Chapter Text
“And how’s Alfie?” Cas asks, walking through the small doorway that connects his kitchen to his living room, holding two mugs filled almost to the brim with coffee.
“He’s good, actually. Surprisingly enough, he’s settling in faster than most do.” Charlie smiles slightly, taking the mug in grateful hands. “He’s,” she pauses, her eyes flicking down for a second, “he’s content, I think. He enjoys it here.”
“That’s good. And, hm, what about Kaia?”
“Kaia’s actually been here nine months as of today. She’s doing much better than when she first arrived, and Claire’s definitely been helping.” Charlie sits back in her seat, and Cas watches her, nodding. “She’s happy. They both are. Ever since she and Kaia got together, Claire’s been a lot happier. More content, less… prickly. Less angry for sure.”
“I’m glad. That’s good for her. She’s needed someone like that for a while now, I think.”
“She had you, Cas, and that was enough for a bit, but,” Charlie shrugs, and Cas nods, knowing full well what she was going to say.
“How’re Kevin and Linda doing in the kitchen?”
“Well Linda’s been at it for years,” She laughs, shrugging, “so she’s not having any problems. And Kev’s getting the hang of it. We should watch him, though. It gets loud in that kitchen. Being an empath in those kinds of environments sucks, I can’t imagine being a mind reader.”
“Charlie.” Cas raises an eyebrow, to which Charlie concedes, putting her hands up.
“Telepath. I know, I know.” She offers a slight ashamed smile, that places all of her apologies in her eyes and the curl of her lips.
Cas shakes his head, smiling. He knows she knows better. He’s been working on eradicating the casual names that, well, that normal people use for those with magic. Granted, some people in the magical community are okay with it. But he’s seen one too many people wince at the words that the rule was bound to be instilled.
“Lucifer and Michael?”
He watches Charlie grimace, and he feels a sharp twinge of pity. That earns him a glare, and he puts up his hands.
“They’re fine. Always fighting, per usual, but Lucifer’s getting better at putting that stubborn ass chin of his up and letting it go. The same for Michael.”
“I’m,” Cas pauses, thinking for a moment, “I’m glad they’re getting past their differences, I suppose.”
“Yeah, I guess. And then your brothers are doing fine, getting a lot of the shopping done. Although there seems to be a shortage of toilet paper in the nearest store, so they want to head out and take some friends, see if they can find some somewhere else. Every time we take in someone new, though, I get more and more worried we’ll run out of supplies.”
“You sure you’re not just feeling my stress?” Cas offers with raised eyebrows.
“Pretty sure. I’ll go out and meditate on that.” Charlie’s lips quirk up in a smile, and Cas’, despite himself, do too.
“Yeah, you do that. We’ll see how that works out for you. Finding a place where you can’t feel anyone? Good luck.”
“I’ve never found a single place like that in all my twenty-five years, but I’ll let you know when I do. We’ll have to move The Sanctuary there, but, like, just for telepaths and empaths and such.”
“All of the people constantly being invaded by the world’s thoughts and feelings?”
“Yep, that’s us. Claire, Kevin and I could all have a house party.” Charlie raises her eyebrows, setting her coffee onto the side table, looking at Cas where he sits across from her, in a loveseat that dons the same drab grey as the one she’s sitting in. The dullness of the house makes him smile sometimes, nearly laugh. He’s rarely up here anyways, and if someone came in, really took a look at it, and had half of a brain cell, they’d know that. Nearly every surface is covered in dust, except for the ones he and Charlie had occupied during their visit up to the house today. That really only makes up the small living room, and only its couches, as well as the coffee maker in the kitchen.
It’s not like he needs a house, to be honest. Who wants that when they’ve got an underground bunker that rivals the size of the largest mansions in the world?
“How are you, Charlie?”
“Who, me?” Charlie laughs, shrugging, and he watches as her bright smile overtakes her whole face while she continues. “I’m good, actually. A little tired. But we don’t have many newcomers, so… not a lot of work to do, you know?”
“Yeah, I get it. Things are really slowing down, I think. The newest people we have are starting to settle in and be content, and we’re not getting any new new people, so…” Cas shrugs. “I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“I am. How’re you, though?”
“Who, me?” He mocks in a teasing voice, before chuckling softly and shrugging. “I’m good. I’m happy. I have a lot of people to check in on and take care of, so I’m a little stressed, but I’m never not going to be.” He’s glad he can be honest with Charlie. And for good reason too. Ever since they were kids he’s been confiding in her, and now she’s an empath. Well, she was when they were kids, sure, but now she’s got it under control. He sees no need to lie to her, she’s already got a general idea of how he’s feeling.
She says his happiness is somewhat like a light under a blanket. Like if you took a bright lightbulb, and turned it on, but you immediately put a shade over it, and then a blanket over the shade. The lightbulb is on, sure, and it’s there, but there’s always something on top of it to keep it from shining fully.
Cas doesn’t really know how to feel about that.
Does she always see him as a lightbulb?
Or is that only when he’s happy?
What does she see him as otherwise?
“I’m glad you’re happy.” She says with a sweet smile, and he knows she means it.
Charlie doesn’t lie.
“Thanks, Charlie. And I’m glad you are too, of course.”
“I know. And um, how’s everything with…” she makes a face, sticking her hands out and waving them slightly.
His head tilts and his lips flatten into a line, before he shakes his head. “Charlie, I manifested 20 years ago, you can at the very least say I have powers.” He laughs softly. “You do too!”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But it gets worse when you’re stressed. If anyone should know, it’s your best friend.” Charlie raises her eyebrows, pointing at herself.
“It’s fine, Charlie. I’m not out there killing anyone, am I?”
“No, I guess not. Or at least if you were, I’d hope you’d tell me. I think I’d make a pretty good post-homicide therapist. Or I could at least help bury the body.”
“Charlie.” Cas says, eyes wide and body leaning forward.
“What?” She holds her hand up. “I could!”
Cas’ surprised, slightly stern face melts into a smile, and he lets his amusement bleed through for her to feel. “Oh, I know,” he leans back in his seat. “I’m just offended you don’t think I can bury a body on my own.”
Charlie rolls her eyes and they both laugh a little, before Cas shrugs. “It’s fine, I’m not having problems with it. I’m not having my nightmares anymore, and that’s helping. Well, as much.”
“I’m glad it’s not happening as much. Also I can’t imagine it’s all that easy to sleep when you’ve got bright light coming out of your body.” Charlie offers a light smile, and Cas shrugs again.
“Yes, you’d definitely be right there.” He nods. “Anyways, you? Have you been getting your meditation in? How’s the new room doing for you?”
“It’s good. You’re the only person I feel strongly, and only when you’re in your room, so it’s nice. I’m familiar with your feelings, ya know? And when you’re out of your room is usually when I get meditations in, so I’m getting a lot more in now than I used to.”
“I’m glad you’re doing better, Charlie. I’m assuming it’s helping?” He asks, tilting his head slightly.
“Definitely. Thanks for the advice.”
“Of course. It helped me, so.” He smiles lightly. “And yes, I know you’ve had your powers for a while, but everyone’s always improving.”
“Yeah.” Charlie says, and she goes quiet, looking up at the ceiling.
Cas smiles, pulling his mug to his lips and furrowing his eyebrows when nothing comes to them. When did he finish off his coffee?
Well, time always seems to fly when he’s with Charlie. He supposes that’s a side effect of having a best friend. They make time pass easier.
Cas thinks about everything he has to do, everything he wants to do. He’s sure Charlie’s feeling it all as he runs through, but he doesn’t care much, she’s definitely used to it.
He’s gotta figure out what’s up with Gabriel and Balthazar and the toilet paper, apparently.
He should check in with Kevin, he wants to know how the kid’s doing.
Make sure Lucifer and Michael really are getting along well.
See how people are doing with the recent room reassignments; moving can be hard, he knows.
Cas keeps going until finally he sighs, closing his eyes. “Sorry, you said hang out. And I’m thinking about all the work I have to do.” He says, opening his eyes and sitting up out of the slouch he had entered at… some point.
“Cas, it’s good, I don’t mind. You’ve got a lot of stuff rattling around up there in your head. Lots o’ stuff to do. I don’t blame you.”
“Thanks, Charlie. Do you have any more updates?”
“No. Meg’s got a leak in her bathroom, nothing she can’t fix, Crowley’s still a little bitch, um… Gabriel’s annoying. Nothing new.”
“Crowley being a little bitch is indeed, not new.” He laughs softly. “Alright, then. What do you want to do?”
Charlie pauses, before starting in a deep, mopey voice, “I don’t know, what do you wanna do?”
Cas tilts his head and furrows his brow, to which he earns a laugh.
“I’m perfectly fine just hanging out. But, I’m gonna go make some more coffee, kay?” Charlie stands up, holding a hand out.
Cas gets the message, handing her his mug and offering a grateful smile.
She takes the mugs into the kitchen, and he hears the coffee machine start up, and he smiles. It’s the little things that make him smile. The times when he can close his eyes and pretend everything’s normal. That he can imagine there isn’t a deep, concrete bunker underneath his feet. That Charlie is just his best, childhood friend who’s over for a visit. But he keeps his eyes open. Because honestly? Even when he’s stressed, worried, lonely, or sad, he’s helping people. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Charlie makes her way back into the living room in a similar fashion as Cas had earlier, her steps careful and her eyes focused on the mugs in her hands. Her lips press into each other, before she bites her lower lip with focus. Finally she reaches the couches, smiling and handing Cas his mug.
“Thanks.” He smiles, taking it in grateful hands and sipping lightly from it, before closing his eyes and wincing at the burn.
“Sorry, shoulda warned you. You okay?”
“Yeah, I just-”
A knock cuts him off. At first it’s three raps, urgent, then two soft knocks, as though the person had given up on being stubborn before the door had even been opened.
“... forgot. Who is that?” Cas turns to Charlie, a frown tugging on the corners of his lips.
“How should I know?” Charlie shrugs, eyes slightly wide. “You gonna get it?”
“Um, yeah. As soon as you see them, though, head down to The Sanctuary. Let the others know someone’s here. And do not let Gabriel go all protective big brother on me.”
“Yeah, I’ll try.”
With that, the both of them stand up, shooting each other a glance. They begin to make their way through the old house, exiting the living room and finally reaching the small entryway that Cas wouldn’t exactly call a foyer, but also wouldn’t know exactly what else to call it. Cas shoos Charlie off to a corner, before finally starting toward the door, arm outstretched toward the handle.
He pulls the door open, and it reveals a man. Maybe a couple years younger than him, but no younger than perhaps 20. His hair’s a darker dirty blonde, although Cas thinks it’ll lighten with a good wash. His skin is tanned, as though he’s spent a couple days in the sun, and his arm is clutched over his stomach. The very first thing Cas notices, though, are his eyes. Despite the rest of his appearance, they are a bright, vivid green. Full of life.
“Um, my name’s Dean. I heard you can help me?”
Cas glances over his shoulder towards Charlie, who nods, and the man- Dean’s eyebrows furrow further into his frown. “Help you with what?” Cas asks, his eyes returned to Dean.
“I, um…” Dean looks at the floor, shuffling his feet, and Cas immediately understands, his eyebrows rising. He can’t help but hold the door open, ushering the man in.
“Come on, it’s okay. I’ll get you some food and water, we can talk when you’re ready.”