decided to watch a Christmas-themed movie, so to give Cas and Jack the full holidays-are-coming experience. While he throws some more butter in the popcorn, he looks for the salt, trying not to spill stuff around.

A moment later, Sam walks in the kitchen, holding his pc and looking at him.

“Hey. Need a hand with that?”

“Yeah, pass me that bowl. Do we have it?”

“Yep. Miracle on 34th Street, as usual. Are you sure you don't want to watch the new version, too? I think maybe Jack...”

Dean stops him before he can go on. “Sammy, we've been over this. You and I are going to show the kid our Christmas movie, and that's it. If he doesn't like it, he'll show us his favourite one, and we will never forgive him for that.”

Sam scoffs softly and clicks a key on his pc. “Alright, then, I'll throw in the subtitles and we're good to go. We'll wait for you in the...”

“Dean cave!”

Sam sighs, exasperated. “... yes, Dean, we'll wait for you in the Dean cave.”

“Don't say it like that. It's a temple of happiness and comfort. It's the Dean cave!”

Sam opens his mouth to say something, then decides against it. He sighs and walks away from the kitchen, smiling. Dean is insufferable, of course, but it's a different kind of a pain in the ass. A light-hearted, happy Dean who teases and mocks people around him because it's fun, and not to keep a distance to avoid painful separations. All in all, he's glad of being nagged like that.

He walks in the infamous Dean cave and he finds everyone already settling down. He connects the HDMI cable to his pc and goes to sit on the couch, next to Eileen. She makes a small hint at him, and Sam nods. He clears his throat and looks at Castiel, curled up on an armchair next to the couch.

“Uh, Cas... why don't you give us the armchair? We can definitely be more comfortable there. Here, take the couch.”

Shrugging, Castiel moves on the couch. A moment later, Dean walks through the door with a ridiculously huge bowl of popcorn, and goes to sit next to Castiel. Jack stands up, going to turn off the lights, and Sam hits play on the pc before going back to the armchair and letting Eileen sit on his legs.

“So... did you love it, or did you adore it?” Dean beams at Castiel and Jack as soon as he turns the light back on.

“I like it! It put me in a good mood”, Jack nods, smiling. Dean chuckles, satisfied, then turns at Castiel, who still hasn't spoken, and looks pretty confused.

"What troubles you, Cas?" Dean asks, curious to see if he will have to explain something.

“I don't really understand the point of this movie.”

“The-the point? Cas, it's the best Christmas movie ever made, until Trading Places, what do you think is the point?”

Castiel shakes his head, an incredulous expression on his face. “Dean, it's a terrible story about how the American system cages a man for believing to be a fictional character. The judge emits his sentence on a case that doesn't belong in a courtroom, based on what's written on currency. It all stems from the troubles of an alcoholic man. How can you love this movie?”

Dean looks at Castiel, horrified. Sam knows that face. It's the same expression he had when he was forced to destroy Baby to survive a ghost attack. Whatever it's going to happen, the happy atmosphere of movie night is about to go up in flames. Surprisingly, Dean just sets his jaw and nods.

“Alright, I get it. Not everyone can appreciate it.”

“I'm just saying that there's not a lot that...”

“Shut up!” Dean barks, a second before walking away without giving anyone the time to stop him. Confused, Castiel turns to Sam.

“What did I say?”

“Cas, uh... Dean loves this movie. Very, very much. We... we used to watch it with dad, so... I-I think he was hoping you'd like it, too.”

For a long moment, Castiel stays quiet, then nods. “I understand. I suppose I'll go apologize to him.”

“It's not... let him cool off a bit, maybe.”

“Don't worry, Sam. I know exactly what to do.” Castiel ignores Sam's suggestion before going after Dean, leaving Sam, Eileen and Jack in the room. Jack stands up and stretches, still in a good mood.

“Don't worry Sam. If there's anyone able to calm Dean down, that's Cas.”

Sam chuckles, taking Eileen's hand. “You know what? You're right. Let's clean this place and go to bed, we'll deal with the lovebirds tomorrow.”

They all laugh, and start tidying up the place.

Castiel walks in Dean's room, awkwardly standing just a few steps from the door. Dean is sitting at his desk, going through some stuff, and Castiel can take a look at him. He studies how his dark blond hair is slightly ruffled on the back of his neck, after being pressed against the back of the couch for the last couple of hours, how the shirt's fabric stretches on his broad shoulders. It's looking at the movement of his shoulders that Cas realizes that Dean is moving. He turns to him, and gives him an indecipherable look.

“Hey, Cas.”

“Dean... I wanted to...”

“Ah, look... it's fine, man. It's just a movie. No big deal.”

“Sam explained to me it was a sort of tradition. I should have known there was a story behind it. There's always a story with you.”

Dean's lips curl again in one of the half smiles that Cas has learned to map and interpret down to a fine art... in a few seconds. There's always a moment or two of pure amazement at seeing how his whole traits seem to turn him from a weathered hunter into a smiling man, showing the Dean he's always cherished so deeply.

“You know... you're right. Guess I was mad because it's one of the good stories, this one.”

“... would you like to share it with me?”

For a fleeting moment, Castiel sees the surprise in Dean's eyes, as clear as fleeting. It almost hurts to think that he could be surprised to be asked to share something obviously so dear to him, but Castiel stays quiet and watches Dean nodding in agreement.

“It's just... you know we didn't have exactly an easy childhood. I had to take care of Sammy from day one, cause dad... you know. You heard more than enough. But Christmas... soometimes it was not about... this.” Dean says, gesturing at the room around him. “Sure, it was always in a different motel, always after some monster. But... the police rarely work on Christmas' night. Families stick together, making it harder for the monsters to hunt. Motels would offer something to their guests, especially to us. They saw a single dad working his ass off with two children... it tends to make people feel sympathy, especially at Christmas.”

Castiel nods, entranced by Dean's voice. He keeps smiling, and it's clear that, despite everything that man put him and Sam through, he still misses his father. His dad.

“And no matter where we were... that movie is a classic. If it wasn't on a channel, it was on another. When he managed to stay with us, Dad would make some popcorn, usually with so much butter that you could see through the bag once you were done, and we would all hunker down and watch that movie together.”

“... it sounds like a wonderful memory, indeed.”

“Yeah, it... it is. One year... one year Sammy was so upset that we had to decide: telling him that Santa wasn't real, or inventing an excuse to justify the fact that, once again, we didn't get a new house.”

“How did you deal with that?”

“We told him that Santa couldn't get a new house for us because we had to move constantly, to stay safe. We had to stick with that for a couple of years, before he grew out of that. I... I did my best to let him be a kid, Cas. Standing up to dad wasn't easy, and I... I just did my best.”

Castiel must fight the anger he feels understanding why Dean sees himself the way he does, and walks as close as possible to Dean. He places a hand on Dean's shoulder, trying to find the right words to say.

“Dean... you did a wonderful job with Sam. You shouldn't have been forced to look out for him. Your father was supposed to do it... and I'm sure that Sam is grateful for it. I'm sorry I didn't appreciate the movie.”

“Ah, Cas, it's fine. I overreacted.”

“No. It's not fine. Allow me to apologize.”

“... there's no need to...”

“Dean, I understood that around Christmas is customary to make kind gestures to each other. Please, let me.”

Dean chuckles, raising his hands.

“Alright. Let's see what you got for me.”

“Fine. Get dressed.”

“... what?”

“Get dressed.”

Dean smiles, curious to see what Cas has in mind and stands up to grab his coat. He puts it on, takes a scarf and a hat, puts on his gloves, and finally turns to face him.

“Is this enough?”

“It is. Are you ready to take a flight?”

“Not a fan of it, but... whatever makes you happy.”

Castiel gives him a small hint before placing a hand on his shoulder, and Dean experiences the familiar and dreaded feeling of his stomach being mashed from the inside during teleportation. A second later, when he opens his eyes, he manages to steady himself against a brick wall and take a deep breath before bending down and trying to catch his breath.

The air is cold, heavy, and Dean knows the smell lingering in the air, even if he can't pinpoint where or when. It feels familiar, but somehow distant, and it brings mixed feelings with it. When he finally feels his stomach settling down, he straightens his back and looks at the angel who just brought him there.

“Cas... where are we?”

“Why don't we go find out?” Cas answers, with a small smile that lets out his anticipation. Dean, affected by Cas' visible excitement, starts walking towards the exit of the alley where they appeared.

Before they walk out of it, Dean has a clear idea of where they are. There's only one city in the world that has that particular kind of bright night, those sounds mixed in a cacophony so terrible to result irresistible, topped with the smell of a thousand different foods, people and exhaust pipes. When they walk out from the alley, his hypotheses are confirmed, and Dean laughs, incredulous, turning to Cas.

“You brought me to New York?”

“So it seems.”

“What the...”

“There.”

Cas points at something behind Dean, who feels his heart stopping for a second, then starting to beat furiously in an attempt to catch up. Sure enough, turning around Dean sees the building of Macy's, dressed in blinding lights and Christmas decorations.

For a moment, Castiel is deeply worried. He never saw Dean reacting like that. His mouth fell open, while his whole face transformed into a blank expression of utter disbelief. He just keeps staring at Macy's, his eyes running up and down the building the only movement that Cas can see, as if trying to find a way to get in, or something like that. After a few very long moments, he decides to risk a question.

“Dean... are you alright?”

Dean turns to Cas so quickly that he almost takes a step back. He raises his arm, pointing at the building.

“You... you brought me to New York. On Christmas' week. To friggin' Macy's? Because you didn't like my favourite Christmas movie... you thought it was a good idea to bring me into it?”

At six and seven for Dean's reaction, Castiel nods. He thought he'd appreciate the intention behind the gesture. Perhaps he's been too intrusive. Perhaps he interpreted the sharing of his story in the wrong way, or perhaps Dean didn't mean that...

“Cas... that's the... that is the most stupid, senseless, sweet thing that anyone is ever done for me!” Dean practically shouts in Castiel's face.

“Why are you yelling now?”

“Because you are not supposed to... Cas, how... why did you do this?”

When he finally realizes why Dean is so upset, Castiel smiles. A big, wide smile that makes his eyes crinkle and the most human side of him flash clearly like one of the Christmas lights around them. Dean Winchester, the legendary hunter, the man who came back from Hell, the one who died and came back to tell the tale more than once... is embarrassed. The most brazen, skilled conqueror of waitress of the United States has no idea about how to react to a genuine gesture of care and affection.

The smile of Castiel erupts into a light-hearted laughter, and Dean is bedazzled in finding out that, in fact, he loves that. He thought he'd hate Castiel laughing at him in a moment like that, but... he was wrong. He adores his laughter. It tells him that Cas just read all the right things in his reaction, understood where they came from, and why they are there.

Dean blushes, sticks his hands in his pockets and mutters, in a falsely angry tone “Shut up” at Castiel. He doesn't stop Castiel when he nudges him with a shoulder and stays close to him.

“What do you say about we go and take a closer look at that place?”

Trying to keep his coolness, and failing miserably, Dean nods. “Well, since we're here...”

Cas shakes lightly his head, impatient and slightly exasperated. “Yeah, we're here. Thanks for seconding me. Come on, let's go.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading! 

I truly hope you enjoyed this little story. Every kind of feedback is very much appreciated, just as much as likes and reblogs!

Please, do not repost my works or part/s of it on different places, not even if you give credits.

[winchesterfamilylobe]

Sneaking Out

Summery: y/n sneaks out to go to a party and the boys are mad.

Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Castiel and Sister Winchester

Age: 17

Y/N knew that her brothers wouldn’t agree to let her go to a party, she was their baby sister and they were fiercely protective of her. She was a sheltered girl.

Of course she knew all about the things that go bump in the night but her brothers always had someone around for her if they couldn’t be there and they loved her with everything that they had. They didn’t let her go to parties or go on dates or even hunts.

So on a Saturday night, (Y/N) decided that tonight was the night that she was sneaking out and she was so nervous about it. The boys were on a hunt and Castiel sat watching a movie with her.

“It appears that we are out of popcorn.” He stated in his usual way that made her chuckle. She nodded, pausing the movie.

“Why don’t you go and get some more while I go and get a shower?” She suggested and he nodded slightly.

“Okay, I’ll be back in the estimated time of-” Castiel paused as if working out the time it would take to complete the task at hand.

“Soon,” (Y/N) said with a smile “you’ll be back soon, Cas.” He gave her a firm nod before leaving.

(Y/N) jumped up, rushing to get her stuff together, putting the shower on to buy her some time before running out to her car and driving away with great haste. She stopped when she was close to the party and quickly changed her clothes, carrying on to the party. She arrived, being greeted by everyone and it made her smile.

When Castiel got back, he heard the shower and sighed. Humans take so long to do anything. He sat down and began to read a random book. After another half an hour, Cas began to become worried, knocking on the bathroom door. When (Y/N) didn’t answer, he tried the door handle, finding the door open and the shower empty. He frowned, turning the water off before exiting the room.

Swallowing the failure he felt, he picked up the phone and called the eldest Winchester, who answered immediately and put him on loudspeaker.

“Hey Cas, we’re not far out now, tell (Y/N/N) that we’ll be home soon. She can wait up if she wants.” Dean said, you could hear the smile in his voice as he mentioned his baby sister.

“About that...” Cas paused nervously “I went on a snack run, got back and she’s not here.” His voice grew quieter as he went on. He hated disappointing Dean and he was worried for the teenager that had snuck out.

“Well, where is she?” Sam asked, trying to be calm and Cas took a moment to answer.

“I don’t know.”

“We’ll be back in thirty minutes.” Is all Dean said before hanging up.

Meanwhile at the party, (Y/N) was dancing with her friends, drink in her hand. She had no intention of drinking when she snuck out but she figured that if she was going to get in trouble... she may as well make the most of the party. So she began to drink - a lot. She’d had a couple to drink before but this was her first time really being drunk. In all honesty, she loved it.

In her drunk mind, the worry of losing her loved ones, all the pain, end of the world, enemies and fear... was all gone and she was just a teenager.

Out of no where, a guy began to try and dance on her, despite (Y/N)’s refusals, the guy carried on. So, (Y/N) swung around, landing her fist to his jaw and walking away. She went and got another drink before deciding to walk back and maybe Cas wouldn’t have noticed she was even gone.

She walked along in her jeans, heels and vest top as rain began to fall. She held her arms, rubbing them to try and gain some warmth. She was almost pack to the bunker when a car pulled over. She sighed, seeing her brothers climb out.

“Where the hell have you been?” Dean yelled as he wrapped her in his jacket and got her into the car.

“I went to a party.” She mumbled and her brothers turned to look at her in shock.

“Are you drunk?” Sam demanded and she chuckled, nodding before she sneezed.

“I am indeed,” She said with a lazy smile “I danced, got drunk and punched a douche bag in the face.” (Y/N) giggled, seeing her two brothers angry faces.

They arrived back at the bunker to see her asleep in the back seat. They got out, Sam carrying her inside and placing her down on her bed, leaving her for a minute.

It wasn’t long before they heard a bang and went running to her. They found her dressed in shorts and a large tshirt that used to be Sam’s as she sat on the floor, gripping her hand, broken glass and blood around her. Her knee was cut as well.

Dean rushed over, lifting her up, placing her on the bed as Sam rushed the get the first aid kit. Cas began to clean the mess up.

“I thought I was gonna be sick,” She mumbled, barely keeping her eyes open “but I think that I’m good.” Dean held her close as Sam got back, beginning to fix her up.

“Why did you sneak out?” Dean asked as she rested her head on his chest. Her eyes were closed as a crease formed between her eyebrows.

“I’ve never been anywhere long enough to even try to fit in... it was nice to be invited and to be a teenager for a night,” she paused with a smile “to drink, dance and punch someone that’s human for stupid reasons... to get in trouble with you guys and then after, return to the end of the world - again,” She sighed as she nuzzled into her eldest brother “it’s scary... one day I’m gonna lose you guys and it’ll be permanent. It was nice to forget that for a few hours.”

The three men exchanged sad looks. They never knew that she carried such worries in her little head. She feared being alone, being the last one standing without anyone that she loved.

In the morning, (Y/N) walked out of her room nervously, feeling guilty for causing so much worry. The three men looked up with smiles.

“Hi, I’m really sorry about last night,” she began quietly with her head hung low “I shouldn’t have snuck out, it wasn’t fair on you guys, especially Cas... so I’m sorry.” They all nodded.

“What you did was stupid and irresponsible.” Sam told her and she nodded to herself, felling as if she may cry but she didn’t want to.

“But we get it,” Dean said and she looked up, shocked at what he’d said so calmly. Dean stood up, touching her cheek “You’re a kid, you need to do normal stuff.”

“So, we’re going to the zoo.” Sam said and (Y/N) looked amused.

“You guys wanna go to the zoo?” She asked and Castiel stepped forward.

“It’ll be my first time going,” he said with a frown “do we bring weapons?” The three Winchester’s began to laugh, shaking their heads.

[helianthus21]

🔥 the mixtape

i LOVE the mixtape but i also resent it a little bit bc WHAT WAS THAT?? i’m constantly confused by tptb throwing us something like that that could very easily be seen as a giant romantic gesture but then unashamedly no-homoing it right after like what was the point if you never reference it again? It’s such a sweet gesture if u think about the fact that Cas has never really had anything he could call his own except maybe his trench coat and angel blade but otherwise? he doesn’t even have a permanent room in the bunker if I’m not wrong. Dean making him a gift like that is so important even if it’s just platonic (which i don’t think it is) but my memory of this scene is sullied by what happened in the rest of the episode and season and by (what I heard) how everyone treated Cas after i stopped watching bc one gesture that has no real relevance beyond the scene it was featured in doesn’t save a whole relationship:/. but anyway, ignoring canon, I will always treasure the mixtape bc it shows what a big S O F T I E Dean is and how scared Cas is of being rejected bc remember how tiny and fragile his voice was when he returned the mixtape to Dean?:’)) and also it reminds me of Dean’s no-bullshit way of loving someone bc even when they’re fighting he’s like “my heart is already yours, you don’t get to return it”, and now i’m thinking about that time he was mad at Cas but still made him popcorn (or was that a fanfic... i keep confusing that haha:P)

           Send Me a 🔥+ a Topic, and I’ll Tell You My Honest Opinion About It        

[shallowseeker]

even when dean was mad at cas for flying off with the angel tablet, he still made him popcorn 🍿 to watch their dumbass MoL archival film 🎥

[destiel-love-forever]

Hello! I saw your post about wanting prompts.... As a cheerleader in the midst of my competition season, I've recently been itching for some kind of cheerleading au, but it's kind of hard to find. I love your work and if you find time to write something like this, I'd def give it a read!

Thank you Anon!! Here it is (: 

Dean Winchester is the Angel's star quarterback. It's his senior year and he should be focused on one thing: getting a college scholarship. That's what his dad - and coach - has been telling him. Then a distraction in the form of a new cheerleader with bright blue eyes and a gorgeous body comes along and things change. Will Castiel ruin Dean's chances at a future, or will he turn out to be his lucky charm?

AO3 link:

Lucky Charm

The warm sun falls on Dean’s exposed back as he leans over his extended legs in the grass, stretching them out. He holds the position longer than necessary because of how good the lingering summer heat feels on his skin. Any day now, autumn will sweep its way into the small town and even though it’s his favorite time of year because of football, he’ll still miss the hot days out on the lake and the warm nights around bonfires with friends.

Nothing compares to football season, though. The freedom he feels out on that field. How everything melts away. And the cheerleaders. Oh boy, does he love the cheerleaders.

“Winchester,” his best friend Benny grunts, flopping down onto the field with him and beginning his stretches.

“Lafitte,” Dean says back in acknowledgment, looking over at him and grinning when he sees his best friend’s bare chest and neck is covered in scratches and hickies. “Better put a shirt on or coach will be pissed.”

Benny rolls his eyes. Dean’s dad is the coach and he’s a total hardass, but he has a soft spot for Benny. John Winchester gets a kick out of Benny, the young boy from wealthy parents, destined for greatness, no cares in the world. Sure, he gets pissed when the boy drops passes or shows up to practice hungover or late, but it’s always a few extra sprints and he’s letting it go.

Unfortunately, Dean doesn’t have the same privilege. John Winchester puts the weight of the world on Dean’s shoulders, the young boy with a widowed father, no money to send him to college, not intelligent enough for good grades, so many cares in the world he could suffocate on them. Dean’s father planned his future before the boy could even throw a football. The rage that comes out when Dean fucks with the plans is violent and terrifying.

“Where the fuck is Ash?” Benny asks, referring to their other best friend. The three of them are captains this year and John wanted them to come do drills and review plays before the first practice of the night tonight, when the entire town is welcome to come watch the season officially begin at midnight.

Dean pulls himself out of his anxious thought tornado and shrugs. “Probably getting laid. Or napping.”

“Fuck both of ya. I’m right here.” Ash throws his bag down and sits beside it, not bothering to stretch yet. Instead, he lays on his back with his four limbs spread out, soaking up the sun. “Can you guys believe school starts in a week? Senior year. I can’t wait.”

“We’re going to be kings of the school,” Benny adds.

Dean just looks over at the two of them, snorting. “We already were. But, yeah, it’ll be fun.”

Benny rolls his eyes and looks at Ash. “Someone’s being grumpy today.”

“This should cheer ya up,” Ash says with a smile in his voice. Dean looks in the direction he’s pointing and straightens his back, puffing out his chest without meaning to. It’s only a group of five cheerleaders but all five are scantily dressed and gorgeous. Especially the one with black hair and bright blue eyes, his strong legs sticking out from short-shorts in the blue color of their school. His belly button shows beneath his t-shirt he’s made into a cut off, the hem stopping where he cut through the team’s logo.

Fucking gorgeous.

“Who is that?” Dean half asks, half demands. Both of his friends just shrug, neither having any information on the new guy.

The group comes closer, since they’re sitting right next to the table set up with the water jug and the stereo. Jo, the squad’s captain, goes to the stereo and plugs her phone in like she’s going to play music. Benny, her nearly permanent on again/off again boyfriend, hops up and waves his hand in the air. “Woah, woah. No. We’re using that today during warmups.”

“Well, you can have it then, Benjamin,” she spits over her shoulder. Dean wasn’t aware they were off again, but it’s looking like that’s the case. “We have the field for the next forty minutes. We’re practicing our routine for Midnight Madness.”

“Right. Midnight Madness.” Benny walks toward her with a goofy smile as he talks about the kick off practice they have tonight. “I could drive you to that. Pick you up. Drop you off after.”

“Oh, you think so?”

They continue going back and forth, Benny’s flirting softening her up. Dean stops listening though. He can’t concentrate when blue eyes starts stretching. The boy brings an arm behind his head, grabbing his elbow and pulling, his gaze falling somewhere off in the distance. His shirt rides up and with Dean sitting on the ground he can see his rosy nipples. He licks his lips.

Something hard hits him in the side and he jumps, grunting before yelling, “What the fuck?”

Ash has a knowing smile as he wiggles his eyebrows at him. “Careful there. You’re popping a hard on.”

Blushing, Dean grumbles something generic about Ash’s mom giving him a hard on as he hurries to adjust himself. His friend laughs at him and he’s seriously considering punching him until he glances up to see blue eyes looking straight at him.

Act cool, Dean. Act cool. You’re the star quarterback of a team who won the State Championship last year. You can handle a cute boy. Act. Fucking. Cool.

“Hey,” he says with a - if he does say so himself - very casual head nod.

The boy’s cheeks turn pink and he looks at the ground. “Hey.”

High on the fact that he made him blush, Dean pushes further. “What’s your name?”

“Oh. Um.” The boy fidgets, looking at him with wide eyes. “Castiel. Cas. Castiel.” He laughs nervously. “Either works.”

“Alright, Cas. I’m Dean.”

“Hi, Dean.”

Dean gives Castiel the smile everyone tells him is charming. “You must be new? I’d remember a face like yours.”

He hears Ash whistle and say under his breath, “Smoothe.”

Ignoring his idiot friend, he waits for Castiel to respond. It takes the boy a minute. He rocks on his heels and looks at the grass instead of Dean before nodding and saying, “Yeah. New.”

“Where ya from?”

“New York.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah. Cool.”

Dean tilts his head, having decided this is definitely his conquest for the school year. There’s an irresistible pull to the boy and they’ve known each other for five minutes. Hell, he’s not even thinking about just hooking up with him. He’d bring this boy out on a date. Dean Winchester’s first ever date.

“So, you’re a senior?” The boy nods. Dean smiles. “Nice. Me too. And you’re a cheerleader. That’s exciting.”

Castiel blushes. “Yeah. Uh, are you a football player?”

Dean laughs softly. Understatement of the year. “Yeah. Quarterback.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah. So, I guess we’ll be seein’ each other often.”

The boy bites his lip and looks over at his new friends. They’re all staring at him in wonder, probably because they’ve gone to this school long enough to know Dean’s reputation. Castiel looks back at Dean with a nervous smile. “Great.”

“Great.”

“Yes. Great,” Ash says with a dramatic eye roll. “How about we put an end to the most boring conversation I’ve ever had to endure?”

“How about the football idiots stop talking to the cheerleaders?” Jo snaps, grabbing Castiel’s hand and tugging him. She tells a girl sitting in jean shorts and a shirt, presumably a friend not on the team, to start the music when she gives the signal. Then the group all heads out onto the field.

Free to look without any risk of getting caught, Dean tilts his head to the side and appreciates the view of Castiel’s ass bouncing slightly as he hurries with the others. “Fucking hell,” he whispers in amazement.

“Oh, boy,” Ash laughs. “You’re fucked.”

---------

Castiel’s thankful that the only obligation he has for Midnight Madness is the team’s dance routine. The rest of the time he can sit with his new friends and zone out on the hot as fuck quarterback that’s prancing around in a shirt with the sleeves cut off, the slits going to the bottom of his ribcage to reveal the tanned skin beneath the fabric. His black shorts hang loose on his hips and skim the tops of his knees. He’s the opposite of Castiel. Huge muscles, flirty smile, high confidence, extremely attractive, and popular. At his old school, Castiel wouldn’t have even been on the cheer squad. He was far too shy and geeky. But he promised himself at this new school he’d reinvent himself. So here he is. And now the quarterback was flirting with him. Surely only for fun, not because he’s actually interested, but it still has Castiel flustered.

“Popcorn?” his new friend Chuck offers, pointing the bucket in his direction.

With a thankful smile, Castiel takes a few kernels and pops them in his mouth. He’s not sure how he got so lucky. Chuck’s his neighbor so when he moved in earlier this month he had an almost instant friend. It was him who convinced Castiel to go out for the cheer squad. He had great logic. It was something Castiel actually thought he’d enjoy, and their school was the perfect place for a guy to be on a cheer team, because the popular kids at the school didn’t put up with any jokes about being a fag or whatever. At the time, Chuck had said it was because the most popular guy at the school is openly gay. Now he’s burning to ask if Chuck meant Dean.

The coach blows the whistle and all the boys hurry over to the sidelines for water. Castiel watches as Dean takes off his helmet and squirts his water bottle over his head before tilting his chin back to squirt some in his mouth. Once he swallows, he shakes his head, wet hair going wild. One of his friends - the one Jo claims she hates but Castiel thinks she loves - says something, and Dean laughs. Hard. It carries through the air and Castiel shivers at the sound.

“Damn, that boy is hot,” Chuck mutters, looking in the exact same spot as Castiel.

Castiel’s stomach drops. The way Chuck said that was wistful, a tone Castiel’s used himself multiple times. The sound of a gay man appreciating a straight one. Since there’s no harm in agreeing with Chuck, though, Castiel sighs wistfully himself. “Yeah. He is.”

“Great kisser too. God, his mouth, man. I’m tellin’ ya - you haven’t been kissed until you’ve been kissed by Dean Winchester.”

Nearly choking on his second bite of popcorn, Castiel coughs and asks in a squeaky voice, “You’ve kissed him?”

“Well, jeez. Don’t act so shocked. I’m an attractive guy.”

“No. I mean, yes. You are.” Castiel doesn’t bother being embarrassed by admitting that. Within days of knowing each other, Castiel knew nothing was going to happen between them. Ever. They’re just great friends. “Dean’s gay?”

“Yeah. Well, he’s bi, actually. But yeah.”

Castiel turns his gaze to the field, stunned by the revelation. The swirl of possibility makes him ten times more nervous about Dean Winchester. It was one thing getting flustered by a straight boy being flirty but an entirely different thing if Dean is someone he could realistically be with. That makes the fear of rejection so much worse.

“Did you guys date?” he asks quietly, eyes tracking Dean as he backs up with the ball in his hand, then throws it across the field in a high arc. The ball goes toward some other boy but Castiel keeps his eyes on Dean.

“No. We were just fuck buddies for a while.”

“Why did you stop?”

“I wanted to be exclusive, to maybe try and date. Dean Winchester doesn’t do that.”

“Why?”

Chuck shrugs. “He claims he doesn’t believe in love but he’s a great guy and I don’t believe that for a second. Once you know him, you’ll see what I mean. He loves everything. One of those people that’s just completely full of life, you know? Always smiling.”

Castiel nods, still watching Dean. He can definitely see that, yes, but he has a feeling there’s much more to the story. Dean stands in front of his coach now. His helmet is on so Castiel can’t see his face, but his hands are in a constant state of clenching and unclenching by his sides. He notices that when the coach begins to yell, Dean takes the slightest step back, a shiver running through him.

“Why do you think he doesn’t date, then?” Castiel asks, wondering out loud.

“Everyone thinks it’s because of his dad. Relationships are a distraction.”

“Distraction from what?”

Chuck gestures to Dean and the coach. “Football.”

“God forbid,” Castiel mutters, rolling his eyes.

“Really god forbid, though. Dean’s getting scouted by Division 1 schools. People think he could one day make it to the NFL. A long shot, but a possibility. He’s good. Wait until you see him play.”

The coach advances on Dean and grabs the front of his jersey, yanking him forward and screaming into his face. Castiel leans forward, alarmed. “Oh my god. He can’t do that, can he?”

“Who? What?” Chuck looks in the same direction as Castiel and cringes, his frown deep. “Oh. Actually, he can.”

“Dean’s parents don’t get upset?”

The look Chuck gives him is incredibly sad. “Cas, that is his parents. His mom’s dead and his dad is right there.”

“His dad is the coach?”

“Yup. Real loving guy, hey?” Chuck shakes his head. “Wait until you see him during a real game.”

Castiel looks at the field. Dean’s getting a drink again, along with the others, but this time he doesn’t laugh afterward. He just ducks his head and places his hands on his hips, glaring at the grass in silence. Everyone gives him a wide berth. They must know better than to bother him.

Castiel knows for sure now. There’s something else lingering beneath the surface of Dean Winchester. A version of himself that’s not happy all the time. That doesn’t smile. That believes in love. That desperately wants love.

In seconds, Castiel has fallen for the boy. The boy beneath the surface.

-------

A hand hits the back of Dean’s head and he snaps his head in the direction of the person hitting him, cheeks turning red as he worries he got caught. His dad looks at him with a scowl and his eyebrows pulled in. Dean prays he didn’t notice Dean watching a certain cheerleader on the sidelines. When his dad’s eyes look over his shoulder at Castiel, he deflates.

“Somethin’ more important than the game, boy?”

“No, sir. Of course not.”

“You sure?” His dad turns to gesture at the field, where the other team is only ten yards from scoring a touchdown and tying the game. There’s only three minutes left and the Angel’s defense is exhausted. It’s not looking good. “Because the game is this way. Not that way.”

Dean bites the inside of his cheek and tries to remain calm so he can play this off. “Someone was shouting. I looked over there quick. Sorry.”

His dad just stares at him, unimpressed and probably not believing him either. The ball is snapped and a play begins. His dad leaves Dean alone to start coaching. It takes everything inside the young boy not to look at Castiel again. He gets closer to the white chalk of the field’s official edge and tightens his fists at his sides. His dad is right. He has to focus.

The opposing team scores on the next play and Dean’s gut sinks. He glances at the clock. Now there’s only two minutes and ten seconds left. It’s not impossible but it’ll be hard. As the players start to switch, Dean’s dad grabs him and yanks him close before he can run off. “This is your fault. That interception in the first could cost us this game. Go out there and fucking fix it.”

“Yes, sir.”

His dad shoves him toward the field and Dean stumbles for a second before jogging to his position. The other players start to line up. He feels sick as he waits for the ball. His dad is right, this is his problem to fix now. They can’t start the season off with a loss. Especially when the loss would be his fault.

His throat clenches and makes it hard for him to breathe. He hears the crowd shouting and the cheerleaders cheering and his dad screaming at them. The cheerleaders. Dean sucks in a breath and takes a chance, glancing over at the sidelines. The cheerleaders are facing the team right now instead of the crowd. Castiel’s in the front, right next to Jo in the center. He’s shaking his pom poms but his mouth is closed as his eyes bore into Dean. When he realizes the quarterback is looking at him, he gives a wave of a pom and a nervous smile.

The anxiety in Dean’s chest unfurls and he’s left with a floaty feeling. When he turns back to the game, he feels invincible.

-----

Castiel stands on the sidelines, anxiously waving his pom poms. His knees are wobbling in anticipation as he keeps his eyes glued to Dean’s every move. The clock is winding down and Dean’s managed to push the team down the field a good amount. They’re only thirty yards from the end zone now. The problem? There’s also only twenty-four seconds left on the clock.

The coach calls a time out and Jo orders them to spin around and do a certain cheer. He goes through the motions, forcing his eyes to stay on the audience, forcing his mouth to stay in a perky smile. The second they’re turned back around to watch the game, his face is serious again, his heart racing.

“Come on, Dean,” he whispers below his breath. “You can do it. Come on.”

The ball is snapped and Dean takes his steps backward, arm cocking in the air. His head swivels and Castiel scans the players, trying to find an open spot, praying there is one. Praying wherever it is, Dean sees it.

Castiel holds his breath when the ball is launched through the air. He watches it’s slow descent, realizing it’s heading for Benny Lafitte. The entire stadium turns quiet. It’s as if the air is charged with electricity.

When the ball lands on the ground, two or three yards further left than Benny, the opposing team cheers and the whistle blows as Dean’s dad calls another timeout. From his left, Castiel hears Chuck suck in a breath and whisper, “Shit.”

He doesn’t have to ask what’s wrong. The second Dean’s within reach, the coach is grabbing his face mask and yanking him to the sideline. The boy’s neck twists in a way that must have been painful - and quite honestly dangerous - and then the coach’s bright red face is pressing right up against the face mask as he screams. They’re close enough to hear parts and bits but too far to make sense of much of it. Castiel hears something about a ‘goddamn failure’ and ‘home.’ Something else about ‘embarrassment’ and ‘benched.’

Castiel’s eyes burn as he watches the scene. He glances around, astonished that no one cares that this coach - this father - is manhandling his son and screaming at him. When he looks at Chuck, his friend gives him a sad smile. Castiel just shakes his head, still shocked, and looks back at Dean and his dad. The whistle blows to signal the timeout is over and Castiel wonders if the man even had time to tell Dean a play or what to do. It seems he spent the entire time berating him. He says something else, something not yelled, then slams the palm of his hand twice against the side of Dean’s helmet and sends him off.

Six seconds. Final play. Too far away still to kick a field goal. “Come on, Dean,” Castiel shouts without meaning too. His cheeks burn with embarrassment but the other cheerleaders join him with words of their own. Then the Angel’s side of the bleachers start shouting encouragement at the young quarterback. Dean glances at the crowd, scanning it, then his helmet drops lower and he looks at Castiel like he did earlier. Instead of getting flustered this time, Castiel nods once, reassuring, and yells, “You can do it!”

The boy’s shoulders straighten and he turns to the team. The ball is snapped. Dean falls back. His arm is cocked. The crowd goes silent. The air becomes electric.

The ball flies through the air. Toward Benny again.

This time, it lands right in the boy’s arms. Three steps and he’s in the endzone. The crowd freaks out, jumping up and screaming. The boys on the sidelines storm the field to celebrate. The other cheerleaders are yelling and kicking their legs up in excitement. Castiel sees Jo fly away from the squad, heading straight for Benny, and something idiotic takes over his own body. One second he’s wishing he could hug Dean and the next second, he’s sprinting toward the boy with the number one on his blue jersey.

He launches himself at the boy, taking him by surprise. Dean releases a soft grunt before chuckling and returning his hug. His large arms wrap around Castiel’s bare waist, huge hands spreading across the small of his back, and he shivers at the calloused touch. One of the hands leaves so Dean can pull his helmet off. His hair is all over the place as sweat clumps it together, and sweat is rolling down the side of his face from his temple. Castiel’s mouth goes dry watching it travel down to his strong jaw. He wonders what it would taste like it.

Staring up at him in awe, Castiel accidently whispers, “You’re amazing.”

Instead of the cocky or flirty response he expects, Dean smiles softly and holds him tighter. “I’m pretty fond of you, too, Cas.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Dean leans down, slowly, making sure Castiel understands his intentions. When the cheerleader does nothing but lift up on his toes to make the journey shorter for him, he smiles and closes the distance, molding his lips over Castiel’s. Dean drops his helmet to the field so he can use the hand to cup the back of Castiel’s neck and hold him steady, his other hand increasing pressure on his back to pull him in closer. When he breaks the kiss off, he stays with their lips almost touching, so he can breathe him in. He whispers against Castiel’s mouth, “I think you’re my lucky charm.”

Castiel leans back to look him in the eyes, grinning like a total idiot. “Then I guess you’ll just have to keep me around.”

“Yeah.” Dean nods, feeling dizzy with happiness. “I guess so.”

[mittensmorgul]

9.22, Stairway to Heaven.

DABB. WE SEE WHAT YOU DID HERE.

Metatron wasn't content trying to impersonate God, now he's going about trying to impersonate Cas, but he's like... the worst possible version of Cas. He's just mad that Cas is winning the personality war...

METATRON: Good. Don't forget it. I mean, I-I don't get this whole Cas lovefest, either. I'm offering our people a way home, and still -- still, they're choosing him over me. I mean, sure, he's cute. And Castiel has this simple...charm. He's like a mentally deficient puppy. But I'm lovable. And funny. I made God laugh -- twice! GADREEL: You're the one who asked him to lead an army. METATRON: Well, I didn't think he'd be good at it.

Just because he didn't WANT the job doesn't mean he doesn't excel at it. But Metatron's super secret brigade is people who actually believe they're being loyal TO CAS, carrying out a special mission FOR CAS, by blowing themselves up and killing innocents. And just.... YIIIIIKES. But Dean, probably destabilized by the Mark too, is becoming more brazen in expressing his anger:

DEAN: Cas, I know you try to be a good guy, okay? I do. You try. But what you got here, this is a a freakin' cult. CASTIEL: Dean. DEAN: And the last time you had this kind of juice, you did kill humans and angels, and you did nothing but lie to me and Sam about it the whole damn time! SAM: Can we, uh -- can we take this somewhere else, guys? [They enter CASTIEL's private office] SAM: Will you stow the baggage, Dean. Look, we've got a case. Let's work it.

But Cas and Sam both worry:

CASTIEL: Does Dean seem different to you? SAM: Yeah. Lately, he seems to be...amped up --you know, on edge. CASTIEL: Effects of the mark? SAM: What else? CASTIEL: He does seem angry. I mean, he's always a little angry, but now it seems like...more. I think a part of him actually believed that I ordered those angels to, you know...Sam, you don't, do you? SAM: No, man. Cas, listen. You got a weird thing going on back there. Those other angels, the way they stare at you, I-it's like you're part rock star, part L. Ron. CASTIEL: They've put their faith in me. SAM: And maybe that's the problem. I mean, people have been doing messed up crap in the name of faith -- in the name of God -- since forever. CASTIEL: Well... I'm not trying to... play God. I'm just trying to get my people home.

He's not trying to play God, he's trying to play Moses. What Cas most fears is that Dean actually thinks Cas ordered those angels to become suicide bombers. Dean, of course, never believed it at all, but he's not really feeling himself, and that's only getting worse. The not-sleeping is about to evolve into not-eating and the burning need to kill. Fun!

But it turns out, it's a good thing Dean made Sam go with Cas, because otherwise he wouldn't have known why six was afraid of seven.

All of this, though, was just a ploy-- the angelic bombers, the detour to "heaven" that turned out to be a trap-- to sow discord among Cas's angels. If Metatron couldn't win a popularity contest between him and Cas, then he'd run a smear campaign. Exactly the same way he manipulated Cas into thinking he was on a road trip with Gabriel in 9.18, he manipulated Tessa (and the others) into thinking they were actually receiving their orders from Cas. And he picked his angel bombs very carefully...

And then Cas has to, again, choose between the angels and Dean. Their order is to kill Dean to prove his honesty, but he can't, of course. Because Dean is not expendable.

(I mean, we know Dean would've just come back as a demon anyway, but still, Cas couldn't do it. I imagine Chuck was on the edge of his seat chewing popcorn at this point.)

HANNAH: Why would we follow you? METATRON: Well, look around. You've seen earth. You've had a taste of free will. I got to ask you -- do you like it? I mean, the way you've flocked off to follow Castiel tells me you need to follow someone. It's in your DNA. But Cas -- he's not what you think he is. He sends angels out to die. Have you told them about your stolen Grace, Castiel? How it's fading away, and when it burns out, so will you? So...No, then. I'm not the best, but I'm the best you've got. You want to stay with Castiel, fine, but he's playing you, because at the end of the day, the only thing he cares about is himself and the Hardy boys there. You've got a choice to make. Make the right one.

(this is also the first Dean heard of Cas’s burning grace, too...)

Interesting to note Metatron describes what they had as “a taste of Free Will,” when every one of these angels only wanted to follow orders. They didn’t even get close to knowing free will.

GADREEL: Tessa, Constantine -- I recruited them, and you brainwashed them into blowing themselves up. METATRON: So? Well, that's an old writer's trick -- flipping the script. You start by building up a seemingly unbeatable enemy, like the death star, or a rival angel with a bigger army. That way, I look like the underdog. But then, oh, no! The competition gets greedy. He starts pushing things too much. With the help of my combustible double agents. And then, after a rousing speech, his true weakness is revealed. He's in love, with humanity. And now...I'm inevitable.

(and so is demon dean, almost completely lost to the mark now)

Metatron's journey to becoming Chuck Jr. is about to pull into the station.

[xharuka17x]

Drabble: Tabloids

Title: Tabloids

Pairing: Destiel

Warnings: Alpha Dean, Omega Castiel, Cheating (not on each other), Famous Destiel

Notes: All @blubunn‘s fault XD

 “Are you out of your mind! What were you thinking?! Were you even thinking at all?” Balthazar was raving and ranting as he paced like a mad man while he ground his teeth in frustration.

Castiel sat, dejected, at his kitchen table, trying to keep himself from wincing at Balthazar’s rage.

He had absolutely nothing to say. No way of answering his manager when it came to this nightmare that was displayed all over his table.

“Look at these, Castiel!” Balthazar shoved the trash magazines towards him. The Omega’s sky blue eyes looked over the front pages of the three in front of him and groaned. In bold lettering, splattered across the covers were damaging titles. The titles were bad enough but the worse part were the pictures. Explicit and extremely intimate pictures of him and action movie star Alpha Dean Winchester having sex. To add to his horror, they were clearly taken at different times and places.

‘Homewrecker Castiel!’ was over a slightly grainy picture of Dean having Castiel bent over a table in his trailer with his face in Castiel's ass. Dean had a kink about rimming him. The picture had been taken through the side window. Castiel had stopped by to see his lover since they had both been in the same area of a studio that day.  

‘Dean Cheated on Anna with a younger Omega!’ was written over two split pictures. The left showed Dean fucking him against a wall while kissing him, Castiel’s hand lost in his lover short hair. The Omega couldn’t remember where this had been, but the clarity of the photograph was unnerving. The picture on the right showed the Alpha walking on the busy Soho streets, hand in hand with his wife Anna on a sunny day. Castiel noted they weren’t even looking at each other and had no idea when that picture was taken either.

‘Castiel Novak Caught in Whirlwind Affair with Famous Action Star!’ was displayed just under a slightly dim black and white photo of Dean draped over him as Castiel laid on his stomach. The Alpha’s mouth on his neck while Castiel’s face clearly showed his enjoyment.

The Omega shoved the tabloid rags away from him. He wanted to cry. These intimate moments with his Alpha displayed and distributed like some trashy porn. Everytime he had been with Dean it had been amazing and loving. Dean could be gentle and rough all at once but always made sure it was about Castiel’s pleasure before his own. What they had wasn’t just sexual. The Alpha made him laugh and feel comfortable in his own skin. They would spend what little times they would have cuddled up, watching old movies while sharing popcorn. Sometimes they just held each other for a few moments in the stolen seconds between the chaos of their busy lives.

The Alpha was a very well known and loved action hero movie star. His most recent big role was as Captain America. Castiel loved watching Dean in that movie franchise, but it had blown up and made seeing the Alpha much harder.

Castiel’s own movie career was successful, but nothing like Dean’s. Castiel hadn’t been acting extremely long yet had a handful of very popular rom-com movies. He was about to start in a TV show this upcoming fall as a young fry cook that could see the dead and helped them move on. Castiel was finally going to be able to show his serious side.

“Do you have any idea how bad this is? Cassie, you are barely out of diapers and you seduced an Alpha ten years older than you! An Alpha that is married to another actress, Castiel! Dean Winchester’s career can survive this, but yours? Who the hell is going to want to hire a twenty something Omega that whores himself out for Alpha knots!” Balthazar barked.

“I did not seduce him! I am not a whore!” Castiel yelled enraged. He knew how bad this looked, better than anyone else. He and Dean had met when they had both attended the Academy Awards and again at the after party last January. Both Alpha and Omega had immediately been drawn to each other. Dean had attended alone, and even though Castiel had known damn well who the Alpha was and that he was very married, he hadn’t been able to stop the kiss that happened. Dean had pulled him into a secluded room and Castiel had never been able to get rid of Dean’s scent nor what it did to him since.

Balthazar came around the table and placed his hands on the Omega’s shoulders. “Cassie, do you honestly believe you mean anything to Winchester beyond a young hole to fuck?” Castiel flinched at his manager’s harsh words. The Beta’s bluntness had always been something Castiel appreciated of Balthazar, but not at this moment. The Omega hated this. He felt like crying because he didn’t want to believe Balthazar’s words. “How long has this been going on?”

“Eight months,” Castiel replied sheepishly. Dean always made time to see him somehow and Castiel didn’t want to believe he meant nothing.

Balthazar almost look catatonic. “Eight months? Cassie, come on! Has that Alpha ever promised you he would leave his wife? Ever tell you he loved you? Be realistic here! He will buy his wife a nice big fat expensive gift, she’ll forgive him and this will all blow over, but for you? Winchester will forget you and you will have this permanent mark on your reputation and we will be lucky to get you any jobs.”

Castiel couldn’t help his tears. Maybe he was a naive twenty-five year old that was wrapped up in a forbidden romance with a dashingly handsome older Alpha. Maybe Dean really didn’t care about him, but he didn’t want that to be true. He just didn’t. Dean smelled so right to him, like home and safety. He was sure Dean felt the same about him. He had to. Dean had never brought up Anna and had always taken off his wedding ring whenever he and Castiel were together. It excused nothing, the Omega knew that, but still. The Omega remembered when he had tried to end it with Dean after three months.

“Cas? What's wrong sweetheart?” Dean had just walked into their secret meeting place and had tried to kiss Castiel but the Omega had taken a step back, out of reach.

“I-I can’t keep doing this” Castiel had started. Just a few nights ago, Castiel had seen Dean with his beautiful wife Anna on TV. They were on the red carpet at the premier screening of Dean’s latest movie. Sharing the Alpha was eating at Castiel. He didn’t want to be someone’s dirty little secret. The Omega was already falling quite hard for the Alpha and he had to end it now or his heartbreak would be so much worse later.

Castiel was trying to keep his composure, yet the sadness and hurt he saw in Dean’s jade green eyes made his heart twist painfully.

“Cas… I don’t understand. You don’t want to see me anymore?” Dean stepped closer, his voice was lower now, and gruff. His scent of pines and crisp apples took on a sour note of sadness as he came closer to Castiel.

“Dean, you’re married and I’m just-” Castiel tried, he did, but Dean was cornering him against the wall, boxing him in with his scent and those hurt jade green eyes. The Alpha caressed his face and kissed him, silencing his words. The kiss was soft and gentle, intimate as Dean nuzzled him before deepening the kiss. It became consuming and filled with passion, which made Castiel mewl into it. Dean mapped out his mouth leisurely, like there was nothing else he wanted more then to kiss Castiel and take possession over every single inch of him. The Alpha cradled his lover’s head, hands buried in his dark hair. Castiel’s hands fisted in Dean’s over shirt, holding onto the Alpha desperately as he gave everything he was to Dean Winchester.

Slowly the kiss ended, both nipping at each other’s lips gently before Dean nuzzled him once more and rested his forehead against Castiel’s.

“I need you, Cas. Please don’t end this,” Dean whispered against him, his hands caressing Castiel’s face gently, his green eyes intense and pleading as he looked into the Omega’s sky blue eyes. All Castiel was able to do was nod his agreement. Dean wasted no time claiming his lips after that.

Dean had taken him apart repeatedly that night, loving and worshiping every inch of Castiel’s body. The Omega had been completely lost in an ecstatic state of euphoria. He had never tried to end it again. That night had marked him as Dean’s completely. The Alpha had even gotten carried away during one of their trysts and had bitten him on his shoulder. Dean had profusely apologized afterwards, yet Castiel had endlessly wished it had been an actual mating bite.

Castiel had no idea what would happen now. The tabloids had hit mainstream two days ago and the fall out was massive. He had received an onslaught of hate mail, paper and email, so many hateful words. He could only imagine Dean was drawing in much the same things, if not worse. Dean’s wife Anna was also an actress and well loved as an all-American Omega. God only knew the wrath Dean was facing. Castiel couldn’t bring himself to read any of the magazine’s stories.

The sound of his TV being turned on snapped Castiel out of his haze as he looked over in time to see Balthazar putting the TMZ show on. Of course, only for the universe to continue to punish Castiel, the show was showing a clip of Dean leaving a building downtown, paparazzi everywhere, shouting and demanding questions about Castiel and their affair.

Balthazar was on the phone, pacing as he barked out words Castiel could barely hear as the Beta stepped out onto the balcony, leaving Castiel to sink down on his white leather sofa and watch the screen blankly. His senses were bombarded with questions and theories about the affair. Hosts speculating on how Anna was dealing with the situation. Videos of Dean with Anna, then Castiel by himself at some event flashed behind the tv hosts discussing the situation. Of course, it didn’t take long for them to brandish the compromising photos of Castiel and Dean across the screen with certain areas blurred. According to them, they had all been obtained by the same source.

Anna was perceived as the victim, which she of course was, while Castiel was painted as Dean’s mistress. The show’s hosts were throwing out speculations on how the affair started and Castiel groaned. Some disputed Castiel had seduced the Alpha who was a decade older while others speculated that Dean, being a big time star and well known, had used his handsome wiles to seduce the young and impressionable Omega.

Castiel wanted to disappear. He muted the tv as he laid his head back. What had he done? He closed his eyes as tears slipped past his lashes and down his cheeks. He was weak and in love with an Alpha that belonged to another Omega. He suddenly didn’t care anymore about his career, only that he would never see Dean again. He knew how selfish he was being, but his heart wouldn't stop twisting painfully at the realization that maybe he really had meant nothing to Dean. He would never feel his touch again, his kiss nor ever be buried in Dean’s chest with the Alpha strong arms wrapped around him and drowning in that apple and pine smell that made everything feel so right…

There was a knock at his door, surprising him out of his misery. Balthazar walked back into the living room, heading for the door. Castiel sat up when he heard a loud commotion from the hallway and stood.

Castiel’s sky blue eyes went wide in shock as Dean emerged from the hall and headed right for him. “Dean-” The Omega had no time to asses the situation nor say anything further as the Alpha wrapped his arms around him and captured his lips with his. Dean kissed him breathless. Hungry and unyielding in taking what was his. Castiel melted against him and gave everything Dean demanded.

When Dean pulled away, Castiel looked up at his lover, dazed and confused as the Alpha caressed his face. Emerald green eyes moved over every part of Castiel’s beautiful face with nothing but adoration and want. Castiel trembled in his grasp.

“I’m divorcing Anna.” Dean declared and Castiel couldn’t keep the smile from gracing his face and surged forward to kiss his Alpha.

“Wonderful,” Balthazar growled out, ready to hit the two fools in love, “but if you haven’t noticed, this is getting ugly and I highly doubt your soon to be ex-wife will take this lying down!”.

Dean nodded as he kept his eyes on Castiel’s. “I know. She won’t, but I’m where I’m supposed to be. If you’ll take me.”

Castiel couldn’t even answer him, choosing to kiss the Alpha all over again instead. Dean was his, and only his.

[mary-magizoologist]

Nougat and Pie

Characters: Dean, Sam, Jack, Reader

Pairing: No pairing

Warnings: maybe crappy title, fight, possible spoilers if you hadn’t started season 13 yet

Words: 1858

A/N: I’m really enjoying season 13 and I felt like writing something with Jack. Hope you guys like it!

Nougat and Pie

Jack's arrival was life-changing. Sam and you started to grow fond of the kid, and how couldn’t you? His mother was dead, his father was Lucifer and Castiel, who he considered his father, was dead, too. You could totally understand he was scared about the world, how it wasn’t his intention to hurt people, he just didn’t know how to handle his powers and that freaked him out. But the one who was difficult to convince Jack didn’t seem to be bad, is Dean.

Dean is totally sure Jack is evil, and maybe he isn’t now, but he will switch in any moment and will kill us all. Although, you could understand Dean too. It’s worrying that nothing can hurt Jack, and the fact he is the son of an archangel. He had lost his mom again, by Mary getting trapped in an alternate version of the world we know, an apocalyptic universe, with no one but Lucifer himself, because of a breach Jack opened. He had lost his best friend right in front of our eyes, without any chance to put up a fight. Even Crowley, who was a little bit annoying sometimes and this wouldn’t have happened if he had put Lucifer back in the cage like it was the original plan, but anyway, he was helpful and he sacrificed himself to help us.

At this moment, Jack was alone sitting in the library, concentrated on going through the pages of a book, looking at the pictures in it. You were looking at him, leaning against the frame of the hallway door. You could hear Sam and Dean’s muffled arguing from where you were standing. You rolled your eyes and with a sigh, turned around and went to check on the two fighting baboons.

“I’m telling you, Sam,” Dean growled, “I don’t like any of this.”

Sam had his bitch face on.

“What’s wrong?” you asked getting into the room.

“This whole situation about that monster,” Dean pointed.

“Yeah, I know,” you sighed, “You said that like a thousand times since he was born. And he is not a monster.” you corrected.

“Yeah, Dean,” Sam agreed, “I think he is good. He’s just… scared.”

“About what?” Dean asked.

“About a lot of things, Dean,” Sam began, “The night we met him you tried to shoot him.”

“And he defended himself,” you added.

“Yeah, and the next time, angels tried to kill him, and they blocked his brain with the radio angel.”

“He is Lucifer’s son, guys,” Dean reiterated, “We don’t know what he is capable of.”

“No, we don’t,” you shook your head, “But Cas believed in Jack for a reason. Maybe we just… Maybe we could trust in him, at least a little,” you shrugged.

“He probably washed Cas’s brain,” Dean retorted.

“Dean…” Sam sighed.

“You know what?” you sneered, “I don’t want to fight over this. I really do think you should give him a chance. Look, Dean, I totally understand you, I agree we should be a little cautious about the whole Nephilim situation, but we should try to do our best and show him he could trust us, he has to see it is good and learn from the good instead of the bad. That way he’ll have a say when it comes to the side to choose where he lies…” you shook your head sighing, “I hope what I said made more sense than I think it did.”

You left the room and walked down the hallway. When you got into the library you found Jack in the same position he was before. You sighed and walked and took a seat next to him.

“Hey Jack,” you greeted.

He lifted his gaze and looked at you.

“Hello, Y/N.”

“What are you reading?”

“It’s about myths about South America,” he answered, looking back at the book.

“Those are really interesting,” you tried to make a conversation, without success because he didn’t answer.

You made a pout and looked around you, looking for something to talk about. Nothing came, so you got up and went to the kitchen. You opened the fridge and noticed you had no milk. And that’s when the light bulb turned on. You jogged back to the library.

“Hey, Jack, want to go to the grocery store with me?” you asked cheerfully.

He looked at you again.

“What are we getting?” he asked.

“Well, we are out of milk and other stuff, so we could go and get some supplies.”

He nodded.

“So, want to go with me?” you smiled.

“Are Sam and Dean coming too?”

“No, just you and me.”

“Oh, okay,” he smiled and got up.

“Wait here, I’ll let the boys know we’re leaving,” you explained.

You went to check their rooms to let them know you were going to the grocery store with Jack. Dean was laying on his bed with closed eyes, apparently sleeping so you didn’t bother him. You went to Sam’s room and same thing. You grabbed your phone and text him to let him know you were leaving with Jack. You grabbed your car keys and went to get Jack to leave.

“You’re kinda not supposed to leave the bunker, but a little air won’t hurt,” you told him.

“Because of the angels that are trying to kill me,” he nodded.

“Uh, yeah,” you let out an uncomfortable chuckle.

The rest of the way was quiet. You turned the radio on and left it a station that played classic rock, and Jack seemed to like it. You parked the car at the lot and both of you walked to get a cart. You walked down the aisles to get all the stuff you needed, cleaning supplies, milk, coffee, some pasta, vegetables, meat, lots of toilet paper, napkins, couple six-packs of beer, soda, orange juice, cheese, jam, peanut butter, and last but not least, ingredients to bake pie, otherwise Dean would get mad. ‘Holy crap, we had nothing at home’ you thought, looking at everything.

“I think we got the basics,” you smiled at Jack, “Do you want to get something?”

He thought about it for a little, “Nougat,” he smirked.

“Nougat?” you asked raising your eyebrows.

He nodded.

“Okay, let’s go get some candy,” you told him, strolling down to the candy aisle.

You picked some gummy bears, popcorn, and chocolate and threw it in the cart. Jack came and threw lots of nougat bars to the cart.

“So, you really like nougat don’t you?” you smiled at him.

“I really like it,” he smiled back at you, making you giggle.

“Would you like to make some home-made nougat?”

“We can do it at home?” he asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.

“Yep, I can look for the recipe online now and we can get the ingredients, and I was going to bake some pie, so,” you shrugged.

“I’d love to,” he nodded.

“Let’s go,” you motioned with your hand.

You checked on your phone for the ingredients and grabbed everything you needed. You paid and grabbed the bags and walked to the car when you closed the trunk a strong gust of wind hit you both.

“It’s going to rain,” Jack pointed out, looking at the sky.

“Yes, I can smell it,” you smirked.

“You can smell rain?” Jack asked, “Is that some sort of power?”

You snorted. “No, I mean, I grew up here in the south in a very dry area, and every time it was going to rain before it happened the wind burst, and with it came a particular smell of wet dirt. So, when I feel it, I know it’s going to rain.”

He looked at you in awe.

“Wow,” he said.

“Maybe to you it sounds silly but-”

“No,” he shook his head, “it’s interesting, I kinda feel it too.”

“It’s wonderful isn’t it?” you smiled, “I love rain, but let’s get in the car and get to the bunker before it pours down on us.”

You arrived at the bunker and parked the car, took the cars out and Jack helped you to carry the bags. You put everything away and let the ingredients for the pie and the nougat out.

“‘Kay, Jack, let’s make some nougat, shall we?”

He nodded smiling. You checked the recipe and both of you started to prepare everything. Both of you were in comfortable silence, just talking about what to do next. Making the syrup, toasting the almonds, making the egg whites. Mixing altogether. Put it on a baking tray and let it sit and cool down. In the mid time you decided to bake an apple pie for Dean, he helped you to do it too.

“Where did you learn to cook?” he asked.

“By myself,” you told him, “My mom wasn’t a fan of cooking, so when I ended up alone I learned by trying recipes from cooking books and recipes that I find online. I experiment and I suppose I’m lucky enough they turn out well.”

He nodded.

“Once the nougat is ready, and we eat dinner you can tell me what you think about my cooking,” you nudged him.

Sam and Dean got up and they followed the smell of something sweet directly to the kitchen.

“Y/N/N, are you baking pie?” Dean asked with a smile.

“Yep,” you smiled turning around, “Apple pie.”

“Awesome,” he clapped and rubbed his hands together.

“What’s this?” Sam asked pointing at the tray.

“We made nougat,” Jack answered him smiling.

“Can we try it?” Sam pleaded.

You shrugged and checked if it was hard enough to cut it.

“I think so, let’s cut it,” you said, searching for a knife.

You cut it and distributed a piece to the boys in the room and then grabbed one for you. You were a little bit scared about it now being tasty enough, and that the boys wouldn’t like it, or Jack would hate it. You were looking intensely at them, Sam was chewing and frowning, Jack too, and when you looked at Dean he moaned.

“This… Is… Good, oh my God, is awesome,” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, it’s really good,” Sam agreed, smiling.

You looked at Jack, waiting for his verdict.

“Your nougat is the best I’ve ever had,” he said.

“Thank you, guys,” you laughed, “And it’s our nougat Jack, we made it together.”

He smiled at you and kept eating his piece.

“I’ll make dinner, sweetheart,” Dean offered, “You made nougat, pie…”

“Jack helped me do both,” you pointed out.

“Well, Jack, I hope the pie is as tasty as the nougat.”

You smiled. You don’t expect Dean to accept Jack right away. He’ll gain Dean’s trust the moment he considered that Jack deserved it. But for now, you were enjoying the small moments of peace you were having with your little family.

Feedback is very appreciated!

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[whatdoyouthinkmyjobis]

Hunters on the Hellmouth

masterlist

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AN: More gory than typical canon. Torture. Takes place a week after chapter 30 and GND 11.

Chapter 31: Christmas on the Hellmouth

Dean pushed the cracked door open and caught Sam lying in bed reading A History of Slayers, Volume I. How the Slayer came to be and what fueled her was his latest obsession ever since he learned she was a vessel.

Dean didn’t like this track at all. They’d argued about it weeks before. “God dammit, Sammy! Why won’t you let me be happy for once?”

“I’m just curious, Dean! This has nothing to do with you and Buffy.”

“And if something stinks, what then?”

But it was Christmas Eve, and Dean didn’t want to have that fight again. He pulled the bedroom door closed and knocked so Sam could pretend he was reading something else.

“Come in.” Now Sam held one of the battered Goodwill paperbacks he kept stacked on his dresser.

“Can I grab one of your extra blankets? Dawn’s cold.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Sam’s girlfriend, Jada, was always freezing, and had filled his bedroom with what Dean estimated to be a hundred different blankets, each for a very specific temperature.

Dawn, who had been livid when her sister said she was spending Christmas Eve at their apartment, was nested on the Winchester’s couch staring at the small Christmas tree on the coffee table. “I still can’t believe you decorated,” she said, adding the purple fuzzy blanket to her pile.

Dean leaned against the arm of the couch, shifting his weight off his broken ankle. The tree, small and squat with little red balls and enough light to speckle the walls with stars, was very pretty. “Jada decorated before she headed north. She thought it would cheer us up.”

“I’m glad. I didn’t think I’d get a tree this year.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. Santa ain’t leavin’ any goodies under there.”

Dawn rolled her eyes. Buffy, an expert-level eye-roller herself, found this annoying and disrespectful, but he delighted in getting a rise out of the girl. “Dean, I’m sixteen. I don’t believe in Santa.”

“Got everything you need?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

Dean hobbled back to his room, already fantasizing about finding a naughty Mrs. Claus in his bed. Not that he was in any condition for sex. Moving from his bed to the bathroom meant the agonizing choice of putting pressure on his foot or his ribs. Moving his arms hurt. Laying flat hurt. Broken bones on top of Buffy’s busyness with the Potentials meant their sizzling sex life had started to fizzle.

Dawn called after him, “Hey, thanks for letting me come! Buffy was just a big wall of no.”

“You’re family, kid. Why wouldn’t you be here for Christmas?”

A flush rose to her cheeks, and she pulled the blankets up to her shocked eyes.

Waiting on his bed was something better than a vixen in red lingerie. Buffy, with a smile on her lips and sleep creeping into her eyes, had made herself comfortable in his red plaid shirt and nothing else. By her side, was a green box topped with a white bow.

“That took longer than I thought,” she said.

“Your sister wanted another blanket.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “You have a broken ankle! I could have gotten it for her.”

Crawling into bed beside her, he planted a quick kiss on her cheek. “You said no presents.” The phrase boyfriend test flashed in his mind, but she didn’t look at him like he’d failed.

“No presents. Not really. This isn’t for you to keep. I just thought bows were festive, and I sort of need the distraction.”

His lingerie dream revived, he unwrapped his not-present. “A book?” It was burgundy with a stamped gold trim.

Buffy removed it from the box as he leaned against his pillow pile. “I ask you to tell me stories all the time, so I thought I’d tell you some of mine.”

It was a photo album. On the first page, an orange-tinged Polaroid of a young woman with large, deep set eyes and blonde, deflated Farrah hair in a hospital holding a baby. Beneath it Baby Girl Jan 19, ‘81. “My parents fought over what to name me, but the hospital wouldn’t let them leave until they decided. Dad wanted Jennifer, but mom said I was too special to have the same name as every girl on the block. Mom got Buffy on my birth certificate while Dad was out celebrating.”

“Smart woman.”

“She was.” Buffy grinned. “She would have liked you.”

Dean had been caught off guard when Buffy said she loved him, but the idea that her mother would have liked him was shocking. With his heavy drinking, gambling, scars and tattoos, he didn’t think of himself as the take-home-to-mom type; but then, he’d never been a there-in-the-morning guy before Buffy either.

The next few pages were a blur of a blonde baby, usually smiling, often in ruffle-butted tights. Dean secretly loved babies. They were innocent and joyful. The end of the world meant being hungry or needing a change. Suit their needs, and they’re laughing again. He tried to suppress the now familiar blonde-haired, green-eyed girl who met him in his dreams.

The baby gave way to a toddler. In every picture, she gazed at her father with complete adoration. Soon, little Buffy was ice skating and dancing. Blowing out birthday candles, heading off to school, and holding a baby sister. The Summers family went to Disneyland, had barbeques, and stuffed presents under the Christmas tree until it overflowed. Once the round-cheeked, homecoming queen version of the Buffy he knew appeared, the album ended.

“We, uh, moved to Sunnydale a little after that.” That’s when monsters became real.

“What do you think Buffy Anne Summers would be doing if she hadn’t moved to Sunnydale?” he asked.

“I don’t know. She’d be entering her last semester of college. Probably would have spent too much time partying. Sorority for sure. She’d probably be dating some popular guy because he was popular and everyone said they were cute together.”

“Doesn’t sound like you,” he said, knowing how much brushes with the supernatural changed a person.

“Popularity is a strong drug,” she said.

Burning down her high school’s gym had no doubt ousted her from her typical social circles. Much as Dean hated Buffy being tied to the Slayer until it killed her, he was grateful it had put her in his path.

“And what would Dean Winchester be doing out of Sunnydale?”

He rubbed her leg, not wanting to confess that had Cas never brought him here, he’d be drunk and scared in a no-tell motel trying to plan a Hail Mary against Heaven and Hell. “You know me, darlin’. I’m gonna be hunting evil sons a bitches wherever I am.”

“I guess you didn’t have a lot of time before...” Her voice trailed off.

“I remember a few things,” Dean said. “I played t-ball. Dad coached. We lost every game. I was pretty obsessed with rocket ships and war games. Dad always made me the general and he was a sergeant.”

“Sounds tough,” she said through a smile.

“Tough as nails. I mean, I fell down, didn’t even cry until I got home.”

He opened his nightstand and pulled out a brown, leather book. Tucked under the journal’s jacket was Dean’s entire collection of family photos, creased and foxed from being touched so often.

“This is before the fire. I think Sammy was only a month old,” he said, holding up a small picture of four happy Winchesters in front of their blue house in Lawrence.

Buffy stared at the picture, hovering her fingers over Mary. “Your mom was very pretty.”

“Yeah, she was. Sweet woman. Total badass.”

“That’s your dad?” John smiled in the picture, his arms encircling Mary and Dean, nothing on his mind but family. “I think you take after your mom.”

He only had a few pictures from his childhood. Some with his mother. Some with his father. A couple with Bobby. All of them with Sam.

“Whatever happened to those pictures we took in San Francisco?” Buffy asked.

“They’re still on my phone.”

She blushed. “Not the sexy pictures. The other ones.”

The disposable camera was in his dresser, images of the two of them enjoying themselves still trapped inside. “I haven’t gotten them developed yet. It’s been a few years since that was a thing.”

“You should. We need more happy pictures.”

Christmas evening, most of the Potentials were piled among their pillows and blankets, watching It’s a Wonderful Life on a small television while self-appointed snack-fetcher Andrew popped a third batch of popcorn.

Dani leaned against the kitchen counter and tapped Willow’s foot with hers. “Wanna join us? It’s a Christmas tradition, and what’s more traditional than a couple of lesbians heckling Jimmy Stewart?”

“Rain check,” Willow said, taking another wet cup from Buffy. “We officially have more people in the house than dishes.”

“Your loss,” she said, biting her lip and walking away.

“She’s friendly,” Buffy teased.

“Yeah, she is. But this has already been my most Christmasy Christmas. Don’t feel like topping it off with more festive,” said Willow as she refilled the cabinet with cups.    

“Sorry!” Buffy cringed. The madness from The First had started in the middle of Hanukkah.

“It’s okay. My parents went out of town to visit old college buddies anyway, and Xander even lit the candles for me while my eyes were covered. I just tell myself everything’s closed because it’s Anti-Capitalism Day, not the celebration of Santa’s birth.”

“That’s festive?”

But the look on Willow’s face as she stared at water droplets on the tumblers was anything but celebratory. Last year for Winter Solstice, she and Tara had celebrated by holding hands in the pitch black house and willing the hundreds of tealights they’d spread around to spring into dancing flames. It was beautiful, like the floor was covered in stars. This December, she’d been in and out of the hospital with her own injuries and those of friends, close to losing her best friend less than a year after losing her girlfriend.

“How are you doing, non-holiday wise?” Buffy asked.

Willow rested her head on Buffy’s shoulder. “The other day, I caught myself longing for a simple vampire patrol, like how we used to with just you, me and Xander. It seemed downright quaint, and vampire patrol quaint? I’ve gotten so nostalgic for not-now that you could sprinkle a little snow on a fresh corpse and I’d find it all Norman Rockwell.”

“Picturesque. Why aren’t you making the decisions about holiday stamps?”

“I know!”

Squabbling rose in the living room.

“They can’t stay here forever,” sighed Buffy. “Either we all die horribly, or we save the day and have a dance party at The Bronze, the three of us, like old times, less the high school drama.”

“I’ll take high school drama. Getting shoved in locker is majorly preferable to nearly being blinded by an ancient evil.”

Buffy dried her hands and drew her friend in for an embrace. Willow wasn’t alone in wishing for simpler days, and time with friends -- the close friends a person could be quiet with for hours -- was sorely needed.

They released each other as a clamor of footsteps filled the house. Molly, Andrew, and Vi, a spacey redhead in a perpetual beanie who’d arrived the prior morning, searched the kitchen for snacks. “Why are all the good Christmas movies so depressing?” Vi asked. “Jimmy Stewart’s trying to kill himself. Then there’s the one with the mountain goblin invading everyone’s homes and robbing them blind. Don’t get me started on Rudolph--”

Buffy’s cell phone rang. Since everyone but the Winchesters was at her house, she headed toward her room, hoping to hear Dean’s deep voice on the other end asking what she was wearing.

Instead Dean screamed, “Buffy! Sam! They took Sam!”

Giles sped toward the Winchesters’ apartment, as Buffy called out directions. “Turn left!” she cried, causing him to squeal around a corner.

They took Sam. Dean had said nothing else before disappearing from the phone. She had no idea who took Sam or if they’d taken Dean too. He’d just stopped talking. Buffy’s heart was trying to climb out her throat.

“Stop!” she screamed, opening the door before Giles could slam on the breaks a few blocks from the apartment. On the sidewalk, a bloody, nearly naked Dean stumbled away from them.

“Dean, I’m here!”

Not seeming to see or hear her, he pressed on.

Buffy stood in front of him and shook him by his blood-slick arms. He was sweating yet cold to the touch. The gashes on his arms looked painful, but survivable. The gushing stab wounds on his shoulder and stomach made her dizzy with worry. “Dean, stop!”

He kept walking. Staring at something on the ground, he muttered, “Took him. They took him. Gotta get him back.”

“Leave that to me, okay? You’re going to freeze to death!”

He kept walking, his gait uneven with his cast foot. Losing Sam was Dean’s biggest nightmare. As with other times when he couldn’t shake his nightmares, Buffy drew back and slapped him.

Dean looked at her with tear-filled, frightened eyes. “They took him, Buffy. The Bringers broke in and took Sammy.”

He didn’t resist as Giles placed his jacket over his shoulders and directed Dean to the idling car.

“I was in my room, and I heard this big bang. Before I could even get up, Bringers were crashing through my door and window. I could hear Sam screaming. Oh God, Buffy, he was screaming and fighting, and I couldn’t get to him. I could-I couldn’t--”

“Shh! I will get Sam back. Let’s get you stitched up first.”

They retraced Dean’s bloody footsteps to find his apartment door in splinters. A dead Bringer lay nearby, a broken bookcase on top of him. By Sam’s bedroom door, another Bringer, pieces of its head blasted against the wall. As she escorted Dean to the bathroom to sew up his wounds, she glimpsed two more bodies in his bedroom.

“How many of them were there?” she asked as she wiped the blood off his chest.

“Seven? Eight? I think Sam was sleeping. Hard to stay awake on all those drugs.”

“What would they want with him?”

Dean shook his head.

“Babe, I think we need to take you to the hospital. These stab woun--”

“No! Fuck! We have to get Sam!”

Buffy had seen people in the throes of loss, but this was the first time she’d seen someone out of his mind with grief.

“One of them is alive!” Giles called.

Dean bolted from the bathroom. The Bringer under the bookcase was still twitching. Dean yanked him from under the rubble and slammed him against the wall. “Listen up you filthy fuck, you’re gonna tell me where my brother is, or I’m gonna cut it out of you.”

The Bringer coughed, spraying Dean with blood. It smiled a twisted red grin.

Scooping a dagger off the floor, Dean dug it into the Bringer’s shoulder, letting its weight hang on the blade. As it opened its mouth to scream, they saw its tongue had been cut out.

The wound in Dean’s own shoulder gushed. His eyes were dark with hate, a snarl on his lips. He looked like a stranger.

Buffy tugged on Dean’s arm. “We’re not going to get anything out of him,” she said softly.    

With one swipe across the neck, Dean finished the Bringer. He stumbled back, slipped in a smear of blood, and crashed to the floor with a cry. Pale and sweaty, he began to shiver.

“Call 911,” Buffy barked at Giles.

“God dammit, Cas! Where the fuck are you?” Dean muttered.

“He’s stuck at the wrong airport. Travel’s a bitch.” A handsome middle aged man with black hair just starting to grey stood by the kitchen, a know-it-all smirk on his face. “Hell, I don’t think I could have snuck over to this fun new playground if it wasn’t for you two, always leading the blind, doomed charge.”

“Who--?” Giles didn’t need to finish his question.

Though she knew it was pointless, Buffy scanned the room for weapons. The man in front of her was dead, memorialized in Dean’s tattoos, which meant the man was The First, who they still didn’t know how to hurt.

Dean’s breathing turned short and sharp. “Dad?”

The apparition scowled. “Don’t blame me for your existence. I wanted all you muck-monkeys wiped out.”

Dean’s eyes went wide with fear. “You!” 

“Finally!” The First said with a clap as Dean tried to crawl away. “You know, I’m surprised little Sammy hadn’t figured it out yet. You? Well, everyone knows you’re an idiot skating by on good looks and charm.”

Dean’s eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out. She couldn’t do anything about The First, but Buffy wasn’t going to lose the man she loved. Wrapping Dean in a purple blanket from the couch, she picked him up and started to head downstairs.

“This is adorable, by the way,” said The First. “Never thought I’d see Dean Winchester in puppy love. So cute. I’d root for you two kids if I wasn’t planning on torturing and killing you. For his sake, it would be kinder to let him die now.”

“No one’s dying today, asshole.”

“Dirty mouth! I see why he likes you. Well, I have go try on my new suit. You keep vainly trying to save everyone,” He raised his hands in a mock gun and fired at her with a smile, “and I’ll keep knocking them down.”

 After finishing his interview with the police, Giles rubbed his temples and joined Willow, Xander, and Dawn in the hospital waiting room. He opened his eyes at a rattling sound. Willow handed him a bottle of aspirin. “Can I use the entire bottle?”

“Save some for the rest of us,” said Xander.

They looked about the room blankly, needing to focus on something other than the reality of being in the hospital again, of nearly losing Dean again, of being attacked again.

The faint sounds of Buffy arguing with a nurse drifted down the hall. Despite her insistence, the doctor wasn’t going to let anyone see Dean for a few more hours. He had a collapsed lung, and had nearly bled to death. As soon as those pressing concerns were attended to, the doctors wanted more x-rays to determine if they would need to put pins in his ankle.

“Merry Christmas,” said Dawn.

Pouring himself a cup of spoon-eroding tar from the waiting room coffee stand, Giles downed four aspirin and mulled over the situation. First Spike, now Sam. The former had been The First’s pawn. Abducting him may have been a simple matter of keeping him quiet, though he didn’t doubt Spike was being used for more nefarious purposes. But Sam? Other than their fight over a week ago, he should have been unknown to The First. And why would the Bringers take only one brother, when It had left a bloody message about both? Judging from his desire to flee, Dean recognized The First as something beyond the image of his father. How did It know their father?

“What does The First want with Sam Winchester?” Giles asked.

They turned their tired stares to him.

“I’ve not been around them enough to earn their confidence, but there is something about the Winchesters they aren’t telling us. Have they disclosed anything about their more bizarre interactions with the supernatural?”

Xander, his unsure eyes darting to the girls, started, “One time there was this cursed rabbit’s foot--”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Okay, another time a ghost just wanted someone to come to his birthday party-- ”

“Dear God, what have they been filling your head with?” Giles asked.

“In defense of all the guy-folk, we were usually pretty tipsy when these stories came out, so I may be hazy on the details.”

Buffy, her coat still smeared with blood, stormed into the waiting room. “Give someone a medical degree, and they think they know everything.”

The pounding of her pacing punished Giles’ throbbing head. “Please, sit down.”

“I can’t! I hate waiting like this! I need to either be with Dean or out saving Sam, but I don’t even know where to start!”

They didn’t know how to save Sam either, so they surrounded their friend with hugs. The edge in Buffy’s countenance softened as she drew strength from her friends.

Unfortunately, Giles could not spare her the moment of relaxation. “Would you like some coffee?”

She shook her head and slumped into a chair beside Willow.

“We were just sharing stories about the Winchesters,” Xander explained.

“Like how they’re wonderful and have made my life a thousand times easier?” Buffy pouted.

“Heaven sent, you could say,” Giles encouraged.

“Well, yeah, an angel brought them here,” said Dawn.

“And an angel brought Dean back from the brink of death.” He took another sip of his coffee. “Does no one find it odd that angels are so interested in them, and yet offered no protection against this attack?”

“Mysterious ways sure are gosh darn mysterious,” Xander said, clueless as to what Giles was driving at.

“It’s not just angels.” Willow’s eyes darted between Buffy and Giles. “I, um, I had a spell go wrong a few months back. It let me see in people, and there was something weird in Sam. Inside, he looked almost like Spike, a soul wrestling a demon. When I confronted him about it, he said the demon that killed their mom was, uh, it was feeding Sam demon blood.”

This was news. This was progress. Giles leaned forward. “Feeding demon blood to a baby. That could only be for a ritual of some kind.”

“That’s what I said, but he didn’t know anything else.”

“He doesn’t have voices tell him to do bad things, does he?” Xander asked. All three of the girls glared at him.

A chess board formed in Giles’ mind. On opposite sides, Sam and Dean, one moved by the forces of Hell, the other the forces of Heaven. Whatever the game was, it was still in play. “Buffy, I need to know the circumstances surrounding Dean and Sam’s deaths.”

“I told you: it’s private.”

“Dammit, Buffy! This isn’t about betraying privacy. It’s about saving Sam,” Giles snapped.

“How could anything that happened over there matter over here?”

“Because I think whatever was after them, followed them.”

Buffy fixated on Giles, her loyalties wrestling inside her. Finally, she whispered, “Sam was murdered right in front of Dean. Stabbed. He died in his arms...”

 Dean kept his eyes closed and took stock of his body. A dull throbbing in his ankle. A stronger pain in his side. It didn’t feel like his body. It was distant, like it was floating slightly to his left. Someone was rubbing small circles on the back of his hand with their thumb. He squeezed the hand and tried to open his eyes, only catching a flash of blonde before closing them again.

Sam. Sam surrounded by men in robes. Sam screaming, the bandage on his stomach blooming red.

A far away voice. “Hey Dean, your Girly’s here.”

The Bringers. A flurry of knives. He still slept with his .45. Shot the one who broke through the window.

The voice again. It was sweet, familiar. “I’m going to fix everything.”

Another one burst through the door. Took two bullets to the chest before going down. Sam was screaming. A crash. Sam was fighting back.

“Baby, I need your help. What’s after you?”

In the living room, he saw them carrying his brother out. Couldn’t shoot or he’d hit Sammy. White hot pain. He threw a Bringer off his back. More pain ripping through his body. Head shot. Quiet. Sam was gone.

Dean could barely keep his eyes open, but he knew he was in a bed. He couldn’t save Sam from bed. He tried to get up, but something pulled at his chest. Two hands pushed his shoulders back into the mattress.

“Dean, you can’t get up, okay? You need to rest.”

“Gotta get Sammy.”

“I know.”

He tried to get up again. Buffy shoved him back into the bed. He glared at her.

“Saving Sam is my number one priority right now, or don’t you think I can do it?” Buffy asked.

He knew she couldn’t. She could kill any beast Hell threw at her, but this wasn’t a hellbeast.

“You recognized The First, didn’t you? I need you to tell me how to kill it.”

They’d broken up, in part, because of lying. Since getting back together, they’d tried to be as upfront as two monster hunters could, but there were parts of his world too crazy to share. Rather than lie, he avoided them. Steered her away whenever she got close. The questions now sat under a glaring spotlight, and he couldn’t get away. “You think I’m keeping secrets.”

She looked away, biting her lip until it turned white. “It’s what you do.”

Buffy’s eyes usually sparkled with curiosity and fire when asking him questions. Not now.

“Go get Giles,” Dean said. “I only want to say this once.”

As Dean sipped his water, Giles examined him, looking as annoyed as Buffy did concerned. “Just say it,” Dean said.

“Who are you, and how do you know The First?” Giles demanded.

All of Dean’s anti-authority snark rose up. Were Giles a cop, he’d delight in giving him the run around. But he wasn’t. He was someone who also cared about Buffy, and they were both in harm’s way because of him. “Back home, we’re going through the Apocalypse. Not one of your generic baddies trying to end the world apocalypses, a bonafide four horsemen, seal-breaking war against Heaven and Hell.”

“Revelation?” said Giles in shock.

“Bingo. It’s just skirmishes now. But when the players are big enough, skirmishes wipe out cities. The angels ain’t doin’ so hot. I think they bit off more than they could chew when they triggered the whole thing.”

“The angels started the Apocalypse? I thought they were supposed to be on our side.” Buffy so wanted allies. After his miraculous healing, she’d asked Dean daily questions about Castiel.

“With a few exceptions, angels only care about angels. Right now, Heaven’s biggest concern is bringing God back.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide. “God?”

“Story is, he went awol after Lucifer tricked Eve. Left the archangel Michael in charge.”

Giles removed his glasses and slipped into a nearby chair, his face buried in his hands.

“Thing is, they can’t really settle the fight until Michael and his brother Lucifer have a brawl.”

“Lucifer, like, the devil?” Buffy asked. “We’re talking about a red, horned guy with bad facial hair?”

“Lucifer, as in the fallen archangel with a grudge against humanity,” Dean grumbled.

Giles took a deep breath. Part of Dean thrilled at seeing the Watcher so spun by the news. “What happens if this ‘brawl,’ as you call it, takes place?”

“If Michael wins, the angels are guessing half the planet dies. If Lucifer wins…” Dean shrugged, confident they could imagine that outcome.

“What’s stopping them? They’re archangels. Can’t they do whatever they want?”

Dean set his cup back on the side table and tapped his fingers before continuing. “Remember what I told you about demon possession where we’re from? To carry out any work on Earth, angels need to possess someone, but angels are different than demons. I mean, these are beings you can’t even see without losing your eyes, and that’s just the bottom rung. They can’t possess just anyone or they’ll blow their vessel.”

“Vessel?”

“The person they’re possessing. So only a few people fit, and those people have to give the angel permission.

“Archangels have an even rougher time finding someone who’ll fit. Essentially, they have to use the Cupids--”

“Cu-cupids?” sputtered Giles. “You mean with the,” he mimed a bow and arrow.

“I mean fat naked guys who trick people into falling in love, yeah. See, they get two people who can be possessed by angels to have a baby, then make their kid fall in love with other possible angel vessels until they breed an ultra strong, dishwasher-safe, microwavable kid to keep on standby in case they want to sully their holy feet with Earth muck.

“Heaven was patting itself on the back, ‘cause they got two vessels for Michael.”

Buffy, her eyes unfocused, silently dropped into the other chair.

“Dear God,” muttered Giles.

“Only Hell wanted a vessel for Lucifer.” Unable to bear Buffy’s response, Dean stared at his hands. “They snuck into Sam’s nursery. Fed him demon blood. Claimed him and several dozen other kids for Hell. But they took a special interest in Sam. Couldn't resist the whole brother versus brother angle.

“Whatever Cas did to get us here left enough room for the Devil to squeeze through. So I gotta save Sam as soon as possible. Who knows what hell they’ll put him through to get him to say yes.”

 “Wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP, SAMMY!” Cold and stiff, Sam opened his eyes to see Dean standing over him. Sam was lying on the stone floor of a fire-lit chapel, his feet and hands in shackles.

“Dean, where are we?” he whispered as he tugged at his bonds.

Unbound, Dean crouched beside him, a satisfied grin on his face. “We’re in my playroom, little brother.” Then Dean shoved his hand into Sam’s chest, setting of a small, painful series of shocks to his heart.    

Trembling, Sam pushed himself away, but his irons prevented him from a comfortable distance.

Dean’s warm, familiar face -- the face that had calmed Sam’s fears his entire life -- morphed into a man with deep set eyes and blistered skin.

“Lucifer!”

“I would say, ‘In the flesh,’ but I’m having a teensy problem there, Sammy. See, this world, whatever it is, is short of even inadequate vessels. All I can do is appear as the dead, which ironically includes you and your brother. I’ve had to recruit minions.”

Lucifer whistled, and two Bringers dragged in a barely conscious Spike leaving a trail of dark blood from the stump at his knee. Following close behind, was a Turok-Han. The Bringers dropped Spike at his feet and bowed before leaving.

“It’s nice to find people who share your vision for ending the world. This one,” he said as the Turok-Han kicked Spike in the ribs, “was the first creature I found here. He was stumbling through the street whining about his soul. I offered him purpose. I offered him his heart’s desires, and he didn’t deliver. He is the only creature I’ve found here that I could use, and he refused to be my vessel. Couldn’t kill your brother or the little souped-up whore he’s fucking. Spike’s still useful though.” One by one, the Turok-Han bit off Spike’s fingers while his screams filled the cave.

“Either of you say ‘yes’ and it stops.” Lucifer grinned.

Spike laughed, spending a spray of blood from his lips. “My exes are better at torture.”

“Isn’t it hilarious?” Lucifer said. “As long as we keep his head attached, the parts just grow back. He’s like an etch-a-sketch of pain. Get comfy and soak in the show, Sammy, because when my pet is finished learning the vampire’s limits, it’s your turn.”

Yes, Amends. Addressed in a future chapter.

Read Giles’ dossiers on: Dani    Molly    Vi

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