Chapter Text
“I am sorry, Dean.”
“Thanks, Cas. I just don’t understand why she’d do that, you know?” Dean threw himself back on his futon and sighed loudly into his phone. Cas was the one person he could count on to make him feel better at a time like this.
“Unfortunately, neither do I. You’re a good person.”
Dean sighed again. It was the same speech that Sam had tried giving him. He was a good person, blah blah. Just needed to keep his head up, blah. Millions of other girls who’d see him for blah, and blah blah blah. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I get it.” He’d been hoping for more from Cas for some reason. He didn’t know why.
“I don’t think you do,” Cas corrected.
Dean’s brow creased in confusion as he listened to his little brother over the phone.
“You are loyal,” Cas said. “And kind. Selflessness comes quick to you. I would even go as far as to say martyr, except that with the term comes the implication that you expect something in return for your deeds. You are someone who gives himself wholly to another person, someone who relies on them, while letting them know that they can rely on you too. That is a trust that is rare in a person, and it is not so hard to believe that others do not take these qualities as seriously as you do.
“Trust is important to you. As are loyalty and inner strength and fidelity and honesty and a myriad of other qualities that you look for in others because they are the same standards that you hold yourself to, both in relationships and in real life. So, when I say that you are a good person, Dean, I do so knowing that it is a rare quality to see in a person. There are not many others who will be good enough for you in my eyes. That a single woman has you so bothered is surprising considering that you were aware of her mistrust before you were even dating.”
Dean was shocked into silence. It was one thing to feel something, quite another to hear it all laid out like that, especially by one’s twelve year old little brother. Was that really how Cas saw him? He wasn’t selfless, not at all. He just… liked to help. And who didn’t think trust and honesty were important?
Erin, his mind whispered to him. Dana, Adi, Harper, Joan.
Dean chuckled once, more of a breathless scoff than anything. His brother was right. There weren’t really many people who understood the importance of… well… honor.
“Dean? Are you still on the line?”
“Yeah, Cas,” Dean whispered. “Just… You too, man.”
“I don’t understand.”
Dean cleared his throat. “You said that there weren’t a lot of people who were like that. You know, honest and trustworthy and stuff. And I just… You’re like that too. I trust you, Cas. You’re a good person.”
Silence met his response.
Dean sighed.
“Cas?”
“How did you do on your final exams?”
Despite the obvious deflection, Dean grinned.
“Straight A’s.”
“Congratulations. Have you told Sam?”
“Yep. Told me it was about time I pulled my head outta my ass and studied.”
Castiel laughed on the other end of the line. It had been years since he’d heard Cas laugh like that. His brother had always been strange, never understanding even the simplest of references. Dean couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I would have to agree,” Cas said amusedly.
“I’ll have you know that it is physically impossible to fit my head up my ass.”
“Is it because of the stick already wedged in there?”
Dean froze listening to Cas laugh. “Did… did you just make a joke, Cas?”
“I did, Dean.”
“You heard it here, folks!” Dean said overdramatically, waving his arms around his empty dorm room. “Castiel Winchester has made his first joke. How did it feel, Cas? Did it feel good?”
“I believe ‘strange’ is an appropriate term for the feeling. I’m not so sure that I liked it.”
Dean laughed. “I wouldn’t expect you to. How about we leave the joking to me, and you can be the cynically logical one?”
“You’re suggesting that we continue on as we have been?” Cas asked with a hint of doubt.
“That’s the spirit, little brother!” Dean grinned at Cas’ exasperated sigh. “So how’re things at home?” he asked, changing the subject. “You takin’ care of Mom like you’re supposed to?”
Dean heard Cas scoff through the receiver. “I am in the eighth grade, Dean. There is nothing about me that would constitute as ‘little’ anymore.”
Dean chuckled at the response. It was just so… Cas.
“And Mom is doing fine. Her and Dad are away for the weekend, so I’m staying with Sarah and her parents until they return.”
“Ooooooh. Is she cute?”
There was a pause on the other line—too much silence for what was supposed to be a brotherly tease.
“Cas?”
“I’m told she is quite attractive.”
Dean rolled his eyes at the response. If he didn’t know his little brother, he would think he was a prude instead of the socially awkward kid he’d been looking out for since he was in high school.
“You sly dog.” Even though Cas couldn’t see, Dean winked at him. “Let me know how it goes. You know I call best man at your wedding, right?”
“Dean.”
“No, man. I’m serious. I’m gonna be standing right there next to you, tux and all.”
“Dean,” Cas practically growled.
“I was only joking.”
He was met with silence.
“I’m just messing with you, Cas.”
“I realize that.”
Dean let out a breath that he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding.
“Dean, um…”
Dean waited intently. The ambient noise from the passing students made him sure that he’d missed whatever Cas had been trying to say, but then his little brother continued.
“I have to go. You’re still visiting for break, correct?”
“Yeah, Cas. And we’re taking a road trip, just like always.” The year before, the biggest ball of twine had been their goal. They arrived three days after they were supposed to because of two flat tires, a stolen wallet, and a torrential downpour that flooded the roads for a day and a half. The ball of twine wasn’t even that big. Dean smiled. “I’m thinking it’s Grand Canyon time.”
“Sounds… fun. Goodbye, Dean.”
The line went dead before he could get another word in.