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***Year One***
Fall is a season that Dean is learning to love. Something about the orange and yellow hues of the leaves bathing him in a glowing light every time he goes outside fills his soul with warmth. On a weekend Dean and Cas take a drive to soak up the colors and find themselves in Centralia, a small town one could only describe as ‘quaint’. They indulge in a carrot cake from a local bakery, and despite Dean’s misgivings the cake was moist and crunchy from the walnuts. Cas’s eyes brighten with happiness with every bite that Dean takes and decides on a whim to visit a local store clock full of trinkets.
The store is packed to the rafters with pens, stationary, paperweights, candles and t-shirts proclaiming Centralia is the centre of the universe. It’s all standard tourist fair, yet Dean takes his time wandering up and down the aisles to marvel at the frivolity on display. As he makes his way to the back of the shop a corner is draped with a wall of black sequins. His curiosity piqued, he walks towards the sparkling wall and discovers skeletons, witches and pumpkins of varying sizes.
“Is it Halloween soon, Cas?”
Cas joins Dean on the back wall. “It appears so.”
“Huh. I guess I forgot about it.”
“Was it something you celebrated with Sam?”
“What? No. Crappy motels weren’t exactly the best place to go knocking on doors asking for candy.”
“I can see why.” Dean scent shifts towards melancholy with a pang of remembrance at another lost childhood experience. His eyes never waver from the spooky display in front of him, his fingers itching to find out which ones are motion activated. After a minute of silence Cas laces his fingers through Dean’s and rumbles in his ear.
“Shall we buy some decorations? I’ve never seen the need to celebrate it by myself, but if it’s something you want, we can do it.”
“Really?!” The smile on Dean’s face could blind people with its intensity. He gazes at the display with wonder, making sure to try out every ‘test me’ button within his reach. Two skeletons and a pumpkin later they’re back on Main Street, Dean practically vibrating with excitement at the possibility of decorating for the season. A second general store catches his eye; a rack of costumes and baskets of accessories are propped up by the front door.
“Look at these, Cas! We have to get one!”
Castiel frowns at the scraps of tulle and spandex hanging innocently on the rack. “I’m happy to decorate the house Dean, but I don’t think we need to dress up when it’s just us in the house.”
“Please, Cas. I never got to do it growing up, and it could be fun!”
The crease between the alpha’s brows doesn’t move an inch, so Dean pulls out the big guns. He shrugs his shoulders and widens his eyes, his body language all but pleading with Cas to reconsider.
“I tried that carrot cake like you asked, so I figured you might be open to trying this. For me? It doesn’t have to be anything big, it can be something like a hat or a headband.”
A solitary huff of resignation is all the confirmation Dean needs to start diving through the baskets.
“Cowboy? Hmm… what about Kitty Cas? It’s just a headband with cat ears. Maybe a tail too.”
“I’m regretting this already.” Cas complains to no-one.
Dean trawls through the accessories and celebrates triumphantly with a prize in each hand. “Here you go, Cas.”
The omega thrusts a shiny plastic hat emblazoned with FIRE DEPARTMENT into his hands. Cas looks up at Dean dubiously. “You want me to be a firefighter?”
“Yup. I’ll be the cat stuck up a tree and you can rescue me.” While Dean’s tone is playful Cas doesn’t miss the tremor hidden underneath it. The vulnerability of what Dean is asking Cas to do isn’t lost on the alpha.
“As long as there are no ladders involved. It’s bad luck for a cat to walk underneath one, you know.”
Relief floods Dean’s scent, and he sidles up to Cas for a reassuring hug. “We’ll stay on the floor, I promise.”
“Let’s pay for these then get you home.” Dean nuzzles into Cas’s neck, his gratitude and happiness apparent for the world to see.
That night, the cat does indeed get rescued by the firefighter, and if Dean needed extra cuddles after his rescue Cas isn’t one to complain.
***Year Two***
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Cas nervously nibbles on a thumb nail while Dean grills them cheese sandwiches. The omega blows a raspberry and dismisses Cas’s concern.
“Come on, Cas, it’ll be fun! A Halloween party is just what NRR needs to let our recovering omegas have some fun. Pamela and Benny are on board, and I reckon I can crack a half smile out of Balthazar by the end of the night.”
“Parties are...not my thing.”
“They’re not mine either, considering I used to be…” Dean can’t bring himself to say the words, but neither of them need him to finish the sentence about what happened to Dean at Alistair’s parties. “I want to make some new memories with you. And I’m keeping the costumes simple this year. We’re going as skeletons.”
“Skeletons? Really?
“Well, yeah, that's all I could get from the convenience store.” Dean glances downwards, suddenly fascinated with browning butter in the pan and scenting embarrassment. “I wanted to surprise you, that’s all.”
Cas’s heart melts a little and he wraps his arms around Dean’s middle and squeezes tight. “Dean, you didn’t have to hide this from me. We’ll go as skeletons this year, but next year you can pick a costume from anywhere you like.”
“Really? You promise?”
“Of course. Maybe I’ll find that hat from last year and go as a fire fighting skeleton.”
Dean barks a laugh into Cas’s ear. “You are such a dork.”
“Yes, but I’m your dork.”
“Always.”
***Year Three***
Castiel is working from home in his study when Dean’s excited shouting distracts him from a rather dry grant proposal.
“Cas, you’re not going to believe what I found today!”
Intrigued and in need of a break Cas makes his way towards Dean. “What is it?”
“The Walgreens in town that shut down has turned into a Halloween store. It’s called Spirit of Halloween, and it is amazing! You should see it Cas, there were so many decorations. They even had a life size skeleton!”
“Are you telling me there’s a life size skeleton in the car you need help carrying into the house?”
“What? No. I found our costumes for the party. They had a whole section full of ‘em. I almost bought you the PB & J jar, but thought it would be too much of a hassle to get you in and out of the car. I found these.”
Dean whips out two plastic sleeves with a padded costume inside each. One for Wolverine, one for Magneto. Cas studies both packages, and after a short silence he admits softly, “I don’t know what these are.”
The omega’s jaw drops in shock. “Prepare to have your life changed. These guys are both from the X-Men comics, Magneto controls metal and Wolverine is a weapon. I loved the show as a kid, and when I saw them I knew they would be perfect.” Dean’s enthusiastic tone shifts to one of earnest. “I thought you could be Wolverine, seeing as you’re such a great protector.”
“Oh, Dean.” Cas embraces Dean, basking in his scent as he envelops his mate with his own. “Wolverine sounds perfect.”
“Great. Wait until you see the claws!”
“Wait. The what?!”
***Year Four***
The door to their bedroom is shut and Dean is pacing impatiently in the living room, his black ankle boots echoing off the floor with each step.
“You got a problem in there, Cas?”
Castiel’s voice is uncharacteristically uncertain when he calls out from the other side of the door. “I’m not sure about this costume, Dean. I don’t think I need to wear it. Covid cancelled all our usual plans and we can’t greet trick or treaters here. Not to mention I wouldn’t go out in public like this anyway.”
“We’re doing costumes because I say we are. It’s a tradition for us. Besides, nobody will see what you’re wearing but me.”
“I’m beginning to think maybe it’s my turn to pick the costumes.”
There’s little chance of that happening, Cas knows all too well how much Dean enjoys getting into the spooky season. “We can talk about it for next year, but I want to see how you look today. Please come out, alpha?”
One resigned sigh and a slowly opened door later sees Castiel shuffle into the living room. He’s wearing the same outfit as Dean- an extra tight white t-shirt highlighting all of the alpha’s taut muscles with black booty shorts and ankle boots. Printed on the t-shirt is a picture of a smiling pumpkin. Dean grins with delight, ignoring Cas’s obvious discomfort at the revealing clothes.
“You look amazing, Cas. You just need one more thing.” Dean rubs some sculpting mud through Castiel’s unruly locks and smoothes them off his face, highlighting his bright blue eyes. Overcome with happiness at their little world, Dean plants a light kiss on Cas’s lips.
“What was that for?”
“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have you all to myself.” Dean rubs his cheek against Cas’s stubble, scenting his mate possessively and thrilled when Cas melts into him for an embrace.
“Well that’s never been more true this year. Damn virus. Can I ask you something though?”
“Anything, Cas.”
“What are these outfits supposed to be?”
“I thought it was obvious. We’re slutty pumpkins.”
***Year Five***
“No. I’m not wearing this. Absolutely not.”
“Come on, Tess down at Spirit of Halloween had to work really hard to find these.” Dean waggles the geometric yellow and red foam shapes in front of Cas for dramatic effect.
“I know you’ve enjoyed playing that game on the computer, but I am the figurehead of an omega rights organisation, I can’t be seen in that.”
“Firstly, I think an alpha willing to embrace the holiday spirit would do wonders for morale. Secondly, they’re called Angry Birds, and you’re already an angry alpha so it’s like you’re halfway there.”
Cas’s eyes narrow further and he tamps his irritated scent down. He’ll probably get over it before the party tonight, but he’s not happy about it.
“I will wear it, under one condition. I will get to choose the costumes next year.”
“Sure, sure. Now come on, Terrance. Let’s get you ready.”
***Year Six (+1)***
Dean was nervous. When Dean had broached the subject of Halloween costumes Cas shut the conversation down with a terse “It’s my turn this year” and said nothing since. There had been no sign of any packages delivered to their house, and when Dean had visited Cas for lunch at NRR nobody on the staff had seen anything out of the ordinary that might give him some clues as to what was coming.
Cas had played the part of Terrance the Angry Bird to perfection last year, Benny in particular loved his dedication to the role at the party. Only Dean knew that the scowl was real, and it made him love the alpha even more that he was willing to stick it out in front of so many staff and residents.
Now, with the shoe on the other foot, Dean is rethinking his whole perspective. Cas could dress him in literally anything, and while it’s been a long time since the memory of what he was forced to do in Hell, a small part of him is always worried that he might be forced back into something demeaning one day. He squashes the thought every time it resurfaces, but the underlying stress on his nerves remains.
The morning of October 31st has Castiel leave for work as usual, gifting Dean with a quick peck on the cheek and a quick scenting from his wrists and he’s out the door without a backward glance. With a quiet day ahead of him Dean resigns himself to tidying the house, and if he happens to have a snoop for any possible costumes then that’s an added bonus.
A knock at the door startles Dean out of a daydream, and it is immediately followed by a ping on his phone. The notification is from Cas, brief and to the point.
Happy Halloween Dean, your costume has arrived.
Rushing to the front door isn’t something Dean usually does, but the anticipation of finding out what Castiel has picked for them has him sprinting to the stoop to discover a large white box waiting for him. It’s a decent weight, so Dean treads carefully as he lowers the box onto the living room floor. The string holding the box together unspools easily, and with his heart thundering in his chest Dean lifts the lid to reveal the contents inside.
Two garments lie nestled in gold tissue paper. He lays both out on the couch along with two smaller boxes that are secreted away in the bottom of the box. The costume comprises of brown pants hidden beneath a large poncho. The poncho is covered in snowy white pearlescent fabric in the shape of feathers, morphing into lighter brown shades on the sides. The boxes contain eye masks that are mostly white with a ring of brown around the edges, and a pointed nose. The craftsmanship of the clothes and masks are exquisite, and Dean knows for certain that this hasn’t been ordered from a local store. The costumes are clearly a bird of some sort, but it’s not a breed that Dean’s familiar with.
Later in the afternoon Dean changes into the soft, scent neutral fabrics and slides his mask on just as Cas returns from work. It’s his turn to act nervous, but when Cas’s face breaks into a wide smile at the sight of his omega in his costume Dean relaxes.
“Hello, my mate. You look wonderful tonight.”
A blush colors Dean’s cheeks and contrasts beautifully with the white feathers on his mask.
“Thanks. I feel...I don’t know. This is way nicer than anything I’ve ever found for you to wear.”
“My Omega deserves the best. Have you figured out what you are?”
“Uh, I got that it was a bird, but I don't know what kind.”
Castiel pauses for effect and beams as he announces proudly, “Tonight, we’re going as barn owls.” Castiel is satisfied with his reveal, his smile only fading when Dean continues to stare at him blankly. “Do you want to know why I picked barn owls?”
“Actually, yeah, I do. ‘Cause I’ve got no idea why right now.”
Castiel slides Dean’s mask up to make sure that he has Dean’s undivided attention as he stares into his omega’s green eyes.
“Barn owls mate for life. And you, Dean, are the only person I want to spend my life with.”
The honest overwhelming love plainly etched on Castiel’s face combined with the symbolism of Cas’s choice punches Dean in the stomach. The walls are closing in on him, and the only thing that Dean can think to do is draw Castiel into a desperate kiss. His mate is his anchor, and sure enough the ground that was tilting wildly underneath him feels a little more solid.
“I love you Cas. I’m yours forever.”
“As am I, Dean. Give me five minutes to get changed, then we can head to the party.”
Castiel is a man of his word, and in no time he is changed into his own downy masterpiece. The mask frames Castiel’s deep blue eyes in such a way that Dean is captivated by the striking beauty of the alpha he is lucky enough to claim as his own.
“I’m going to be fending off every omega in the place with a stick tonight.”
Pretending that Dean hasn’t said anything, Castiel wraps his arms around Dean’s waist, drawing him in close and kissing him lightly from his neck to his lips, still plump from their earlier kiss.
“Firstly, nobody is going to want to come near the mysterious benefactor they only see stalking the halls from afar. They never do. Secondly, there is nothing anybody could do tonight that could tear my eyes away from you. You look every bit the graceful barn owl.”
“Aha, I didn’t know barn owls were graceful, but thanks for the pep talk.”
“The natural world has many surprises, Dean. Wait until you see what I’ve got in store for next year.”
Dean pushes back with his hand on Castiel’s chest. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Next year? This was a one time thing, I’m back to picking costumes next year.”
“You think so? I guess we’ll have to play for it. Next August we’ll play rock, paper, scissors. Winner takes all. You game?” The alpha’s bemused grin sends sparks down Dean’s spine.
Dean fixes his mask’s position and nods confidently with a smile.
“Bring it on.”