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The hunt had been weird already, a bunch of shapeshifters taking advantage of the chaos that was Pride to wreak some havoc. It had been a hassle, finding and stopping them, but they’d done it, they’d finished up and Dean was ready to get back in the car and drive home. Sam and Cas had other plans.
“Come on man, we’ve never actually been to a Pride Parade.” Sam was pleading, and Cas nodded, looking at the colours in the distance with something like a wistful look on his face. He wasn’t saying it, but he wanted to stay too. Dean didn’t. It wasn’t as if he had a problem with Pride, it was just that he was tired. This hunt had been exhausting, and Dean wasn’t exactly in top form anymore. He was getting old, even if he’d never admit that out loud.
Looking towards Eileen, he hoped to find an ally in his cause to just go back home and sleep, but she was looking at the mass of people down the road with a glint in her eyes similar to Cas’. Well great. Dean was outnumbered. There was no point in resistance.
“Fine, fine.” He grumbled and Sam practically lit up.
That’s how Dean found himself walking with the Pride Parade. He hadn’t though that was something he’d ever do, but oh well, here he was. He kept to the outskirts, Cas hovering near him, and kept an eye on Sam and Eileen, who were a bit more enthusiastic about the whole thing. The last thing he wanted was losing sight of the two of them in the crowd. Dean wasn’t sure how, but Sam had somehow managed to get his hands on a flag with the non-binary colours on it, and Eileen’s face was a mess of pink, yellow and blue face paint. Well, as long as they were having fun.
Dean tried not to get too swept up in it. He soon discovered that he just didn’t seem to like it all that much. It was stupid, probably, but here he was, nervous, at Pride. He knew everything was fine. Hell, he and Cas were dating for almost a year now, and everyone he knew was supportive and he should be feeling great. But he wasn’t. Maybe there were just too many people. Too many possibilities to be judged by all those around him. Which was stupid, too. It was Pride. No one here would judge him for dating a man. But it was still there, the fear. And Cas was right there, but at the same time, it was as if he was miles away.
“You don’t have to stay here with me, you know?” Dean started, because he could see the longing in Cas’ eyes, could see how his steps were matching the music, how he was smiling at the people around them. “You can go to Sam and Eileen, have some fun. It’s Pride, I don’t want to bring your mood down.”
And now Cas was looking at Dean, with eyes so intense that they seemed to be reaching right into his mind. It would be creepy if Dean wasn’t used to it by now. That’s just how Cas was.
After a few seconds, Cas looked back at the crowd, then at Dean again. “No, I’m fine. I’d rather stay here with you.”
Cas never failed to make Dean blush at the stupidest and tiniest things. He was in his forties for fuck’s sake, why was he blushing at Cas wanting to spend time with him? Of course he wanted to spend time with him, they were partners. It still caught Dean off-guard sometimes though.
For the rest of the time they spent at Pride, Dean was smiling. And if at some point, his hand grabbed Cas’ and didn’t let go until they had to climb into the Impala, then that was no one else’s business but his. Because he could hold his partner’s hand and it was fine. No one cared. No one was against it. Least of all Dean.
For once, Dean was proud of himself for how far he’d come.