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A relatively normal evening in Casey's and Morgan's place. Only that for some reason, Morgan had thought it a good idea, to join Casey in a glass of whiskey that had become more than one. For the last twenty minutes he had been blabbering on about anything that came to mind, and had just come to the topic of Casey and his loneliness.
"You know, I dont understand why you do the whole, not talk about your feelings routine. I always feel better after talking it out with Chuck. You should give it a try. Maybe it would help you loosen up a little. Maybe even get yourself someone to enjoy life with!"
More to himself, he adds "and its not like there isnt anyone thats interested in you."
He swirled his glass and took another sip. Casey had been trying to block out his talking but this caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes at this "What do you mean by that. Do you know someone - did someone say something to you?"
"What?" Morgan turned his head, not fully able to zero in on Casey.
"You implied there was someone thats interested in me. Who is it?"
Only then Morgan realized what he'd said.
"Oh no, no I have no idea who that might be. No one said anything. Hm? What are we talking about?"
Casey rolled his eyes at him but just led him on "Morgan ....."
"Well ,..... Chuck might have mentioned something some time ago."
Casey urged him on with a look.
"Sarah and him. They- No I shant say it! I dont betray my best friend like this!" He waves his hand around trying to scare away the idea.
Casey growls "Morgan ... If you wont tell me. I have to make you. And you won't like that."
Morgans eyes grew big at this and he gulped.
"Um ....... Well, they like you. Like, they want you to um. If its possible at all -" he got redder thinking of a way to say it. "They want you in their relationship! Wanna kiss you, date you all that stuff. They have a big ol crush on you."
He pointed at Casey. The big guy froze at this, but the next second he dismissed the possibility that Morgan might be telling the truth already, putting his emotions in check and told him,
"You must've misunderstood him." He faltered a bit, "They dont need me. Thats ridiculous."
Morgan was bewildered at this.
"What ?? You made me tell you and then you dont even believe me??? Chuck told me this in utmost confidence. Casey. Remember when Chuck was drugged like. I dont a few months ago?"
Casey answered with a grunt and confirmed "The truth serum."
"I rest my case." Morgan threw his hands up like he said everything he had to convince him.
Then his gaze changed to concerned,
"But don't let this change the way you treat them yeah? They're being very professional about it. Just don't make them any hopes where there aren't any y'know."
Casey scoffed at this and went "Don't worry. Nothing'll change."
He downs the rest of his whiskey and then gets up. This conversation killed his mood.
The next day he ran into Chuck at the Buy More. He was wary of their interactions, had his guard up, tried to notice anything about this alleged crush. But there was nothing out of the ordinary. By the end of the day, he was ready to throw the very notion of this out the window, until they got back to Castle after a mission.
He was putting his weapons back in the armory and noticed Walker leaning on the table. She seemed to be lost in thought, staring at him. He tried to not be bothered by it, but what Morgan told him had been on his mind all day. When he finished he turned around and caught her stare, returning it. He wasn't sure if he was just making up the tension that was building and broke it by asking her, "What is it Walker?" gruffly.
Chuck came in oblivious to the situation, Sarah just cleared her throat and let it slip by without explanation.
That night he went to bed overthinking all of their interactions. Sarah has had eyes for Chuck ever since they met, there was no chance in hell she was interested in anyone else, let alone him. And Chuck? Since when was the kid bisexual? If you had someone like Walker, you werent dissatisfied, that didnt make any sense.
He tossed and turned not finding much sleep.
Over the next few weeks, despite his best efforts, he collected evidence that supported Morgan's claim. Now that he was paying attention, he found Walker staring more often, how did he not notice before? And Chuck invited him over quite often. Casey had declined on reflex, fine by himself thinking they wouldn't mind an evening alone. Every second he spent overthinking it, he also spent scolding himself for entertaining this fantasy, just because he would like it. He thought about distancing himself from the situation a bit to clear his head.
But then Alex told him something.
"If you care about someone, you should value the time you have with them."
Of course she was absolutely right, as always. So he decided to talk to her about it. Emotions weren't his forte but it had always been easier with her. And he wanted to know what she thought before he even considered making a move.
One morning when Morgan was already at the store, she was over for breakfast. He almost didn't get the words out, but goddammit, he had fought much harder things so he started off with
"If there was someone I liked, what would you think off that?"
"What?" She looked up from her coffee and continued "That came out of nowhere, Dad. I'd be happy for you of course."
She put her mug down and extended her hand, but he wasn't quite over the fence yet, felt the need to explain further.
She gently nudged "Do I know them?"
"Um, yes. You know her." He cast his eyes down, berating himself for leaving her gaze. Why was vulnerability so hard. He felt like a damn schoolgirl confessing her crush. Here goes nothing.
"And him."
When he looked back up her eyes offered nothing but warmth. "I think I have an inkling who they could be. What are you gonna do about it?"
He scoffed at that, but it was without bite, a bit empty. He pressed his lips into a tight line and then answered "I don't know if I'm gonna do anything at all. But I wanted to ask you first, if you were comfortable with the idea. They're only eight and nine years older than you."
Now he did reach for her hand, letting his thumb caress her smaller knuckles as a grounding motion.
She gave him another smile and told him "I'm glad you asked my opinion. But I have nothing against you being with them, I trust them and would be over the moon if they can make you happy. I'm glad for you still.
And to let you in on a little secret, they have someone they like too." She raised her eyebrows at that and continues "So, what are you going to do about it?" He sighed and after a beat said plainly "I dont know." She gave him a sympathetic smile and they continued their morning.
It was a surreal feeling, thinking there was an actual chance that Chuck and Sarah could be interested in him of all people. He found himself fantasizing about pulling Chuck in for a kiss, holding Sarah's waist. Once Chuck even caught him staring, luckily he interpreted it as threatening rather than appreciative or else Casey wouldn't have known what to do with himself.
Chuck was at the nerd herd, explaining Casey something about a new video game and he's lost already. He had genuinely tried to understand him, but truly how did video games even work, nothing he was saying was making sense. That was when another thought snuck back into his mind. He tried to shake it, but it would conveniently break off his (adorable but senseless) info dumping.
So on impulse Casey reached over the counter took his tie and pulled him into a kiss. Chuck had shrieked first, totally oblivious to what Casey was gonna do. But once their lips met, he didn't protest, meeting the force with which Casey had pulled him in. He groaned into the kiss and chased his when Casey parted lips. Once he opened his eyes again he looked completely dumbfounded as to what just happened, searching Casey's face for a clue. "What- "
"Got you to shut up." Casey gave him a smug grin, still not letting go of his tie.
If anything, that just confused him more so Casey explained:
"Chuck, I like you. And I think it's save to say you like me back, from the way you kissed me."
"Well, yeah, but -what, how"
"I take it, Sarah actually likes me too?" His heart wanted to beat out of his chest at the question, terrified for the answer but he never was one to avoid confrontation. Luckily Chuck confirmed this with a nod, he was a stuttering mess now.
"How Casey? What's going on here?"
"How about we go find your girlfriend, huh?"
He didn't wait for an answer, emboldened by Chucks reaction to the kiss and tagged him along at the hand, going for the Castle entrance through the Buy More staff rooms. Sarah sat downstairs, working on a mission report, when she heard the door open and saw her team come through. She gave them an alert look, asking "Is there a new mission?" and got up from where she sat. But Chuck just shook his head, now at the bottom of the stairs, stood behind Casey, who planted himself directly in front of Sarah.
He gave her an inexplicable look and then surprised her when he asked
"Walker, can I kiss you?"
She did a sharp intake of breath and a nervous smile broke out.
"Yeah."
This made him smile in return and he carefully cupped her jaw with one hand. He met her lips with such softness, a very simple kiss by any measures and yet it made him swoon, feeling her reciprocate his movements. She snaked her arms around his neck. When they parted she was breathless and he a little dizzy.
"Wow." She cleared her throat, "What brought this on?"
Chuck chimed in "Yeah, that's an excellent question. Also an excellent kiss." Casey snorted at this and Sarah gave him an adoring look.
"I figured you two out. You may not be as secretive as you think you are."
"Well if us being bad at hiding our crush got you to act on it, I'm not a little bit mad about it." Her grin grew smug, couldn't hold back how giddy she felt. And just because she could, she went in for a second kiss, this time with more push behind it, breaking past his lips with her tongue. Caseys other hand moved to her waist pulling her closer to him.
When they parted again, Sarah told him "I could get used to this." Chuck had been completely transfixed watching them, growing red. But then he started whining "I want a kiss like that! You only kissed me once, Casey, thats not fair." and pouted. Casey rolled his eyes at this but caved and gave into his demands. "You're lucky I like you."
So this time when he kissed him, he deliberately went slow, ghosting over his lips, letting them brush first.
"So when I ask you this time, will you take me up on dinner at ours?"
Casey gave him a grin and nodded "Yeah, I'll be over."
That evening after their shift, Casey was just at his place for a short time, left Morgan telling him that he had to have dinner alone. His roomie wasn't satisfied with that information, thought there was a mission he was missing out on and followed him over the courtyard to Chuck and Sarah's apartment.
"Nope, no mission Grimes. How about you just order in hm?" He knocked on their door.
Morgan was about to ask again, when Chuck answered and and greeted Casey "Great! You're right on time, come in." and then proceeded to give him a kiss. He even had the audacity to give him a lovesick smile. Morgan was standing there looking like he had just crashed, trying to reboot and failing hard.
When Casey saw this, he scoffed at him and closed the door on him without explanation.