Chapter Text
Cas’ suitcase stood next to the door, packed for a weekend trip. Naomi was sick, and while their relationship was strained at best, Cas thought it would be best to go see his mother. Dean paced next to the luggage, trying to figure out a way to keep his best friend from suffering for the weekend.
“Dude, you said Gabe and Michael were going to be there. Why make yourself miserable?” Dean pouted at Cas.
“Mother isn’t well, and as much as she dislikes who I am and what I’ve done with my life, I’ll honor her quote-unquote ‘dying wish.’” Cas made finger quotes. “Besides, this way, when she really does go to kick the bucket, I can say that she didn’t die last time as my excuse for not showing up. I won’t feel an ounce of guilt.”
“You might end up regretting that.” Dean crossed his arms over his chest and huffed out a breath. “Okay, no, I know you wouldn’t. But why be miserable?”
Cas finished throwing his phone charger and a couple of small items into his backpack. He slung the bag over his shoulder and crossed the room to stand in front of Dean. “I appreciate your concern, Dean. I really do. But just like you’re loyal to Sam, I’m loyal to my family. Even if I hate the matriarch.” Cas looked down at the ground for a second before throwing his arms around Dean’s neck and pulling him into a tight hug. “Have a good weekend, okay?”
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Dean hesitated before wrapping his arms around Cas, unaware of where the sudden, but very much wanted affection came from. “I don’t have any huge plans. I’d much rather make sure you’re supported.” He fought to keep from melting into Cas’ arms, to keep from letting his best friend know how he felt. “Say the word, and I’ll come with.”
“I think it’s better this way, Dean.” Cas pulled out of the hug, his eyes briefly locking on Dean’s before falling to his suitcase. “I’m sure I’ll be back by Sunday. Unless she somehow actually dies. But I’m not that lucky.”
Dean wrapped his arms around himself, already feeling cold from the lack of his roommate pressed against him as Cas walked towards the door. “Drive safe, call me if you change your mind and need me.”
“Of course, Dean.” Cas opened the door and walked out, softly closing the door behind him.
Dean waited a few moments before stepping away and heading back towards his room. Something felt wrong, like Cas was saying a permanent goodbye, but Dean couldn’t figure why. He pulled out his phone and called up his other best friend, Charlie.
After a couple of rings, her chipper voice picked up. “Thanks for calling Charlie’s Fact of the Day Telephone Line. Today is Friday, November 22th, 2019. If you want today’s fact, say Yes. If you want to talk to an operator, say operator.”
“Charlie.”
“We heard, yes! Today’s fact of the day: ‘Petrichor’ is the soothing, earthy, and wonderfully pleasant smell of rain falling on dry ground. Would you like another fact?”
“Dammit, Charlie. Please stop?”
The sound of a phone shifting and Charlie was clearer and zoned in. “Dean, what’s wrong?”
“Cas just left.” Dean fell back on his bed and ran his hand down his face.
“Well, yeah. He’s going to check in on Naomi. Cas’ll be home Sunday, and so will you.”
“I don’t know if I should do this event, Charlie. What if he needs me? Your rules don’t allow me to have my cell on me. I know you want me there, but I can’t do this.”
Dean could hear Charlie cover the mouthpiece to her phone and call over to someone else. She came back on the line, sounding slightly worried. “Dean, I can’t do this without my trusty handmaiden. Dot and I will let you keep your phone in your tent.”
“I’m not going to be in my tent the entire time.” Dean pouted audibly. “What if I miss his call?”
“Dean, hon, you’re overthinking this. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. It just felt so final when Cas said goodbye earlier.” Dean closed his eyes.
“Dude, Dean. Why won’t you just come clean and tell Cas how you feel?” A shuffling noise came across the phone again. “I think you would be pleasantly surprised.”
Dean got up and grabbed his duffle bag. “I thought me coming to this LARP was to get me over Cas?”
“No, it was to show you that you don’t have to pine over him and to give you other options.” Charlie paused, a thoughtful hum on her lips before she continued. “Dean, you’ve loved Cas since freshman year of college. Why don’t you think he’d feel the same?”
“Iunno.” He shoved some clean underwear and camping toiletries into his bag. “You’ve got my outfits still, right?”
“Oh, I’ve got them. But Dean, I want you to promise me something.”
Dean threw his pajamas, a spare battery pack, and a book into the duffle before zipping it shut. “I need to know what it is before I promise anything.”
“If an opportunity presents itself, I want you to take it.”
“In regards to what? Me and Cas or Me and someone at this LARP?” Dean slung his bag over his shoulder and checked to make sure everything was turned off in his room.
“Yes.”
“Really, Charles?” Dean hiked the bag up higher on his shoulder and gave a quick check to make sure all the lights and appliances were off. “I’m serious. Which one?”
“Whichever one makes you happiest.” Charlie’s hand brushed against her mouthpiece again, and there was a several moment long pause. “I gotta go, Dean. You’ll be here soon?”
Dean hummed in confirmation. “Just finished packing and am checking that things are turned off. Heading out in less than five minutes.”
“Good. Drive safe!” Charlie disconnected the call before Dean could say goodbye, causing his heart to sink a little further. Dean knew she was busy with getting the event for the weekend prepped. Still, he needed something, anything to distract himself from trying to get over his best friend.
…
Dean pulled up to the campground that Charlie had managed to wrangle for the weekend. She had convinced the owners to group together 20 of their tent lots, closest to the woods. Charlie had promised the group would clean up after themselves and that the noise levels shouldn’t bother the rest of the campground from that location.
Truth be told, Dean was nervous about this event. It was normal to have one winter-esque event before the first snow fell. However, Charlie was planning a masquerade weekend. Everyone - Charlie and Dorothy included - were to dress up in celebration of the 3rd defense of the kingdom or some crap like that. Charlie even insisted on masks for everyone but herself and Dorothy, stating that the Queen and the Queen’s Consort needed to be seen and recognized.
Dean had been ready to skip out, but Charlie had begged and pleaded, before letting him in on a little known fact about the event. She had plotted an assassination attempt on herself into the event. Knowing Dean’s weakness for covert missions, and being her handmaiden, Charlie asserted that she couldn’t have the LARP without him.
He entered the main office to check in and grab his parking permit when Charlie leaped up and wrapped her arms and legs around him, almost knocking him off balance. “I was worried you weren’t going to show.”
“I said I was on my way, kiddo.” Dean attempted to pry himself out of Charlie’s grasp but failed to remove her. “What’s with the koala grip?”
“Just happy you’re here.” Charlie smiled as her phone went off. “Ooo, hold on a moment.” She let go of Dean and beckoned for him to follow her to a table. “Everything ok, Dot?” She pointed at a sheet labeled ‘Sign-In’ and handed a pen to Dean. “Yeah, well, Dean just got here.” Charlie grabbed a tag, and a map as Dean wrote his name down. “I mean, it kinda needs to be done. There’s no choice in the matter.”
Dean took the items from Charlie and pointed over his shoulder, shooting her a questioning look as she continued her conversation. “Dorothy Francine Baum. No. I have to go, but once Becky is here to take over signing people in, I’ll be back at the tent. Love you.” Charlie disconnected her phone and offered a meek smile. “Sorry, Dean. We’re a little stressed. We’ve been planning this for weeks to make sure nothing goes wrong, and there’s always a little wrench somewhere.”
“I hear that, Red.” Dean held up the map and parking permit. “Where do I need to go?”
“Do you mind waiting for me?” Charlie wrote down a few instructions on a piece of paper. “As soon as Becky’s here, I’m heading back, and I can ride with you instead of walk.”
Dean shrugged and sat in a chair. “You look abnormally stressed.”
“You have no idea.” Charlie smiled at Dean and let out a sigh. “I’ve been planning this for how long? I feel like it’s still going to fail.”
“This ain’t your first rodeo, Charlie. You’ve planned and hosted plenty of LARP events before.”
Charlie opened her mouth to say something when Becky entered the office. “Who’s ready for a party!” Becky shimmied and walked over to the table, wrapping her arms around Charlie. “Sorry I’m late, I got stuck in traffic.” She turned and looked at Dean. “Hey, Handmaiden.”
“Hi, Becky.” Dean rolled his eyes. “I’ll be waiting in the car.” He headed out and hopped into the Impala, tapping his fingers while waiting for Charlie to come out. He pulled out his phone and shot a text to Cas.
[04:15 PM Dean:] Hope you got to your mom’s safe. If you need me, I’m just a text away. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.
He looked at his phone, trying to will it to go off with Cas’ notification sound. Dean pocked his phone before closing his eyes and resting his head on the steering wheel. The passenger-side door opened, and Charlie slid in. “Dean, you ok?” She scooted closer and rubbed his back. “Hey, Becky's just a brat. You know she’s still irritated that she can’t get higher up in my ranks or Chuck’s.” Charlie mussed his hair playfully. “She won’t bother you at all this weekend, she won’t even know it’s you after you’re in your costume.”
“It ain’t her, Charlie.” Dean turned the key and relaxed a little as Baby roared to life. “Where to?”
“Drive around back, and that’s the official entrance. We’ll follow the road to the first parking lot, then we walk to the campsites. Gotta keep it as realistic as possible.”
Dean followed Charlie’s directions and only partially listened to her as he found a spot to keep the Impala in for the weekend. “Sounds like a lot, Red.”
“You weren’t listening.” Charlie pouted. “Dude, this can’t be about Cas.” When Dean blushed and got out of the car without another word, she scrambled to follow out her side. “Dean. I need you to talk to me. You’re worked up over Cas.”
“So?” Dean opened the trunk and pulled out his duffle bag. “What do you want me to say Charlie that you don’t already know?”
Charlie’s shoulders fell. “I wish you would talk to him.”
“And risk what we already have, Charlie?” Dean slammed the trunk shut a little too hard and winced. “If he doesn’t love me back? Or something happens where we end up hating each other? I’d rather have him as my best friend than lose him forever.”
“You’re an idiot.” Charlie pulled out her phone and swiped around before what Dean assumed was sending another text.
“Tech rules don’t apply to the queen?” Dean raised an eyebrow in question.
“They do. When I’m queen.” She put her phone back in her pocket. “Right now? I’m Charlie, other best friend of Dean, adopted little sister, the person who wants to kick your ass and probably could.”
Dean pulled Charlie into a hug. “Well, don’t be like your older brother. Don’t do what I do.”
“I know. It’s why I’m still with Dot and why Sam is with Eileen. We do the opposite of Dean Winchester.” She took his hand and pulled him along. “Let’s get to the tent. We have to get you in disguise.”
“Disguise?”