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Castiel had noticed a lot of things during his time on Earth. During his short stint as a human, he had noticed how food tasted, how showers felt and the irritating things such as urination fatigue. He was still sour about that.
He had picked up on a lot of things that humanity did, but definitely still struggled with social cues and well, a lot of slang and jokes. Though, thanks to Metatron, he at least understood all pop culture references, which always brought a thousand-watt smile to Dean’s face. He guessed Metatron had some positive moments.
What Castiel had noticed recently was that Eileen had been coming around to the bunker more and more. He’d noticed the way Sam looked at her adoringly and would often sign cute things to her. They would sit across from each other at the dining table, cute smiles gracing their faces and Castiel was sure he’d seen them playing footsie – something he’d learnt about from Dean. Speaking of Dean, in those moments, Castiel would steal a glance at Dean, only to be greeted with the sight of the other man shoving whatever was on his plate in to his mouth very unceremoniously. Sometimes Dean would notice and would look up with a quirked brow or an annoyed ‘what?’ Castiel would just sigh, pining after an incredibly dumb human was rough.
“Hey Cas, we’re gonna watch a movie! Wanna join?” Dean asked from just outside Castiel’s door.
Castiel grinned. This could be the perfect time to try and make his intentions obvious.
“Sure Dean, I’ll be out in a moment.” He replied, deciding to change in to something more comfortable and that Dean had dubbed ‘naked’. Castiel had rolled his eyes fondly at that. Dean dubbed anything that Castiel wore without his trench coat naked.
So that’s how Castiel ended up on the couch next to Dean, with as good a view of Sam and Eileen as he had of the TV. He watched as Sam’s hand nervously tapped on his own leg before he moved his arm up on the back of the couch, suspiciously close to Eileen’s shoulders. Ahh, he was going to make the move. He had seen this throughout humanity over the years.
Yes, maybe this would be a good way to do this. Castiel thought.
It wasn’t long before Sam faux yawned and stretched his arm out before resting it over Eileen’s shoulder. Eileen smiled, a blush dusting her cheeks before snuggling in nice and close to her man.
Right. Castiel thought. This is it. This seems like a sure fire way to give someone a hint.
As the movie went on, and let’s be honest, Castiel wasn’t paying any attention to it, he tried to work up the courage to hit on Dean. He had been dropping hints left, right and centre but his human was incredibly dense. He supposed he himself was too, being an angel and all, but Dean had experience with this, with humanity.
Castiel yawned loudly which made Sam glance at him, eyebrow raised at the disturbance. Castiel sheepishly grinned back and dropped his arm like a dead weight back on his own thigh.
A few more minutes passed and Castiel yawned again, this time much softer and Dean decided that this was the perfect time to excuse himself to the bathroom. Castiel’s eyes rolled so far in to the back of his head he swore he could see his own brain.
“What’d I miss?” Dean asked as he hurriedly sat back down, this time ending up a little closer to Castiel than what he’d been before.
Castiel was so close to giving up, but the solid heat of Dean’s thigh pressed up against his gave him hope. If he, a socially awkward, clueless supernatural being could finally clue in the human, anyone would have hope. Or, you know, he could just use his words and tell him but for an all knowing angelic being, he was also pretty dumb.
Castiel decided it was going to happen.
He yawned, a normal decibel.
He stretched his arm out and over as he did so.
And promptly elbowed Dean in the face.
“Ahh, what the hell Cas?” Dean spluttered, jumping up in shock as he held his nose, blood beginning to drip from it.
Castiel looked up in horror.
“Dean, I am so sorry. I- I didn’t mean to hit you.” Castiel apologised profusely, rising to stand next to Dean.
“YOU ELBOWED ME IN THE FACE MAN!” Dean growled, no real malice behind his words.
Sam who had been looking on with concern suddenly burst out with laughter, realisation dawning on him which caused Eileen to look at him in horror.
Sam quickly signed something to her and she nodded, a shit eating grin gracing her beautiful features.
Meanwhile, Dean had stormed off to the kitchen to round up the first aid kit and some ice, an angry frown on his face.
“Go!” Sam ushered to Castiel. “Just talk to him.”
Castiel sighed and followed the sound of banging cupboard doors.
“Dean, please, allow me.” Castiel pleaded to his best friend who was sitting at the table, ice pack pressed to his swollen nose.
“Cas, man, your grace is still running low. I can’t let you do that.” Dean sighed.
“It was my fault. Let me fix it.” Castiel pleaded again, guilt thick in his voice.
Dean removed the ice pack with a sigh and nodded briefly.
“Only if you tell me why the fuck you elbowed me in the face.” He said with an eye roll.
Castiel sighed and cupped Dean’s face with his hands. Dean let out a soft sound as warmth tingled through his body and the pain instantly left. His nose was no longer swollen and bleeding and he was incredibly grateful. He quickly rose to his feet, Castiel staring after him in confusion.
“Beer?” Dean asked, as he grabbed one from the fridge for himself. Castiel shook his head and Dean took a seat back at the table.
“So…” Dean started, looking directly at Castiel. “Gonna tell me why you assaulted me?”
“I- I didn’t assault you. It was an accident.” Castiel exclaimed.
“And what were you doing, well, trying to do, that resulted in me getting hit in the face?” Dean asked.
“I was trying to fake yawn and… pull ‘the move’.” Castiel muttered, using finger quotes and suddenly finding the spot on the table just in front of him very interesting.
Dean sputtered around his mouthful of beer.
“Y-you what?”
Castiel sighed before braving a look at Dean.
“I saw Sam and Eileen do it, and I thought it would be a good way to initiate more intimate contact. So I wanted to put my arm around you whilst we watched a movie.”
“…intimate contact?” Dean looked, and felt, like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Yes Dean. I thought I’d been giving you all the proper signs.”
“No, you most definitely have not.”
“I do things for you, buy things for you because they make me think of you. Isn’t that what humans do?”
“Well yeah but… Cas. Why are you doing those things?” Dean suddenly looked nervous and Castiel almost wanted to give in and just tell him.
“Because he likes you. And you like him. And you’re both just so dumb.” Sam answered, striding in to the kitchen.
Castiel and Dean both turned to look at him with horror stricken faces just in time to witness Eileen whack him on the arm.
“Well it’s true.” He both said and signed causing Eileen to eye roll. “They need get their heads out of their asses.”
Dean suddenly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He motioned to Castiel to follow him and walked quickly to the library for some privacy.
“So you did that because” Dean breathed in deeply “because you like me?”
“Yes Dean.”
“And how long have you… liked me?”
“Dean, we have shared a profound bond since I dragged you from Hell.”
Dean’s mouth gaped open and closed, not unlike a fish.
“Please say something.” Castiel begged, looking away, ashamed.
“Cas, man, I… I want to do the dumb things with you. I want to hold your dumb hand. And I want you to put your arm around me – not elbow me in the face.” Dean finally answered, his emotional constipation letting him get something out at least.
Castiel smiled shyly and reached out to grab Dean’s hand. “So my excuse is that ‘my human skills are rusty’” Castiel started, air quoting with his free hand “so what’s yours?”
“As Sam put it, I have the emotional range of a tea spoon and the hunting life doesn’t really allow for feelings so I guess I… just close everything off.” Dean answered, squeezing Castiel’s hand gently. He liked the feel of the angels hand in his, his thumb brushing over his knuckles.
“Do you want me to kiss your dumb lips too then?” Castiel braved, causing Dean to breathe out a chuckle.
“Yeah, yeah I do.”
Castiel pulled Dean closer before prying his hand out of Dean’s. Before Dean was able to protest, he cupped Dean’s face in his hands and leant in close, their noses brushing.
“Let’s just use our words in the future, ok?” Castiel breathed against Dean’s mouth before closing the distance and gently pressing his lips to Dean’s.
Dean’s reply came in the form of returning the kiss, his hands moving to Castiel, one resting at the back of his head and the other grasping tightly to his hip.
Maybe the move itself had failed, but the outcome was everything and more than Castiel could have hoped for.