Chapter Text
Castiel's first day at kindergarten was awful. Well, he wouldn't say it was the worst since he had nothing to compare it to, but he was pretty sure the entire class wasn't laughing with him during his introduction. He wanted to go back home, but his mother didn't really seem to notice him when he was there and his father was always busy. It happened when you had a lot of children; there were some that just got forgotten once in a while. Castiel was one of them. He understood that. Twelve children was very taxing, and he being one of the youngest and quietest meant he didn't get notice a lot.
Nobody would have noticed him in class either, if it hadn't been for the “All About Me” activity. They were supposed to say their name, favorite color and what they like to do. Castiel Novak apparently sounded funny as it got a lot of them to giggle, but it wasn't until he told them he liked watching bees that they began to laugh. Well, not right away. It wasn't until a boy started buzzing loudly that the class started laughing. It didn't make Castiel feel good when they all laughed and he couldn't wait for recess to begin.
Recess wasn't any better. Some kids buzzed at him, as he tried to find a nice place to sit and look at the trees. He didn't know why they liked buzzing so much, but he didn't appreciate it. He looked around at all the other children in the playground and sighed. He would much rather be home helping the gardener tend the gardens. He just didn't understand why his older siblings has said recess was the best; it was noisy and other children kept bothering him.
Some approached him saying something about him that made all the children laugh but ran away before explaining the joke to him. Castiel didn't understand what was so funny, but he smiled at them hoping he didn't just miss a good joke. Gabriel, one of his older brothers, once told him that he tended to do that.
It was because of Gabriel that he found himself in this sort of predicament. Gabriel was in fourth grade and had grown quite a name for himself. Unfortunately, it wasn't the good kind as these boys looked anything but friendly, They talked about how annoying his brother was and how he made them look like fools. Castiel didn't see why they had to interrupt his recess to tell him about that, but they did so anyway. It wasn't like they interrupted much anyway seeing as he didn't feel particularly inclined to play around like the other children. He would rather just watch the birds, but these boys scared them all away.
They talked about getting Gabriel back by using Castiel, which he didn't understand either, but he didn't want to question them. They informed him that they didn't have much time and that he should meet them after school at the gate or he was going to die. Castiel didn't like the sound of that. He didn't want to die. The boys left before Gabriel finally found him but he didn't say a word to him. The boys had, also, told him to keep it a secret or he was dead. Castiel very much liked living.
So, when he his brothers, Gadreel, Gabriel; and the twins, Anna and Hannah, were walking home holding each other hands like their mother told them to, Castiel just slipped away. He should probably be sad Anna didn't notice the absence of his hand but he guessed she had homework to worry about. His mother told him he wouldn't be getting lots of homework until he was at the twin's grade. Besides, he always made their line too wide for the sidewalk and would probably have to walk behind them anyway. Their home was only a few streets over so, he would be back in time before his mother realized he was missing. Hopefully.
They were waiting for him just as they said. Castiel was glad he wasn't going to die now and they even said they were going to have fun. He wondered if they would play a game. He hoped they wouldn't take too long because he did have to get home. He didn't want his family to worry.
The boys laughed as they walked down an unfamiliar path in the woods behind the school. He began to see houses in the distance to his right but didn't say a word, even though he had many questions. The boys had questions too it seemed. They asked how many siblings he had and he answered honestly. They said some things he didn't quite understand about his parents and they laughed so much about it. He just ignored it.
Dean was waiting for his dad to come pick him up but was shocked to see his mother had come. His father said he was getting off work early just to pick him up on his first day of school. Why wasn't he here? Giving him an apologetic look, his mother explained how his dad had to work a little longer than expected. Dean nodded in understanding. Dad was just working hard because he loved them. Dean told his mother that, hoping she understood that as well, but she just smiled a little sad and nodded. She said that he was just too mature for his age. It was then that Dean noticed the older boys by the gate.
His mother was worried when she saw the boy being led back towards the school. Dean knew that boy. He was in his class, Cas something. He remembered the boy because he went to school in a little suit. A suit! It had a tie and everything and his hair clearly had some gel in it or something. He looked like a little business man. Not only that, but he remembered the kid said something about liking to watch bees. It was the weirdest thing. The kid was weird but he seemed like he needed some help and his mom did look worried for the kid.
Dean told her not to worry, that he would see what was going on, and took off. It only made her worry more. Hastily parking the car, his mom jumped out of the car and looked to see where her son ran off too. She didn't want her little boy getting hurt but she couldn't leave Sammy alone in the car. She had to unbuckle him, get him in her arms and find Dean.
"See that shack. It's haunted." One of the boys told Castiel. "I dare you to go in."
"Why?" Castiel couldn't see the point. If it was haunted, wouldn't that mean they should stay away? Lucifer told him that haunted meant ghosts were there and ghosts were scary. He hoped the boys would reconsider.
"Because I said so!" The boy told him giving him a push towards it. "Unless, you're chicken."
The two boys began making noises like chickens and flapping their bent arms like wings. Castiel cocked his head to the side. What did they mean he's a chicken? He was clearly human.
"What are you doing?" Another boy asked appearing out of nowhere. He was a handsome boy that made Castiel wonder about watching people as well. Apparently, there was some beauty to behold in human form. Usually, he was content with just watching nature but as he noticed the sun peaking through the leaves and branches up high onto the freckled face of this light-haired child, he found humans were just as interesting as any other animal. His hair shined in the light as if giving off a light of its own. The green in his eyes were like moss on a tree. It was like nature was reflected in this boy, it was so amazing that Castiel couldn't help but stare.
"Is that your friend?" One of the boys asked. "Or is he another brother of yours?"
"No, he's not my brother." Castiel informed them as the newcomer shouted at them to leave him alone. The boys shook their head amused. They were much bigger than the child being fourth graders and all.
"Why don't you mind your own business, little baby?" One spat and pushed Castiel back towards the haunted shack. Castiel didn't like the idea that he'd have to go in that shack. It didn't look safe at all. It was almost like it would crumble at any moment.
"I'm not a baby." The new boy told them marching up to the two older boys as confident as could be. Castiel didn't understand why he was so confident. The two boys were clearly larger and if an altercation was to occur, Castiel was sure they would win.
"Then prove it." One of the older boys teased with a big smile on his face. "Since Casteel is too chicken"
"It's Castiel and I don't know why you think I am a bird." Castiel spoke in a matter of fact tone not seeing why the boys kept referring to him as some sort of poultry. The boys seemed shocked by what he had said and stared at him long before one sighed.
"This kid is weird."
"Fine. I'll go." The new boy told the older kids puffing up his chest.
"Oooh." One snickered as the other giggled in delight. "Little baby has a backbone."
The new boy pressed by them and walked towards the shack. He began slowing down as he neared the shack, though, seeming to become less brave as he got closer. The older boys began to taunt him calling him scared and just a baby. Castiel frowned. He didn't want to go their either but he knew he would have been too scared to go alone. This boy, no older than he, was trying to attempt just that so that he wouldn't have too. He was really brave and the older boys hadn't even attempted it. It was hardly fair to call him scared under those circumstances.
He couldn't just let him do this alone. It was because of him that he was faced with such a task. Castiel found himself walking towards the boy and soon, he was standing next to him. He could hear the boy's heavy breathing. He was scared and he was sure the boy's heart was racing just as his. When the boy took a step, he followed. Regardless of how slow the boy went, Castiel was at his side.
"What are you doing?" The boy hissed once he realized he had company.
"The place is haunted." Castiel told him with a worried look. "You wouldn't want to go alone."
They walked together, slowly, towards the door. Castiel told the boy if he was afraid, he could hold his hand. The boy refused telling him that he wasn't afraid at all. He told him he was only walking slow because he thought Castiel was afraid. Castiel nodded. He was afraid. He was really happy the boy thought about his feelings.
The older boys whined that they were walking too slow. Perhaps they were but Castiel was in no rush to go into the creepy shack. He could see by the corner of his eyes that the new boy was looking over at him. He moved his hand closer to his. Castiel almost held his breath. Was the boy wanting to hold his hand? Did he notice how nervous he was and was trying to comfort him? This boy truly was the kindest boy he had ever met. Little did he know, Dean was actually just trying to comfort himself and was just as frightened as he, if not more. However, their hands never got the chance to touch as someone's shouting gained their attention.
"Dean! There you are!" A woman's voice made all the children jump. Turning around, Castiel saw a woman with long blonde hair holding a baby in her arms. She was a beautiful, slender woman with wise looking blue eyes. The baby in her arms looked to be a year old at least and was most likely a boy. Castiel wasn't sure. It was hard to tell with babies. "What are you kids doing? This isn't school property! Where are your parents?"
The older boys wasted no time to run away from her before she could catch them. The woman was holding a baby and couldn't chase them even if she wanted to. Sighing heavily, she walked over to the new boy, Dean, and inspected him. Dean pouted still shivering slightly from what he almost had to do. He was tough though, standing tall and making sure Castiel didn't notice how scared he was. Once his mother was satisfied no damage was done, she looked towards Castiel.
"Is he alright?"
"They wanted him to go into the haunted shack." Dean's voice betrayed him quivering and sounding like a whine instead of a statement. Dean bit his bottom lip. He wasn't a baby. He really wasn't.
"Oh, Dean." His mother smiled sweetly to him as she reached out her free arm to pull him closer into a hug. She petted his hair with her free hand as his brother giggled and pulled some of the strands. "That shed isn't haunted. It's just old. Don't worry." It was then his baby brother turned his interest to Castiel, who was still awkwardly standing a small distance from the loving family. Dean's mother followed the baby's gaze to him and smiled just as warmly to him as she had done to her own son. "And who might you be?"
"Castiel Novak, mam." He greeted extending his hand to shake hers. Dean's mother was surprised by how polite the child was. Untangling herself from Dean, she hesitantly moved forward to shake the young boy's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Oh, so polite." She couldn't believe there was such a well spoken child in Dean's grade. He even wore a little suit. How proper! She smiled at him and petted his hair. "Castiel is a name of an angel did you know that?" The boy nodded softly and waved a little at the baby, who seemed to enjoy the attention. Dean smiled a little. He was Sammy approved. "Well, let's get you home. Your mom is probably worried sick."
"She usually doesn't notice." Castiel told her honestly. His mother was always so busy with all the other children. It was easy to forget to check for one.
Mary did not understand this at all. She only had two children and couldn't imagine why a mother may forget one of her children. Her eyes soften as she looked at the little boy all dressed up in his little blue tie and black jacket. Who could ever forget such a cute boy? She grabbed her son's hand softly and motioned towards Castiel.
"Dean hold his hand."
"But mom." Dean looked upset that he may have to hold the other boy's hand.
"Dean." All it took was his mother speaking more firmly and he was grabbing Castiel's hand roughly. It didn't matter how rough Dean grabbed his hand initially, Castiel felt safe holding the boy's hand. He knew he would never forget the warmth that hand held.
When he arrived home, his mother was shocked to see he had been missing. She berated Lucifer for not counting all of them before she came home. Lucifer was the oldest at the home, seeing as Michael had just left for college a few months prior. A senior in high school, Lucifer was tasked at making sure all his siblings were accounted for. Their mother was so busy when they came home and had to rely on the older children to watch the younger ones at times. She cried when she hugged Castiel and thanked Mary profusely.
Mary really liked Castiel. He didn't speak like a child at all and he was very pleasant to be around. She was sure Dean would do well with a friend like him. She offered to watch some of the children, if it was too much for his mother to handle. She wouldn't mind watching two or three just to lighten the load since she stayed at home. Castiel hoped his mother would say yes. He really liked Dean and really wanted to be his friend but his mother had too much pride and refused.
That night she talked to his father about hiring a nanny and getting another maid. The maid they had only came on weekdays and would clean for two hours and leave. Weekends were the worse because that many children in a house all day was just a recipe for disaster. His father had been confused seeing as it was his mother's choice to raise all the kids without professional help. After all, children should be raised by the parents not strangers. She had nodded realizing that she really didn't want a stranger raising her kids. She looked so tired though. Castiel didn't understand why his mother looked so tired all the time but he wished he could help.
So, when his mom only made 8 lunch bags instead of 9, he didn't say a word. His mother was tired and she needed her rest; Castiel would get lunch instead. He saw other children go into a line and come out with meals. Why not him too?
Apparently, you needed money to get lunch in the line and unfortunately, he hadn't brought any. Hungry and sad, Castiel left the line with nothing to show for. He saw Dean opening his lunch box over at the table and he smiled. He really wanted to be friends with Dean. This whole morning, he tried to get Dean to talk to him but he guessed the boy was busy. The seat he was assigned was too far from Dean but during story time, he tried his best to sit next to the boy but you couldn't talk during story time. You could talk during lunch time, though!
"Why are you sitting next to me?" Dean asked when he noticed Castiel beside him. He then noticed the empty area on the table in front of him. "Where's your lunch?"
"My mother didn't make enough lunch bags." Castiel explained to him. Dean sighed heavily. What was with this kid? He looked into his lunch box and pulled out his sandwich. It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crust taken off. His favorite. He would love to just eat every single last bite, but he couldn't let the boy starve.
"Here." He took one of the two triangle pieces of the sandwich and handed it to Castiel. "Eat it."
"Thank you, Dean." Castiel smiled brightly. Dean was such a kind individual and he would never forget how giving he was. Dean tried to ignore the look of admiration the other boy was giving him as he shrugged and ate his side of the sandwich.
"No problem, Cas." From then on, they were friends. Once you experienced terror and shared lunch with another individual, there really wasn't anything else you could be. Castiel was glad he could have such a good friend like Dean and hoped they would stay that way forever.