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Cas dipped his paintbrush into the water cup beside his easel. The colors bled from the bristles and he dried it on a paper towel before hovering over the array of oil paints on the palate in his other hand. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought of his next choice, before settling on a mix of yellow and red, creating a vibrant orange.
He heard the bathroom door open but didn’t turn as Dean strode out of the steam filled room, finally done with his shower. “Wow, that's… actually really good.” He said, wrapping his still damp arms around Cas, and resting his chin on the angel’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you could paint.”
“Neither did I, but Jack insisted on going to an art class today while you took the girls to the firing range.” Cas scrunched his face, as he continued adding colors and blending them together. “I suppose that will do.” He and Dean stared at the finished beach sunset.
“If we’re lucky it’ll be that beautiful on the day of the wedding.” Dean said.
“As long as you’re there it will be beautiful regardless.” Cas smiled and turned to press a kiss to Dean’s temple.
Dean quickly moved to meet Cas’ lips with his own, in an attempt to keep Cas from seeing the spreading blush he had caused. It didn’t work, but Cas knew better than to tell. The angel turned back to the easel and took the finished painting off, replacing it with a new canvas. “Alright Davinci.” Dean smirked, stepping away from Cas and towards the bed. “Paint me like one of your french girls.”
“I don't believe I even know any french women, De–” Cas looked away from the easel, his eyes widening as Dean dropped the towel he had around his waist and laid across the bed with his head propped up on one hand. He stared at Dean, then his canvas, and set his brush and paints on the table.
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Dean entered the tattoo shop, bouncing and bubbly, approaching the counter with a wide sated grin. “Good afternoon, sir.” The young lady said, matching his chipper mood with her own. “How can I help you?”
“Well I – uh – I wanna get a piece done…” Dean replied.
“Okie dokie! And where will you be getting it?”
Suddenly his nerves hit, and he gripped the bag in his hands a little tighter. “On – uh – on my… shoulder.”
The girl looked up at him, and smiled. “Awesome. Do you know what you’d like?”
“Exactly.” Dean said. He stared down at the bag and opened it, pulling the green jacket out.
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“Heya Dean!” Claire smirked, walking up to him with her hands behind her back.
“Hey blondie.” He said back, smiling as he passed her. She pulled the container she was holding around and began to open the lid when he suddenly called the others into the room.
Ooo, perfect, an audience. She thought.
“What is it, Dean?” Jack asked for the group as they filed into the living room of their hotel suite.
Dean took a deep breath and began to remove his jacket. “Whoa now.” Sam put his hands in front of him and closed his eyes. “Leave the strip tease for, Cas.”
“Shut up… bitch.” Dean laughed at Sam’s whispered ‘Jerk’ response and continued to slide the jacket off his arms, careful of the tender skin of his shoulder. “I got a new tattoo, and – uh – I wanted to show you.”
“I didn’t know you wanted another tattoo, Dean.” Cas said, surprised.
“Yeah, well I wanted it to be a surprise.” Dean bowed his head bashfully and took a deep breath before pulling the sleeve over his shoulder, revealing the handprint tattoo.
The room went silent.
“Well now you’re all just making it awkward.”
“Dean.” Cas whispered. He walked over and laid his hand gently over the handprint. “Is it–”
“It’s yours. Actually yours.”
“How?” Cas looked at Dean confused. “It’s been gone for years now.”
Dean smiled, and picked the bag up from the floor. “The original one is gone. But I have another.” Cas tilted his head, not understanding, so Dean pulled the Jacket out. Sam and Jack looked at each other now knowing, but Cas still seemed confused; until Dean unfolded the jacket, and revealed the red hand print on the shoulder.
Cas’ eyes went wide, and filled with tears. “You – You’ve had this… all this time?”
“Yeah – uh – it was all I had… you know, after – And… even once you were back, I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it, or wash it, or anything.” Dean’s face was on fire, and he knew it must be beet red at that point, but he didn’t care. “I figured it held a lot of significance, so… why not make it permanent.”
Cas blinked, finally allowing the tears to spill over. “I love it, Dean.” He sniffled, and smiled, leaning in for a kiss.
Claire begrudgingly had to dab at her own eyes, and decided to wait until the next day to enact her revenge on Dean. She carried the container to hers and Kaia’s room and set it on the dresser.
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But she didn’t reclose the lid…