Chapter Text
New Orleans, LA
“Oh fellas” Benny pulled them both into a hug, when they got to their hotel suite “merci beaucoup, how did ya’ll manage to keep this secret so well?”
“It wasn’t easy” Cas chuckled, kissing him on the cheek “and it was all Dean’s idea.”
“But it couldn’t have happened without Cas” Dean threw an arm around Cas’s shoulders—his aversion to compliments was also something they’d have to discuss.
Benny kissed them both “Well thank you. This means a lot. I can’t even tell ya how much I needed this. Not just me, either, I think the three of us need a good vacation.”
“That’s why I agreed” Cas said “this will do us good. Shall we go to lunch?”
“Maybe later” Benny purred, pulling them closer by their belts “I’ve got something else in mind.”
Dean nuzzled his neck, “You’re the birthday boy, teddy bear, let us take care of you.”
…
They finally got to a restaurant an hour and a half later, a Cajun place in the French Quarter that Benny was fond of.
“I may have found us some help” Cas told Benny when Dean went to the restroom.
“What do you mean?”
“Balthazar knows a young lady who not only is in a poly relationship but is going to school to become a counselor.”
“And?”
“And she and her partners are here for the festival too. We’re going to meet them later tonight.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I couldn’t reveal your surprise now could I? Besides I already told Dean we’d meet with Balthazar’s friends, I just didn’t tell him why.”
Benny nodded “Okay. How do we wanna work this then?”
“I discussed it with Charlie, the girl who’s in school. Turns out she has a lot of the same interests as Dean and…” he shut up as he saw Dean make his way back to the booth.
He slid in on the other side of Benny “If there’s giant sewer rat in whatever you ordered for us, Benny…”
Benny rolled his eyes “First of all, nutria ain’t a sewer rat and second, I’m not stupid. We’re having shrimp gumbo, relax.”
“So, Cas, when are we supposed to meet these friends of Bal’s?”
Cas checked his watch “Eight tonight at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. Their names are…”
“Wait, what?” Benny interrupted, eyes wide “That place is haunted. Why are we meeting them there?”
Dean rolled his eyes this time “You don’t actually believe that, do you?”
“I’m Cajun, of course I believe that.”
“Charlie, Dorothy and Gilda, all women.” Cas continued, he was on the fence about the supernatural himself “It’s Charlie’s first time in New Orleans, I think that’s why she wants to go there. Anyway, Bal says Charlie’s a fan of Star Wars if the tattoo on her back of Leia in a gold bikini straddling role playing dice is any indication.”
Dean nodded, impressed “Sounds like my kind of chick.”
Cas chuckled “I’m afraid she’s 100% lesbian, Dean.”
“Cool ones always are” Dean shook his head sadly.
Benny rolled his eyes again “Why would you care anyway?”
“I don’t,” he shrugged “just sayin’.”
Cas signaled the waitress to bring more ice tea. Dean ordered more beer. Cas and Benny shared a look, Dean’s drinking habit was another thing they’d have to work on. Cas drank very rarely and Benny was a straight-up teetotaler.
…
“You couldn’t have suggested somewhere else?” Benny grumbled as they walked to the bar later—it was on Bourbon street and not far from their hotel.
“If I had known it’d be such a problem for you I would have.”
Dean walked between them “Don’t start guys. And besides, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“There is too!” Benny exclaimed “I’ve seen ‘em. In fact, I swear I saw Jean Lafitte himself once.”
“Swamp gas.”
“It was not swamp gas!”
Cas sighed “Now don’t you two start. Let’s just drop it okay? We won’t be there long, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know” Dean said “I looked the place up. Their drinks are cheap and you know what that means.”
Benny bit back a sigh “That we’ll have to carry you back to the room?”
Cas reached behind Dean and patted Benny’s back.
“You gonna drink tonight, angel?” Dean asked.
Cas shrugged “I don’t know yet. We’ll see.”
“Oh come on” Dean linked their arms “You know I hate drinking alone.”
No you don’t, Cas thought. “I expect the ladies will be drinking as well.”
Benny scoffed “Well it is the tourist thing to do on Bourbon Street, even if it ain’t Mardi Gras.”
They finally reached the bar and went inside.
“Who we looking for Cas?” Dean asked.
“One redhead, one brunette, and one blonde.”
“There they are” Benny pointed to a corner table.
After introductions, the group of six sat around the table, each with a different drink. Benny and Dorothy were the only ones without alcohol. Cas was slowly sipping on a glass of wine.
The group chatted amicably for a while, about this and that. Dean and Charlie got into some weird conversation about Star Wars that no one else understood. Or it could have been Star Trek for all it mattered—Benny had no idea. He wasn’t really a science fiction fan. He preferred historical docudramas and shows like Swamp People. Cas liked nature and travel shows—he was the only one in the house who actually understood Anthony Bourdain though Dean came a close second.
Speaking of Cas, Benny caught his eye over Dean and they shared a look. One of them was gonna have to distract Dean while the other explained the situation fully to Charlie. That was gonna be damn near impossible. Cas clearly thought so too because he got his thinking face on.
Cas bit his lip “Dean, will you come to the restroom with me? It looks kind of spooky back there.”
Dean waved a hand “Take Benny.”
“Oh hell no” Benny said, thankful for his superstitions “If Cas thinks it’s spooky, I ain’t going anywhere near it.” Of course this meant that Benny had to be the one to explain the situation. Fantastic.
Dean sighed and stood up “Ugh, fine” he was a little wobbly “Come on Cas.”
Once they were gone Charlie said “Nice ploy. I get the feeling though, he wouldn’t have given in so easily if he wasn’t drunk.”
Benny nodded “You got that right. So, here’s the thing…” he told the girls about Dean and his insecurities, even his attack. Cas must be distracting Dean but good if they were taking this long in the bathroom.
“That is a tough one” Charlie said. “I’m really not sure how I can help. I’m just a student. I do think you’re on the right track by taking a vacation though. It also sounds like he could use some friends of his own.”
“You volunteering?”
…
Meanwhile…
Cas lead Dean into the rest room and made sure it was empty before saying “I’m going to let Benny fuck me tonight.”
Dean stared at him, mouth hanging open for a moment before speaking “Really?”
Cas nodded “I think it’s time. I thought I could be in the middle. How does that sound?”
Dean licked his lips and groaned “I think it sounds perfect, angel.”
“I already made sure to, uh, clean down there and everything. I was wondering if you help prepare me properly?”
“What, now?”
“To save time later” Cas put his hands on Dean’s shoulders and pushed him into the far stall. “You know how much we both love working you open.”