Chapter Text
"Today one of my students was wearing your merch," Castiel announced when he found his husband in the bedroom, setting up his camera. "I asked her about it and she said you were her favorite Youtuber. She seemed surprised that I had even heard of you."
Dean's eyes crinkled up when he looked up, giving Cas a warm smile and kissing his cheek. "That's nice to hear," he replied affectionately, before continuing to adjust the camera's angle. "I always like hearing about fans."
Cas hummed softly, watching Dean focus on the angle of the filming equipment, not understanding what the difference was whether it was moved one inch here or there, but he assumed it was something to do with the lighting of the room, which he knew nothing about. "Filming a video?" He asked. Dean wiped his hands on his jeans.
"Livestreaming," he corrected. "I haven't done that in a while. It's a question and answer for my five million subscribers celebration. It's really late, since I'm almost at six million, but I might as well do it. I have no other video ideas."
Cas nodded. He never understood the basics of subscribers or Youtube careers, or why people got paid playing video games or just filming themselves going about their day, but he admired those who actually made a living out of it, like Dean, and had a huge, respectful, supportive fanbase. Ever since Dean had made a coming out video a few months ago, confessing that he was bisexual, his fans had become even more supportive, and maybe even ecstatic, because, according to Dean, there would be "more fanfictions". Cas wasn't sure what fanfiction was, but he also wasn't sure he wanted to know, so he didn't ask. "Didn't you do a question and answer with Charlie the other day?" He remembered that day, it was probably sometime last week, when Charlie came over and she and Dean did a Q&A. Cas was grading papers, and accidentally got an arm in the camera frame at one point, but Dean was sweet enough to cut that bit out, knowing how uncomfortable Cas was with showing himself on-camera.
It was one of the things Dean and Cas argued mostly about. Ever since Dean came out as bisexual and admitted that he was in a steady, longtime relationship with a guy, people were tweeting him and messaging him and spamming him in the comments, asking to meet his boyfriend or husband or fiance, or whoever it was, really, and Dean himself wanted Castiel to introduce himself to the fans. He had asked, even properly begged, at least once or twice, for Cas to be in a gaming video or at least a baking video with him and Charlie, even if it was for only a few seconds, but Cas was firmly against the publicity and liked being behind the scenes. He liked being hidden, because that meant not getting recognized in the street, and he was completely fine with that for the time being.
Dean shrugged, giving up on the camera and leaving it alone, shuffling around on the bed a little, getting into a more comfortable position. "People love asking me personal questions, Angel, what can I say? I'm just that fascinating."
"Whatever," Cas laughed, ruffling Dean's hair. "I'll start dinner if you won't mind."
"Hey," Dean suddenly said, his irresistible green eyes practically burning a hole in Cas' face. "What if I asked you if you wanted to be in the video? Just," he noticed the annoyance forming in his husband's face and hurried to finish the proposal, "I mean, it wouldn't be for long. We don't even have to show your face! Just a few seconds!"
The younger man sighed, his mouth in a straight line as he shook his head a little bit. "Dean, we discussed this already." Dean looked like he was about to protest, but Cas inhaled slightly, holding up a hand to stop him from saying anything. "Maybe in a while. Not right now, okay?"
Dean pouted, making puppy-dog eyes at him, but Cas was determined not to cave in, especially not for something like this. "You always say that."
Cas managed a smile, leaning down to press a kiss to Dean's temple, before starting toward the door. "Have fun, Dean."
*****
Dean always chose the worst times to publish videos. This was observed during one of Castiel's English AP classes, in which he allowed them to have a fifteen-minute break after a pop quiz he had just surprised them with. Obviously half the class immediately whipped out their phones, while the other half put their heads down on the desks, seeking a few extra minutes of sleep, which most high school students needed to catch up on. The break was merely thirty seconds in when there was a low buzz that came from a phone, followed by the phone's owner giving an excited squeal and punching her friend in the arm.
"Dean Winchester posted a video!"
After that helpful announcement made by none other than the girl wearing Dean merch the previous day, Anna, nearly everyone was crowded around her desk as she pulled up the video, giggling uncontrollably as Dean began with his signature intro. Normally, Cas would have been annoyed and asked the kids to go back to their seats, but he too wanted to watch Dean's question and answer video, so he kept quiet and listened for a while, before getting up from his desk and walking up behind the group of teenagers to see the screen of Anna's phone clearly.
Dean sped through some normal questions, such as people asking about his sexuality, coming out stories, and how his life was, and Cas was starting to think that this particular Q&A was going to be like most other Q&A's, when there was a very dreaded question asked. Dean was scrolling on his phone, probably on Twitter or some other form of social media, when he made a slight noise of amusement and read: "Anonymous asks: Why does your significant other refuse to show themselves on camera? We want to see who they are!"
Cas stifled a snort, not wanting to seem suspicious to the students surrounding him, but he knew exactly what he would say to Dean when he got home after work. He crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing as he watched his husband try and think of a reasonable, non-revealing answer.
"Well," Dean started, then stopped, ran a hand through his dirty blond hair, then continued. "Well. I get that question a lot, honestly, but I don't always give you guys answers, but this answer is something I've said before, and something I'll say again: my significant other is my best friend, my soulmate, and everything I could ever want. The main reason he's not introduced himself to you is that he's extremely shy, especially when it comes to such a big audience as yourselves, and if he's simply not ready to come out and show his face or a body part or his voice or whatever the fuck you guys want him to do, we both are asking for you to accept and respect his privacy, and mine, as well as his. Maybe one day he'll finally agree to be a part of my videos, but that day will not come until I get his specific 'yes'. So there." Dean's jaw was locked firmly, his eyes burning with passion. "There you guys go. That's why."
Castiel was absolutely speechless. Initially, the way Dean reacted to and read the question would have meant he would make a joke out of it, or would have answered it in a way that made everyone ignore the actual purpose of the question. Sometimes he would even make fun of questions, but this time it wasn't the case at all. The seriousness on Dean's face as he continued the video was an expression that no one saw often, and even Cas was surprised when he kept his stoic-ness for the remainder of the video, ending it with a simple wave.
The low whispers of shocked commentary flooded the classroom as Cas returned to his desk, sitting down slowly and pulling out his phone, debating whether to text his husband, or to wait until he got home. The latter won, though he really wanted to talk to Dean and ask him about the video. It would have to wait.
He had a class to teach, after all.