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Dean has worked for Pizza Hut for the last three years.
He's their top delivery man, known for his efficient milage and killer service. He can deliver at warp speed with a cool, calm, collected smile. Tips weren't bad either.
The Lawrence, Kansas location was sad to see him go. But, Dean's younger brother got accepted to an out of state school. Bless his heart, he's decided to help the kid rent a house off campus. Which means, he's moving too. His manager signed the transfer form to a California location with a deep sigh of regret, handing the papers back to Dean, "We're gonna miss you here."
He stared up at his new store a week later in sunny Palo Alto. Dean blinked slowly as he checked out the building from the parking lot, noticing that this particular Pizza Hut was attached to a Krispy Kreme. Does that mean...
Dean opened the door and smiled, instantly smelling the hot conveyor belt of sweet fresh doughnuts and coffee. He closed his eyes and took in the scent. Yes. Oh, yes. He's working a hairsbreadth away from the best donut shop he's ever been to. Dean couldn't help but smile to himself. Lunch break is about to be legendary for him.
Dean walked past the Krispy Kreme counter to head to his Pizza Hut side, sweet tooth fully activated. He gazed at the display donuts with desire in his eyes. Chocolate. Strawberry frosting. Lemon creme filling. And the seasonals? Mmm yum. He wants them all. Right now.
He closed his eyes and kept pushing forward to the other side of the store. Away from the donuts. There's not enough time to buy one before he has to clock in. Later.
"Hey."
Dean stopped in his tracks, hearing a deep voice grumble out in his direction.
"Do you work here now?" the deep voice inquired.
Dean turned his head to the counter. A kind looking man stood right there as the cashier. He looked to be a few years older than Dean. Kinda cute too. Dean cleared his throat nervously and pointed to his Pizza Hut cap. "Uh, yeah. I'm new. I'm a transfer."
The cashier gestured around the store. "Where from?"
Dean said casually. "Kansas."
The man tilted his head, large blue eyes narrowing with confusion. "Kansas?"
Dean blushed. "Yeah."
"You're far from home. I don't meet people from Kansas often."
"..." Dean watched as the man stared into his eyes with unfounded belligerent intensity. So, Dean stared back. This counter guy is not like other counter guys. He had a name tag, but Dean couldn't look away from his eyes to get a read on it. "I, uh.... I am. Far from home."
The counter guy nodded sympathetically. "Me too."
Dean's watch beeped. He has five minutes to clock in. He raised his watch to his face, turning the alarm off. That moment of focus switching pushed Dean back into the present. He explained simply, "My little brother is going to school a couple miles out, so we got ourselves a place nearby for a bit 'till he graduates. Guess I'm gonna see what California has to offer."
The counter guy lifted a bag from behind the register. "How about this? As a start."
Dean started to smile, "Seriously? For free?"
The counter guy nodded gently, "You smiled at me. Brightened my day. Most people don't take the time to be kind. That's worth it."
Dean smiled brighter, striding toward him with a grin, "Whoa. You're really cool, man."
The counter guy passed Dean the bag. It was heavy. Two doughnuts full. "They're just plain. From the line. Since I don't know what you like."
Dean laughed. "Hey, I appreciate it. I'm Dean by the way."
"Castiel." The counter guy answered, gesturing to his name tag.
Dean still couldn't be bothered to read it. Those eyes had him by the heart. "Nice meeting you, Cas. I'm gonna... eat these doughnuts in the break room before I clock in."
"Of course. They taste best fresh."
Dean winked at Castiel and walked backwards toward the Pizza Hut side of the shop, "I... I'll see you later."
The counter guy, Castiel tilted his head to the side again. "I know. You'll be right over there."
"Whoa!" Dean tripped over his feet for a second while giving Cas finger guns, "I'm gonna go."
"I'll be here."
"Thank you again."
"You're welcome, Dean."
The next day, Dean walked in with a smile on his face specifically for the cute counter guy. Who wasn't there. Oh. Okay. Instead there's a younger girl with dark hair and heavy eyeliner. She stared at her nails as that rush of happiness he had previously disappeared. Her name tag said "MEG". She glared at him. "What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing." Dean answered sadly, hanging his head and walking over to the Pizza Hut side of the store without a doughnut or a cute boy to say "hi" to him. He knows it's something small to get hung up about, but he misses his new friend Cas already. And he definitely misses those doughnuts. They tasted sweeter coming from him.
A few hours later, Dean came back from his sixth delivery. His pockets were heavy with tips and he was exhausted, but his shift was almost over and his tank was full of gas. He walked through the front of the store and noticed Castiel was there. Cas had his back to the front, filling the cabinet up with supplies with a pair of thick black headphones covering his ears. It looked like he was doing routine stocking. Dean walked a little slower, letting his eyes wander down his broad shoulders and strong looking arms. That rush of happiness came back. Dean bit his smile back and kept walking.
He turned in his receipts to the manager, and signed off on it. Then, he had a few prep stations to set up. Dean worked on completing his prep stations, glancing around at the sweet side of the store for a peek at that cute, cute Counter Guy.
They kept missing each other. Dean looked once. Twice. Both times his eyes connected with Castiel's back. God, even his hair was cute. Dean blushed, filling the pizza prep station with sausages, blood tingling with testosterone, thinking about a boy.
The third time Dean poked his head around to look at the Krispy Kreme side, they locked eyes. Dean blushed and tilted his Pizza Hut hat like the southern gentleman he is. A nervous smile blossomed on his lips. Cas smiled back warmly. Then Cas pointed at the display cabinet, mouthing "Which One?"
Dean beamed, shrugging. He didn't care. It's not really about the doughnuts anymore. It's about love. New love. Strong, hot, bursting love. Butterflies in his stomach made his heart beat like a drum. Dean gazed across the Pizza Hut counter with an arm full of bread, holding Cas's eyes like a longing touch.
Dean may not know this yet, but Castiel is neurodivergent. He didn't understand he was being flirted with. He asked Dean a question and didn't get an answer. So, Cas felt (and looked) a bit harried now because Dean wouldn't choose a pastry. Cas pointed at the strawberry donuts. Then he offered a cookies and creme filled donut. Both were great options. He glanced up at Dean, prompting an answer from him with those stern inquisitive blue eyes.
Dean shook his head.
Cas was getting all the smiles he could possibly want, but their wires are crossing. It was causing him complete and utter confusion at the same time. Regardless of the situation, the Pizza Man looked happy. His smile was wide and bright, and it made everything in the room feel lighter. He's clearly doing something right. So, Castiel continued showing the sweets, hoping his good customer service would yield him more face time with the handsome pizza man.
Even if he never picks a donut like Cas originally asked.
Castiel pointed to blueberry cake doughnuts, lemon filled glazed doughnuts, caramel apple doughnuts, until he'd offered Dean everything they had. It took a few minutes but Dean wouldn't mind if it took all day. Cas's sleeves were rolled up, pointing to each donut in the display case with the tannest, strongest looking forearms Dean had ever seen. Dean wanted him so bad he could just rip his Pizza Hut hat off and quit on the spot. Dean's coworker noticed him standing and staring at the sweet side of the store, elbowing him for some support on the line.
Dean waved goodbye to Cas, pointing at his smiling lips before making a pleading motion with his hands.
He hopes Castiel will surprise him with a donut.
Castiel, on the other hand, was hoping Dean wouldn't force him to choose the perfect donut for a beautiful stranger he's hopelessly attracted to. Now he's feeling a little overwhelmed.
Dean noticed Cas's expression change, peering closer, wishing he knew more about him. Wishing they could talk right now.
"Quit flirting with the weirdo doughnut guy. We just got a slumber party order from a sorority house."
Dean glared at his coworker, "He's not weird. You just suck."
His coworker rolled his eyes, "I need fifteen pies ASAP. Come on. Help out."
"Okay, okay. I'm coming." Dean adjusted his apron. "I'm gonna be flirting with those sorority girls too though. Just so ya know."
_________________________________________
Dean came back from the sorority delivery with a $20, and he knew exactly how he was gonna spend it. He walked over to the POS system and ordered a large pepperoni pie and a large cola. As soon as it was done, his shift was over. Dean clocked out and walked over to the donut shop with the steaming pie in hand.
Cas stood at the front counter with a fresh bag of warm pastries. "Dean. Welcome back to Krispy Kreme."
Noticing the sweets in Castiel's hand, Dean broke out into a reflexive grin. "Aww. You shouldn't have."
The cashier shrugged simply. "All those smiles you sent me during my shift were sweet. You didn't have to do that either. Most people don't."
Dean smirked, "Wasn't hard. Smiles come naturally with you."
Castiel stared hard back at him.
Dean stared back, content.
Castiel replied to the silence. "I think... that's because... we're attracted to each other."
Dean started to laugh. "Yeah."
"Oh, thank God." Cas breathed out a huge sigh of relief. "I hope you might forgive me for trying to guess your favorite donut."
Dean glanced at the bag. "Oh yeah? What's my favorite donut?"
Castiel said confidently, "Cookies and Cremé."
"No."
"Fuck."
Dean laughed harder.
Castiel sighed out. "Which one is it then?"
"Whichever one you give me, man." Dean said sweetly, heart beating right there on the counter. "That's my favorite."
Castiel blinked as he started to understand, "Oh? Oh."
"And to return the favor, I have an oven fresh Pizza Hut pizza delivery for...." Dean read the note he wrote on the pizza box, "'Gorgeous Counter Guy With The Bluest Eyes I've Ever Seen'. I'm pretty sure that's you."
Castiel shook his head. "A large pizza? Dean. That's sweet, but excessive."
Dean winked, "It's okay. We'll share. Dinner's on me. When do you get off?"
"Ten minutes. The beach is right up the road if you wanna sit together and watch the waves while we eat. It's much more relaxing than the break room."
"Oh!" Dean gasped in surprise, laughing and blushing. "Romantic."
Cas replied. "Too much?"
Dean pointed at him, "Oh no. You read it perfect. I got a blanket in my car and a speaker to blast some rock ballads. I'm ready for a date."
Cas smiled.
Dean almost dropped the pizza.