Work Text:
Dean grumbled unhappily as the door behind him was closed. He wanted to punch his little brother and wipe the smugness off of his brother's pet. He snorted when Sam's voice sounded inside his head, 'He's not a pet, Dean. He's my mate!'
Angels were slaves for humans. Their purpose was to serve humanity. It was a fact. Just like the sun rose from the east was a fact. They were not anyone's mates. But Sam and some other people who called themselves open-minded argued otherwise. Dean wasn't one of those people. He believed that after the destruction that the angels had wrecked on earth, it was only right that they were used as slaves for humans. They had to pay back the humanity for the sins they had caused.
'Holy creatures of god, his ass!'
But now his little brother had saddled him with one of the angels as a present for his thirtieth birthday. Dean loathed the angels and believed in slavery but that didn't mean he wanted a slave of his own. He was sure that it wasn't Sam who had come up with this brilliant idea to tie him up with the one thing he hated most in his life, but his good for nothing, angel named Gabriel.
But in the same way that Dean hated angels more than anything, he loved his little brother with everything he had. Sam had forced his puppy eyes on him and had begged him to accept this 'present' of his. Apparantly, tolerating Gabriel being treated as one of the humans for the whole damb evening wasn't enough. Sam wanted Dean to find the same love he had found for himself. As if he ever could find it in an angel slave.
For one, Dean didn't believe in love. He loved his brother. So, he did believe in love per say but he didn't believe in romantic love. Secondly, did he say that he loathed angels?
Dean's eyes fell on the creature huddled beside him. It wore a long white robe that reached its ankles. It was shorter than Dean. For that, he was glad. The creature was a male, but Dean wasn't interested in calling him by any other pronouns other than 'it'. Its eyes were on the ground, and its hands were clasped behind its back. The creature was hunched in on itself.
Dean growled at the thought of bringing anything in his home, much less an angel. But the night air was growing chilly. No more procrastination would work. He had to leave now. At the sound of the irritated growl that had risen deep from within him, the angel at his side flinched hard.
Dean frowned before he snapped a quick order, "Move your ass!"
He made his way to his beloved car, his baby, the only thing he loved almost as much as Sam. Impala 1967, a classic kickass car that was a gift to him from his father on his sixteenth birthday.
He opened the backdoor and flicked his arm toward the empty backseat. When the angel continued to stand dumbly at his side, he gripped its arm and threw him in the car. He ignored the full body flinch that the angel gave at that.
He watched with furrowed brows and a scowl marring his face as the angel scrambled to get on his knees in a kneeling position once inside the car. It didn't fit in the small space between the front and the backseat, but it looked determined to make do. Dean rolled his eyes.
"Just get on the damn seat!"
He closed the door and didn't wait to see if his order was followed. Because, of course, it was. No angel wanted to be punished. Once humanity, with its vast and impressive progress in technology that it had accumulated over the decades, had found a way to trap the powers of the angels. It was game over for the feathery dicks. They were now as powerless as infants.
Dean slid behind his wheel, gripping it tightly before darting a look in the rearview mirror at the angel seated in its backseat. Though the angel was now seated on the leathery seat, it looked as if it was in danger of falling down the moment Dean would start driving. Its butt was practically hanging off the seat.
"If you fall forward when I start driving, it will not end well for you."
At his issued warning, the angel flinched before huddling itself to the corner of the backseat, the corner that was the farthest from Dean.
He started driving and cursed Gabriel with each flinch the angel released as Dean maneuvered them back to their place. The angel was acting like it hadn't sat in a car before, and it was the first time. May be it was. Traveling in a car for someone who hadn't done it before could be scary, Dean supposed. He didn't know because for as long as he could remember, his family had always had the impala.
He shook his head to free it of ridiculous thoughts. What was it to him even if it was the first time for the angel in his backseat to travel in a car, and it was scared? Dean couldn't give a tiny rat's ass.
They reached Dean's place in about fifteen minutes. His house was a modest one story brick structure. It had a wrap-around porch and a decent sized driveway and backyard. Five steps lead to the front door. Once inside the place, a narrow hallway would lead to the living room with a joint kitchen in the back. Toward the right of the living room was the master bedroom, which was Dean's room, and besides, it was his office that he rarely used. On the left side of the living room was the guest room. Both the rooms had built-in bathrooms. All in all, Dean loved his place because it had come cheap, and it was his.
Dean parked his car in his garage, which was built on the side of the house and comfortably housed his baby. He opened the door and slid out. He moved around the back of the car to where the angel was and wrenched the door open. He pulled the angel out with a firm grip on the creature's bicep. It whimpered at the contact.
The pitiful noise, for some reason, rose his hackles.
"I am not even doing anything! Jesus Christ!"
He swiped his hand across his face when all the angel did was flinch in response before tugging the angel out of the garage and toward the front door.
Once inside the house, he released his grip to unlace his boots. He left them in their designated corner in the hallway. He noticed the angel's feet were bare. He made his way toward the living room and went to the kitchen to grab a chilled bottle of beer from his fridge. With the beer in hand, he plopped himself on his couch. The angel had followed him all the way to the living room.
It was now standing at the side of the couch, with his head down and his hands clasped behind his back. Dean sighed and took a large gulp of his beer.
He cleared his throat and demanded in the rough voice, "My name is Dean Winchester. I am your owner. But I don't want anything to do with you. You will stay out of my way as much as possible."
The angel's head raised a miniscule inch upward, and that was the only indication he received that the creature had heard him.
"When I give an order, I expect a verbal response. So am I clear?"
A moment of silence and then the faintest and the gentlest voice he had ever heard answered him with, "Yes, master."
Even though Dean didn't like angels, he wasn't as cruel as some other people were to make their slaves sleep outside in the yard. The angels didn't feel cold or warm, but ever since the humans had trapped their powers, they had shown signs of being affected by the changes in the weather. The same was with them feeling hungry, tired or sleepy, and experiencing all the emotions that the humans did. It was still largely mild as compared to humans, but it was there. So, like a respectable slave owner, he had shown the angel its room, the guest room he had, and the bathroom and had left him to it.
He didn't know how tired he was until his head hit the pillow and he was sleeping in a few minutes.
In the morning, Dean was woken up from his deep slumber by the sounds of someone moving around his kitchen. Dean had shot out from bed and had marched straight to his kitchen, forgetting in his sleepy state that the night before he had unwillingly an angel thrust upon him by his little brother.
When he reached the kitchen, he was greeted by the sight of the angel puttering around his kitchen, frying things, setting plates, and making breakfast. Even though it was Dean who had forgotten about the angel living in his house, he had somehow lost his temper on his slave.
He had thoroughly chewed the creature out and had scared the living lights out of it. The feeling of guilt that had risen inside him at the sight of the angel shaking in fear and shedding tears in response to his outburst was enough to rise a fresh wave of anger inside him. He had shouted some more and then banished the angel to its room. The breakfast laid sitting on the kitchen counter accusingly.
After the morning fiasco, there was no sign of the angel in the living room. Dean knew it was in the guest room. He hadn't given the permission for the angel to leave the house. It couldn't go anywhere anyway without Dean accompanying him. He was the one who had ordered him to go and stay inside there. And the angel was just following his orders.
It was evening and dinner time now, and he was contemplating in ordering the angel out of the room. The breakfast had been delicious. If the angel was to stay with him, it should do what a slave ought to do. Cook meals, clean the house, and such other things.
He made his way to his guest room where the angel was and opened the door without knocking. The angel was lying on the floor on his back and staring at the ceiling. But when it registered Dean's presence, it quickly shot up to arrange himself in a kneeling position on the floor. The angel lowered its head on the floor, its nose touching the dark brown floorboards a few feet away from where Dean stood.
"I apologize for leaving my room without permission, master. I deserve punishment. "
Even as it said that, Dean could see the angel's shoulders trembling, and he heard the unmistakable cracking of the creature's voice at the word 'punishment'.
He felt awkward at someone kneeling at his feet. That annoying sense of guilt from this morning rose uncomfortably inside him. But Dean squished that emotion firmly. A moment or two of tense silence later, he cleared his throat.
"Stand up."
The angel shot to his feet slowly and waited for the further order.
"I am not going to punish you."
At his words, the tension bled out of the angel's body. But some still remained. Dean continued speaking,
"You can make food in my kitchen. Making the meals, cleaning the house, and tending the yard will be your responsibility. You will be a house angel."
"Yes, master.".
The angel replied quietly, its stance becoming more relaxed.
"It's time for dinner. What are you waiting for, then? Go prepare it!"
At his rough demand, the angel scurried past him and toward the kitchen. A moment later, the house was filled with the sounds of cutlery moving around, cupboards closing and opening, stuff being put on the counter. Dean thought he could get used to it. Almost.
As the angel was in the process of setting up the table, Dean's cell rang. He went to take the call in his room. It was probably a mechanic asking him for some parts for whatever car they were working on. Dean was a mechanic, supplier as well as he did the remodeling of classic cars. If one wanted anything related to a car done, they contacted Dean in this small town of Prescott with a population of 783 in which he lived.
By the time he made his way back to the living room, the dinner was already plated on the dining table in front of the kitchen with no sign of the angel around.
Unbeknownst to Dean, the angel hadn't left the living room, but instead, it had hidden itself in a corner to observe his master having his meal. Its master had ordered the angel not to be in his way. So, that was what the angel was doing. But it was still observing master from afar so as to be close by in case master needed him for anything. The angel winced when its stomach grumbled with hunger. There was no angel food in the kitchen. And master hadn't allowed it to take some food from the dinner it had prepared for master. Master didn't even give permission to the angel to eat. So, the angel would have to go to bed hungry. It wouldn't be the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.
A comfortable routine was established between Dean and his slave. The angel tended to the house, the yard, and prepared Dean's meals. It was never around when Dean was having his meals or just lounging on the couch in front of the television in the living room. When Dean left the house in the mornings, he would have his breakfast already prepared, his lunch packed for him to take to work, and he arrived home to a clean house and a hot dinner. So the arrangement suited Dean just fine. But all the fine things had to come to an end.
On the fifth day of the angel's stay with him, things got out of hand. When Dean had woken up at his usual time in the morning, he knew something was wrong when the house remained completely silent. There were no sounds coming from the kitchen that signaled the preparation of breakfast, the sounds he had admittedly gotten used to.
Cautiously, when he had left his room and arrived in the living room, it was to the sight of a pale angel lying unconscious on the floor.
No attempts to wake up the angel had worked, and it was burning to the touch which had left Dean no choice but to hurry his slave to the hospital at the edge of the town that specialized in the treatment of the angels.
Once there, he had been directed to the waiting room while a sour faced lady doctor had carried away his slave on a stroller to an examination room. After almost an hour of waiting, the doctor returned with a clipboard in her hand.
"My name is Alicia." She introduced herself to Dean, again with that sour look on her pretty face. Dean mentally gave her zero points in hospitality. He was doing his damn hard not to appear worried. Because, of course, he wasn't going to be worried about the health of a slave.
"Dean Winchester," he introduced himself.
"You are the owner, Mr. Winchester?"
When Dean nodded, the doctor spoke,
"Your angel has a severe case of dehydration, weakness, and is showing signs of pneumonia as well."
Her tone was accusatory, and Dean felt his anger spike. He hadn't laid a finger on the angel. How was he to be blamed for any of this?
"Do you wish for us to continue the treatment?"
Dean nodded because why wouldn't he. Doctor Alicia slipped him a paper to sign.
"Please sign it then. It states that you give your permission to start the treatment of your slave. And you agree to bear the expenses. If you disagree to pay the treatment charges, the slave will be released to the government, and subsequently back to the training center. Resulting in an immediate termination of your ownership."
Dean thought about it for a second. He hadn't wanted a slave angel. But now that he had been given one, and it had gotten ill under his roof. He couldn't give it up. He signed the paper, giving the doctor the go-ahead to start the treatment and his acceptance of bearing any charges associated with the said treatment.
For the first time since making his acquaintance, the doctor face relaxed, but it was only minutely. Dean still counted it in his favor until the doctor began speaking again.
"What's the slave's name?"
At Dean's silence, Alicia grew stony faced once again and shook her head. "You don't know." It was a fact and not a question. Dean felt his face burning with shame for some reason. He hadn't bothered to know the name of his slave. But he knew the angel must have a name. Everyone did.
The doctor didn't say anything and instead turned to leave. Dean stopped her by asking,
"How long will it have to stay here?"
"'HE', Mr. Winchester." The doctor corrected him curtly. So she shared the same open mindset his brother had that said 'everyone should be treated the same'. Good to know.
"And to answer your question, he would have to stay here for two days at least. He needs to rest and have some food in his body."
Dean nodded and watched her move away toward the double doors at the end of the ER that opened to the examination rooms.
When Alicia reluctantly gave Dean the go-ahead to meet the angel, Castiel, as she told him the angel's name was. He was, for some reason, almost nervous. He didn't know why that was.
Castiel was lying on the hospital bed with an IV hooked on his arm. He looked pale. Dean realized he was using 'he' for the angel, but he didn't know whether it was because of his own violation or the stern talking doctor. He couldn't disagree that it was better to know the name of the angel instead of just calling him 'angel' or an 'it' in his head.
Castiel's eyes were closed when Dean entered the room, but they opened the moment Dean took a seat on the chair by his hospital bed. It wasn't possible, but somehow, the angel had gotten more pale when his eyes landed on Dean.
Dean watched, horrified as Castiel shot up from the hospital bed, paying no regard to the IV hooked on his arm and instead dropped on a kneeling position on the cold floor by Dean's feet.
"I am sorry, master. I have caused you trouble and wasted your time. Please forgive this slave..."
"Castiel"
His voice was lost in the litany of apologies falling from the slave's mouth. So, Dean had to raise his voice to be heard.
"Castiel!"
Castiel stilled but remained with his forehead touching the floor by Dean's feet.
"The last place you need to be with your permission is on a cold floor! On the bed you go."
Castiel got to his feet shakily, flinching away from Dean when Dean tried to help him on the bed. But that choice to climb the bed on his own was taken away from him when a sudden dizzying spell hit him. Dean helped the angel on the bed. Castiel tried to get in a kneeling position once he was on the bed, but Dean thwarted it by pushing him firmly to lay on his back.
Dean took his own seat once again. He could see the tremors running through Castiel's body. He was sure it was his presence that was causing them and not the pneumonia. But he needed some answers before he could leave.
"Castiel, I want to ask you some questions. Answer me honestly."
"Yes, master." Castiel squeaked out, his voice trembling with nerves. He shivered when Dean said his name because it was the first time he was hearing Dean call him by anything that wasn't another version of the word 'pet angel'.
"The doctor said you have dehydration and weakness. She thinks you haven't eaten or drink anything in days. The only reason you are not dead yet is because you are not human. Is the doctor correct?"
When Castiel remained silent, Dean prodded, "You will not be punished whatever your answer may be."
"The doctor is correct, master."
Dean exhaled roughly through his nose. He pressed a hand against his forehead to thwart an incoming headache. What was Castiel trying to do by not eating? Staging a rebellion or a protest? Committing suicide, may be?
"Why's that?" His voice came out more sharp than he intended it to be.
"Master didn't give his slave the permission to eat. There was no angel kibble in the master's kitchen."
Dean's mouth dropped open in disbelief. Of all the reasons he had thought. It was because of, because he hadn't given him permission? Permission to eat?! When Dean had his meals and Castiel wasn't around, he used to think the slave had already eaten or perhaps taken his food to his room. But he had starving while Dean stuffed his face every day.
He didn't know what to do. He slapped his forehead and sighed.
Castiel startled on the bed beside him when he raised a hand to rub through his hair.
"If I forgot to, to give you permission to eat. You could have come to me." His voice was accusatory. It couldn't be helped.
"A slave is never supposed to speak without permission, master. And a slave never asks for anything. "
The explanation was given by rote as if he had repeated the same sentences to him over and over again. An unpleasant twinge arose somewhere inside Dean, uncomfortably at the place where his heart was.
"Before I forget, I am giving you the permission to eat, Castiel. Whenever you feel like it."
Castiel's face twisted in confusion, but he blurted out a quiet,
"Yes, master."
"You are going to stay here for today, and I think tomorrow too. I am going to pick up your angel food and some clothes because I am guessing you don't have those either?"
"No, master."
Castiel's eyes were drooping shut, but he was forcing himself to remain at attention. Dean let out a soft sigh and placed a hand on the angel's arm, squeezing it slightly and ignoring the small flinch, he whispered,
"Close your eyes and rest, Castiel. "
After leaving the hospital, Dean was driving to the nearest mall to buy food and clothes for Castiel. He was just parking the car in the parking lot when his phone rang. A grimaced colored his face when he read the name of the person calling him.
Out of any other options, he picked up the call because the last thing he needed right now was for Sam to drop by his place to check up on him since it wasn't the first time his little brother had called him today.
"Dean, where the hell have you been?"
Sam demanded as soon as Dean had the phone pressed against his ear.
Dean sighed before answering, "At the hospital."
He winced when Sam began yelling on the other end, "What?! Are you alright? What happened? Which hospital are you at?"
"Breathe, Sam. It ain't me. It's the angel, Castiel. "
Sam released a relieved breath, causing a slight smile to tug up at his lips.
"That isn't good either, Dean. You have had him for what, five days? What happened?"
Dean took a deep breath and released it, spilling out everything about Castiel's condition and the doctor diagnosis to Castiel's reasons for not eating.
Sam sighed, and his voice held a note of disappointment when he spoke. It irked Dean. He hated it when he wasn't on good terms with his brother. It was one of the only reasons he had given his blessings to Sam to mate with that Gabriel.
"You didn't notice him not eating for five days ?"
"Sammy, I thought he had his meals in his room, or he just ate before me."
"Dean, he's a slave. He can not eat before you for the fear of being punished."
Sam said, exasperated.
"How was I supposed to know that? I have never had a slave before. I told you I didn't want one either. But you and your pet didn't listen to me!"
"He's not my pet, Dean. He's my mate, and his name is Gabriel." Sam snapped at him with the air of someone who had had this same argument many times before.
"Besides, I didn't know you hated angels this much. But please, whatever you do, do not send him back to the training facility. Send him to me if you don't want him. Please, Dean."
"Sam, I already paid for his treatment, and I am not sending him back." Dean argued back. Almost reluctantly, he continued, "He can stay with me." His curiosity got the best of him, and he asked, "What's so bad about the training center, anyway?"
"Just Google it yourself. You will find out the horror stories of that place." Sam paused and then said almost tentatively, "Dean, I also don't agree with the destruction the angels had caused on humanity. But I think the humans have taken their revenge. All the angels are not the same. If there are some evil angels, then there are some good ones, too."
"You don't get to hate the entire garrison of angels. Hey, you know people like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer exists but it doesn't mean you hate the entire humanity because of the actions of few evil humans."
Dean paused to think about that. When he remained silent for a few more moments, Sam's quiet voice rang out on the other side, calling his name.
"I gotta go, Sammy. Talk to you later."
"Okay. Just call me if you need anything."
Dean hung up without saying anything. Against his better judgment, he did end up searching for training facilities for angels, which were set up and operated by the government. After only ten minutes, he closed several web pages he had opened and slammed his phone face down on the leather seat beside him.
It wasn't enough to erase the pictures that he had seen on the internet and the ones that had formed in his head after reading about the training facilities. The way the angels were abused there physically and sexually in the name of training them to serve humanity, the way they were beaten black and blue, the way they were starved, and exposed to harsh weather conditions without being given any clothing to protect themselves against the cold, was enough to make him barf his insides out.
How the hell did Dean have been so ignorant up until now? He hated angels because of what happened to his mom and dad, but what was happening to the angels now by the humans wasn't something he approved of. The treatment of the angels to mold them into perfect slaves was nothing but a barbaric practice that needed to be stopped. No wonder people were raising their voices against the enslavement of these celestial species all around the world. No wonder more and more rallies were organized in America and all around the world to raise the awareness of the horrors the angels had to suffer.
Dean rubbed his face with both hands. He sighed shakily and released a long breath. He didn't know what to do, but his view of the angels had shifted. He left his car in the parking lot and entered the mall, eager to do just what he came here to do and be back inside his home.
There were many shops in the mall that sold angel supplies, but he entered the first shop he saw that was just to the side of the entrance with the name 'Angels 101'.
As soon as he entered the shop, a young man with the name tag Alex greeted him.
"Good afternoon, sir. My name is Alex. I am happy to help you in whatever way you need."
"I want some clothes for my angel. He's about 5'8."
"What kind of clothes would you like? We have fancy -"
"Just regular angel clothes would do."
Alex's smile tightened, but he didn't say anything and guided him to a corner of the store that housed angel apparel. Dean moved forward toward a rack of clothes on display. He touched the fabric of the tunics and frowned when his fingers met the course and rough clothes.
"What type of fabric is used in making these? It's like touching sandpaper." Dean expressed his dislike by glaring at the dull display of the tunics. The tunics were all off-white and cheap and so unappealing that they couldn't even be used for animals. He had never seen his brother's angel in this type of clothing. Gabriel always wore brightly colored tunics that looked like as if they were made of rich silks.
When he expressed his displeasure with the clothes and instead demanded some clothing made in rich fabrics, he reasoned with himself that he wasn't doing it for Castiel. But he was doing it for himself. If a slave wore rich clothes, it would be reflected upon his image in a good way in the eyes of the public.
Alex's bright smile lit up his whole face, and Dean ended up purchasing tunics in an array of rich colors, and though the clothes were expensive. They were made in spider silk, which was very soft to the touch, and the fabric had kickass durability. Alex showered him with praises for his choice of clothing, citing that the angels had softer skins as compared to humans. He also assured Dean that his angel would be ecstatic to wear these clothes.
The next stop that Dean made was to the supermarket to pick up some food for Castiel. He didn't know exactly what Angel Kibble was, but maybe it was something that the angels liked to eat. He searched the aisles for angel kibble. But when he finally found it, it was if his stomach dropped at the sight of the plain rough oatmeal sold in plastic packaging.
The oatmeal was one of the lowest qualities Dean had ever seen. Hell, the pet food looked more appetizing than the oatmeal, which was sold on the shelves next to the angel kibble.
There was no flavor or anything to it. No way in hell he was buying that shit. He ended up doing grocery shopping instead. Castiel would eat the same food as Dean did.
Dean was at the hospital signing Castiel's discharge papers. In all the time that Castiel had stayed here, Dean had only visited him once. After his little research on the lives of angels, he had needed some time for himself. Besides, Castiel tried to kneel by his feet whenever they were in the same room, so it was better for all if Dean stayed away.
He had just scribbled his name on the last sheet of the discharge papers when a harried looking nurse ran toward him.
"Mr. Winchester, please come with me."
She dragged a confused Dean toward Castiel's room. The room looked as if a small hurricane had taken place inside of it. Doctor Alicia had a worried expression on her face, and she was kneeling on the floor by the hospital bed talking to someone who had presumably hidden himself under it.
"Mr. Winchester, it's good that you are here. Please talk to Castiel and explain to him that you are not sending him back to the training facility, but you are taking him home with you."
Oh, so that's why his slave was hiding under the bed. He nodded and took the doctor's position on the floor by the bed as she moved away to stand by the door.
Castiel's eyes were wide and filled with tears. He was hunched into a ball under the bed. He was looking so small and pitiful that the sight of him caused his heart to clench.
"Castiel, I am not sending you back." No way in hell, not after reading the horrors of that place. God, no. "You are coming to my home with me. Doctor Alicia is right. But to do that, you have to come out of your hiding place." Dean had managed to make his normally rough voice to soften somehow.
Castiel's eyes were on the floor, but after a moment, he released a shaky sigh.
"Yes, master."
He climbed out from under the bed.
"Be careful not to bump your head on the bed railing."
When Dean turned toward the doctor, she was watching him with the gentlest expression that Dean had ever seen on her face since making her acquaintance.
Dean blushed for some reason and turned toward Castiel to avoid looking at her.
"Just change out of these hospital clothes, and then we are ready to go." He gestured to the bag he had brought with him that contained one of the tunic he had bought.
They stepped out of the room to give him some privacy to change.
"Mr. Winchester, you are free to take him home. I have to make some rounds, so I will be taking my leave." Dean shook the hands with the doctor and offered her a nod and a smile.
"Take care of Castiel. "
The doctor parted with those words.
When the door to the room opened and Castiel stepped out, it was like all air had left from the hospital lobby. The white tunic with the golden lining at the collar and sleeves that Dean had bought for him gave the angel an ethereal look. For the first time since bringing him home, Dean noticed his slave's features.
The downward crystal blue eyes, black mop of hair, red bow shapped lips, and golden brown skin made the angel attractive and gorgeous to look at. The fact he wasn't looking pale and unhealthy anymore, and was not wearing that thin and course tunic, only added to his appeal. How the hell Dean hadn't noticed all that before?
This time, Dean made Castiel sit in the passenger seat at the front of the car with him. The angel was huddled against the door with his eyes on his lap during the entire drive from the hospital.
When they reached Dean's place, Castiel tried to go into the kitchen to start on the preparation of lunch, but Dean stopped him.
"Oh no, you don't." Dean wagged his finger at Castiel before pointing to the breakfast stools set against the kitchen counter. "You can sit there while I make the lunch."
Castiel's eyes widened comically as if Dean had just told him the sky was green. "Master, it's my duty to take care of you and not the other way around. You don't need to make food if I am here, Master." It was the first time that Castiel had tried to protest against him. Even though his voice trembled so much at the end, it was hardly called a protestation.
"An angel also needs to obey his master at all the times. Correct, Castiel?"
"Yes, master."
"Then, take a seat here or go in your room and lie on the bed, not on the floor while I make us some lunch."
After a moment of hesitation, Dean noticed Castiel take a few tentative steps in the direction of the breakfast stools. He tried to put ths angel's mind at ease by not looking at him and instead focusing on the meal he was preparing. But when Castiel tried to kneel on the hardwood floor, Dean spoke up.
"You don't have to kneel, Cas. You can use any of the furniture I have here. Without permission. "
Castiel stopped his movements and instead looked at him with his head tilting to the side. He was looking like a confused little kid, and Dean hid a smile behind a cough. He was finding his angel adorable all of the sudden.
Dean prepared the whole meal with Castiel sitting nearby. He could feel the angel's eyes on him. But whenever Dean looked at him, Cas dropped his gaze. He liked the name Cas more than Castiel.
Once the meal was prepared, he let the angel set up the table. Because Cas looked like he would have an aneurysm if Dean didn't let him do something soon.
But when he plated only Dean's food, Dean took it upon himself to plate some for the angel and set it on the table in the space next to where Cas had prepared his plate.
"You are eating with me. So sit down and let's eat because I am starving. "
Cas looked so shocked and uncomfortable at his command that Dean had half the mind to take back his words. But the image of Castiel lying unconscious on the floor assaulted his mind. He remained firm in his decision to let the angel eat in front of him. He didn't want to end up in the same mess as before.
Dean watched with slight amusement as Castiel took his seat by the chair next to his. His movements were so slow as to put a snail to shame. He didn't start eating until Dean took his first bite, though. At first, the silence was tensed between them. But eventually, they lost themselves to eating. Dean didn't know what to talk about with the angel. He knew Castiel wouldn't speak first anyway. So they just had their meals.
Once they were finished eating, Castiel shot from the table gathering Dean's and his dirty dishes before Dean could order him no. He watched the angel place the dishes in the sink before rinsing them.
Cas had a tense look about him as he continued washing the dishes they had used from the lunch. Dean left him to it. Some battles couldn't be won. He didn't think ordering Cas otherwise would work now. The angel seemed to think he had to do something if he didn't want Dean to kick him out. It might have been true before, but after the tales of woe from the training facilities he had learned about, he won't send Cas back. No matter if the angel did or didn't do something right.
But once the dishes were clean and were left to dry on the kitchen counter, he put his foot down and ordered Cas to go and rest in his room. May be take a nap. The angel wanted to dry the dishes and put him back to where they belonged, but Dean assured him he could do that on his own. He had been doing it on his own before Cas came to leave with him.
Dean wasn't fooled in thinking that Cas returned to his room to have his ordered nap without throwing a pout in his direction. He chuckled to himself as he dried the dishes.
They followed the same routine at the time of dinner. Against Cas's protests, Dean prepared the meal, and Cas set up the table. He didn't plate the food for himself, but he did it for Dean, so Dean ended up returning the favor. They sat side by side eating their meals. In the end, Cas washed the dishes, and here, the routine changed.
Dean took his place at Cas's side with a washcloth in his hand to dry the dishes that Cas washed. Cas threw a disbelieving look at him, but Dean was undeterred. No one spoke for the entire evening, but the silence was slightly lesser tense than it had been at lunch. Once the dishes were clean and put to their respective places, Dean returned to his office telling Cas that he was free to watch some television or retire to his room, whatever he wanted.
The meal sharing and cleaning the dishes routine lasted for a week before Castiel approached him and shyly pointed out that he was well rested now and would like to return to making the meals if Dean so desired. Dean gave his permission because while his food tasted fine, but Cas's was out of this world.
But Dean refused to change anything about their earlier routine when it came to cleaning the dishes, though. Now, he cleaned them since Cas had prepared the food, and the angel helped dry them as he washed.
It was a comfortable routine, and Dean liked it. Cas prepared his breakfast that they shared together. The angel packed a lunch for him to take to the garage, and at lunchtime, Dean called the house phone to make sure Cas had had his lunch. In the evenings, they again shared a meal.
Dean was ready to admit, only to himself, that he loved this routine. He loved sharing his space with someone. They didn't talk like roommates or two people sharing a house did. They weren't at that stage, but he liked living with Castiel nonetheless. Every morning, the angel dressed in one of the tunics that Dean had bought for him, and each morning, he took his breath away.
Once, Dean had even complimented Cas that he looked gorgeous in a pale blue tunic that had embroidery done on its collar and sleeves. In response, Castiel had blushed so prettily that it had become a highlight of his day. Since then, he had made its habit to compliment Cas on his cooking or his looks, or on the gardening work he had one in the yard, or on any of the numerous things he did around the house just so Dean could see him blushing that beautiful shade of pink again.
A month passed before there came a change in their routine, a change that Dean liked very much.
It all started one evening, when they were done with the dinner and cleaning the dishes. Without thinking, Dean asked Cas if he had ever watched Die Hard before. To which the angel had shyly replied that he hadn't watched any television or movies before. And the rest had been history. Now, almost every day, unless Dean was working late in his garage, he had Cas sitting on the couch by him with a movie which was in his opinion a classic and Cas had to just watch it, playing on the television.
One evening, he was so tired from working in the garage that he didn't know how he had slept in the middle of watching Boogeyman with Cas.
But he woke up and found himself covered in a soft fleece blanket with his head pillowed on a couch cushion and Cas kneeling on the floor by his head and gazing at him with the softest expression he had ever seen on the angel's face. But when Cas noticed that he was awake, he blushed red and stammered a quick 'goodnight, master' before he practically dashed to his room. The television was providing a soft background noise in the otherwise silent house, and only Tara Benchley on the screen was the witness to the stupid and goofiest grin that etched on Dean's face in response to Cas's awkwardness.
It was only two months since Cas had come in Dean's life, but it felt longer somehow. Dean was smiling more and more every day, he laughed more and he enjoyed life more. The guys at the garage had asked him teasingly, who's the lucky woman or man hundreds of times already. But each time, Dean remained tight-lipped. He was falling for Castiel, and though angel and human mating were increasingly becoming more and more common with each passing day, there were some people who remained bigoted assholes.
He used to be one himself. He had protested wholeheartedly when his little brother had mated with Gabriel. But he liked to think of himself as a changed man. And he was lucky also. Not only was the world heading in the right direction, but the people whose opinion mattered the most to Dean weren't bigoted assholes. They were open-minded people who just wanted Dean to be happy. All the guys at the garage, while being large bulky dudes, were big'ol softies at heart, and they considered Dean a part of their family. Sam would be ecstatic if he heard Dean was falling for Cas.
So, it wasn't like he had to hide his relationship from the real world. It was just that he didn't want to force himself upon poor Cas. Cas still called him 'master', and if Dean kissed him or initiated any romantic relationship, the angel would see it as his duty toward his master for being a slave. Dean didn't want his relationship with Cas to be an obligation that the angel had to fulfill. He wanted Cas to want him on his own and free of any duty or obligations.
So, it was a dilemma that Dean was living with every day for a whole month. It was a problem, but he wouldn't trade it for the world.
He and Cas were currently in a supermarket doing grocery shopping to prepare a special dinner for Sam and Gabriel, seeing as they had invited themselves to their house. Sam had called earlier in the morning announcing that he would be dropping by for dinner with Gabriel today and had hung up the phone even before Dean could say a single word.
Cas had gone to the next aisle to look for some fresh vegetables and fruits while Dean filled the cart with some herbs and spices. He was contemplating over which brand of pickles jar to choose when a loud commotion broke out in the store.
He whipped his head toward the noise, seeing Castiel standing in the center of it all, with a man roughly yanking on the collar of his tunic. Dean's vision flashed red as the man raised his hand to strike his angel. Cas didn't try to fight off the man. He stood there powerless with fear and hid his face in his arm to block off the blow that was coming in his direction.
Dean dashed toward the scene, roughly shoving bystanders out of his way. Just as the man's hand was about to be connected with Castiel's face, he caught the man's wrist and inserted himself between the stranger and his angel.
"Don't you dare raise a hand on my angel." He growled, squeezing the man's hand for good measure. The man gritted his teeth but wrenched his hand from Dean's grip. Dean let him go. He felt fingers clutching his jacket and looked back at Cas, who was watching him with an unreadable look on his face.
"This slave of yours tried to hurt my kid!" The man yelled, and only then did Dean notice a boy no more than three standing by the man's side with tears running down his little chubby cheeks he clutched his father's pant with both hands.
Dean couldn't believe Cas of all people would hurt a kid. He didn't need to ask Cas what happened because he knew it was a misunderstanding.
"My angel wouldn't hurt a fly, much less a kid." Dean argued. By that time, the manager of the store had arrived, so Dean let his gaze shift from the irked father of the crying boy to the manager.
"You have surveillance cameras here. Right?" He pointed to the one directly across from them. It was flashing with a red light, which meant the camera was on and had recorded everything.
When the manager nodded, he said to the man, "Let's see for ourselves what happened. But if you are wrong, you will apologize to Castiel." He motioned at the angel huddled behind him.
The man sneered, "What if I am right, though? He tried to hurt my boy."
"Then, I will punish Castiel."
The man nodded after a second of consideration. Dean watched as the man signed something to his kid. So, the kid couldn't hear. Poor little guy.
The store manager, along with Dean, Castiel, and the man with his son in his arms, entered the back room where the monitors with the camera feeds were placed. Dean made sure to place himself between Cas and the irate man.
They watched as the manager pressed a few keys on one of the monitors. The footage from the camera in front of the fruits and vegetables aisle came into view on the monitor screen. The manager rewinded it to fifteen minutes.
On the screen, they could see Cas selecting some fruits and putting it in the cart. The little boy that was currently in his father's arms came alive on the screen. He was crying, and they watched as he approached Cas and tugged on his tunic.
In the footage, Cas turned, and the little boy signed something frantically to him, and Cas looked around, presumably searching for the boy's parents. But when the kid continued wailing and tugging at his tunic, the angel sighed before kneeling on the floor to be at the kid's level. The kid threw his arms around Cas, and Cas was rubbing the boy's back soothingly when the kid's father arrived.
His angel was about to stand with the little boy in his arms when the boy's father snatched his kid away from Cas and pushed the angel down on the floor before yanking him by his collar.
The manager closed the feed, and Dean turned toward the man with anger coloring his features. At least the man had the good grace to look contrite and embarrassed of his actions. It calmed Dean to some end.
"You should look after your kid better instead of throwing false accusations around." Dean couldn't help adding that. To his surprise, the man nodded his acceptance and, without prompting, turned toward Castiel and apologized.
"I apologize for wrongly assuming and blaming you for hurting my kid when you were doing complete opposite."
Castiel nodded at the man, but he was still trembling because of the incident. The man pulled out a card from his jean pocket and handed it to Dean.
"My name is James Carlson. I am a deputy sheriff at Prescott County. If you need any help in the future, give me a call. I owe you."
With that, the man left. So the guy wasn't an asshole just a worried father. But Dean was still pretty pissed at him for daring to raise his hand at his angel. He shoved the card in his pocket and turned to Cas.
Cas didn't give him a chance to say anything. He threw himself in Dean's arms. It was the first time his angel had initiated physical contact with or hell, any contact. And Dean wished it was in better circumstances. But he couldn't deny himself the fact that he enjoyed having Cas in his arms.
"Cas, it's alright. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Hell, I am proud of you for trying to help that poor kid."
The look that Cas directed at him once Dean released him was filled with so much adoration, respect, and something he couldn't quite put his finger on that was enough to take his breath away.
The manager cleared his throat somewhere behind them, and they left the backroom. Together, they completed the shopping, and by the time they reached home, the incident was mostly forgotten. But Cas kept throwing him these little looks as Dean helped him prepare dinner that he didn't know what to think of them.
When the doorbell rang, Cas was mostly back to being his quiet self. Though he seemed more contented. There was a tiny smile at the corner of his mouth that wouldn't leave his lips, and Dean wanted to trace it with his fingers to know if his lips were as soft as they looked.
Dean pulled himself together enough to move to the door to unlock it and welcome Sam and Gabriel inside. Cas accompanied him.
"Hey, man," Sam slapped him on the back in greeting. He offered Castiel a kind smile. But Dean noticed Cas become subdued as soon as Sam and Gabriel arrived. He frowned in confusion.
"How are you doing, Castiel?" Sam asked with a pleasant smile as he and Gabriel made their way inside.
Cas's eyes were once again directed on the floor as he answered Sam with a quiet, "I am fine, master Sam." He tried to kneel, but Sam stopped him even before Dean could. And it dawned on Dean that the reason for Castiel's discomfort was that he had never met Sam before. And he was likely unsure of how his brother would react toward him.
"You can call me, Sam. And there is no need to kneel or anything."
"Cas, by the end of this evening, you will realize that Sam's one of the kindest people to be around." Dean quietly whispered in his angel's ear before he decided to surprise the hell out of Sam and his mate by extending a hand in greeting toward Gabriel.
"How's your baking coming along, Gabriel?"
Gabriel looked shocked, but after a moment, he returned his handshake with a wide smile. It was the first time Dean had called him by his name and initiated any contact at all. He didn't miss Sam's beaming smile either. It made him guilty as fuck. If the roles were reversed and Sam wouldn't agree with his choice of a partner, he would be hurt. He didn't realize until now how much it meant to his brother that he be nice to Gabriel.
He vowed to himself that he would try to be a brother-in-law to Gabriel. He would try to create a friendship of sorts. Gabriel had never been afraid of him before. He had always been a feisty little thing. And the dislike that Dean had held for his brother's angel had been mutual. But Gabriel held his tongue around him for the sake of Sam. And Dean tried to do the same. But things would have to change now.
"It's going awesome! Now I know how to make about fifteen different types of cakes and pastries. Oh, I almost forgot." Gabriel was positively vibrating with excitement as he shoved a Tupperware container toward Dean. "It's your favorite apple pie! I made it myself and I hope you like it."
Dean accepted the box with a smile and thanked the other angel. May be they could become friends after all.
"You are not that bad. May be. I am holding my judgment until I taste it, though." He replied with a teasing grin, and Gabriel and Sam laughed. Cas just smiled sweetly at him. Dean was sure that that smile of his angel would taste sweeter than any pie in the world.
They gathered in the living room and took a seat on the couch. Cas went to the kitchen and returned with bottles of beer for everyone. Everyone but himself. So, Dean took it upon himself to get a glass of sparkling water for his angel. It had come up in conversation previously that Castiel didn't like to drink alcohol of any kind.
When he returned to the living room and passed the glass to Cas, he noticed Gabriel winking at his angel and Cas blushing prettily as he accepted the glass from Dean's hand with a quiet, "Thank you, master." But his angel was smiling, that cute little smile of his, so everything was fine. Dean patted the spot on the couch next to him, and Cas took a seat hesitantly as if he was afraid that any moment someone would object to him sitting on the furniture and not on the floor.
So, it was only natural that Dean scooted closer to Cas such that their thighs were touching. He pretended to ignore the little exhale Cas let out when he placed his hand on the angel's knee casually. Cas didn't scoot away, and after a moment, he relaxed to Dean's touch.
Dean turned a blind eye to the looks that Sam and Gabriel were shooting at him and Cas from their perch on the love seat across them. Even though there was plenty of space on the furniture for two people to sit comfortably, Gabriel chose to sit in his brother's lap. Dean rolled his eyes, but not unkindly, at the cheesy way they were drinking from the same bottle.
"These two love to behave like teenagers on their first date."
He said to Cas, who was watching Sam and Gabriel with something akin to envy on his pretty face. But it vanished the moment Dean spoke, and then Cas turned toward him with a smile on his face. But he was left to ponder why Cas would be jealous of his brother and his mate?
The conversation flowed smoothly for a while. Sam asked about the garage, and Dean replied and countered it with a question about Sam's work. Sam was a lawyer and the proud owner of his own law firm. He didn't elaborate much but said he was working on a pro bono case. Sometimes, Dean was ridiculously proud of the kid. His brother had a heart of gold.
Gabriel thought the same and pressed a chaste kiss to Sam's lips. The angel had a look of pure devotion and love as his eyes met Sam's. Beside Dean, Cas's eyes widened as he watched the open display of affection. His angel had an intense look about him as he regarded Sam and Gabriel.
The conversation moved from work to Gabriel's baking. Sam's angel had the biggest sweet tooth, and he could not go a single day without eating something sugary. When Gabriel asked if Cas knew how to bake, and Cas shook his head, it led to Gabriel offering to teach Cas. Cas turned to him in askance, and when Dean nodded without hesitation, it earned him beaming smiles from both angels.
Tentatively, Cas inquired Gabriel if he knew anything about gardening. It was the first time his angel had spoken on his own instead of just answering others' questions. Dean was immensely proud of his angel. He knew how big of a deal it was to Cas.
"No, I don't." Gabriel pouted and shook his head.
"I can teach you if you like?" Cas quietly offered, and a wide grin split across the other angel's face.
His angel was so modest that Dean took it upon himself to show Sam and Gabriel the work Cas had done on their backyard. Cas received praises from both Sam and his angel. Gabriel wrapped himself around Cas and practically begged his angel to come and save his and Sam's backyard at their place.
"You are a genius, Castiel. You have to visit our place and do your magic on our yard, too! Please!"
Cas blushed, he was softly laughing at Gabriel's antics and nodding his head.
"When I come for my baking lessons, I will see your yard and help you in any way I can."
At that, Gabriel offered Castiel an enthusiastic hug.
Soon, the conversation died down, and they all were settled at the dining table with a plate of piping hot Italian in front of each of them. Castiel offered to serve them dinner and received more praises on the first bite. Dinner was a comfortable affair. It was different from any dinner he had had with his brother after he had announced his mating with Gabriel.
Dean loved the sense of family, love, and support that was in the air around him. He rolled his eyes when Gabriel offered Sam a piece of pasta from his own fork. He looked to Cas at his side, to again tease how ridiculously in love those two were. But again, he found an expression of envy, this time mixed with longing on his angel's face. He frowned and nudged Cas with his arm, and when Cas looked at him, the intensity in his eyes took Dean's breath away. But it was there and gone in a second.
Dinner ended, and Gabriel offered his help with the cleanup to Castiel. He practically shoved Dean and Sam out of the kitchen.
"We need to talk in private. I want to know my new friend better without you two hovering around. Go! Shoo!"
He waved them away. So, Dean took two beer bottles out of his fridge, he offered one to Sam, and he and his brother settled themselves out on the patio.
"How's life going with Castiel?"
Sam asked with a glint in his eyes as he took his bottle back from Dean after his big brother had opened the bottle for him with the silver ring he wore on his finger.
"It's good." Dean answered evasively as he opened his own bottle and took a large sip.
"You call him Cas. I noticed. So what, we are already at the nickname stage? What does he call you?"
Dean grimaced when he answered, "He calls me 'Master'. You have heard him."
Sam frowned, "But I thought that was just before us because he was afraid or something." Sam had a confused look on his face before realization dawned on him.
"Oh..."
"Yes." Dean answered curtly.
"You like him, and you want him to like you, too? But I am guessing you don't know how to go about that."
"Bingo, Sammy!"
Dean exclaimed with a sigh.
"How long have you known that you like him?"
"About a month or so?"
Sam nodded, but there was a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. "You want my advice?"
"What do you think, college boy?" Dean snarked and got a punch on the shoulder for his trouble.
Sam rolled his eyes and said, "Just talk to him."
"It's not easy, Sam. I don't want him to agree to be in a relationship with me out of some sick duty or obligation he feels towards me. I want him to genuinely like me."
Sam had a knowing look in his eyes and fond exasperated note in his voice when he said, "Trust me, that won't be a problem. Your angel, Castiel loves you too."
"What?! How do you know that?"
Dean was beyond shocked. There was no way that Castiel liked him, even love him as Sam was saying. But Sam didn't provide him with an explanation for that idiotic theory of his, and instead steered them both back inside the house.
Their entrance remained unnoticed by the two angels who were now lounging on the couch in the middle of a conversation.
Castiel was saying something, and it was the first time Dean had heard his angel's voice become so animated. He was saying,
"Master Dean saved me today at the supermarket. He just came in between me and a man who was about to hit me. The man misunderstood me for hurting his kid. But my master was so brave! He saved me and proved my innocence, too."
The expression on his face was of someone completely besotted. And Dean let himself believe for the first time ever, that may be there was a chance that what Sam said might be true.
"You like living here? With Dean?"
Gabriel inquired quietly. They were both sipping tea that Dean had started buying for his angel. Once he noticed that, Cas had an affinity toward them, and he didn't like to drink coffee.
"I love living here! My master takes wonderful care of me. He buys tea for me, though he doesn't even like them himself. He knows I don't drink alcohol that's why we have sparkling water. He helps me clean up after breakfast and dinner. He calls me every afternoon to ask if I have eaten my lunch or not. He buys me nice and expensive clothes that are so soft it's like touching a cloud." Castiel was speaking a mile a minute, his voice tinged with warmth, and his eyes were sparkling as he talked about Dean.
"He praises my cooking and my looks. He calls me gorgeous." He blushed prettily at that. Dean made a mental note to call him that more often.
"So, you enjoy staying here?" Gabriel asked the same question again, but his eyes met Dean's above Castiel's head. So, the angel had noticed their arrival but had chosen to stay silent. While Castiel was yet to notice Sam and Dean since he was seated with his back facing the entrance of the living room.
"I love living here. I love Dean."
Castiel's mouth dropped open with shock once he realized just what he had confessed. While Dean had to stop his heart from jumping out of his chest. He vaguely heard Gabriel saying something along the lines of 'my work is done here', but he couldn't be sure as his eyes were fixated on Cas who was blushing so hard, Dean feared he might burst with it. He was so shocked he didn't even register that it was the first time Cas had taken his name and hadn't attached 'master' to it.
In a whirlwind, Gabriel shot up from the couch and tugged Sam out of the house, yelling he was tired, and they should do the dinner the next weekend at his and Sam's place. The door shut behind them, and the house was completely silent. No one said anything, Cas was avoiding looking at him while Dean was so happy he wanted to dance around the house and shout his happiness for the world to hear.
Suddenly, Cas got up and ran toward his room, shutting the door behind him. Dean decided to give his angel sometime and instead went to the kitchen to bring out the pie Gabriel had brought for dessert. He and Sam had left in such a hurry that they didn't even stay for dessert.
Call him optimistic, but he took the Tupperware box to Castiel's room with only one spoon. He wanted to feed his angel and be fed by him in turn. Now that he was sure that Cas loved him.
In the privacy of his living room, Dean did a dorky little dance full of shaking his booty and all before clearing his throat. He couldn't stop smiling!
He knocked on his angel's door with pie in his hands and a goofy grin firmy in place. Cas opened the door but didn't meet his eyes. He was still blushing all the way down to his toes.
Dean entered the room and placed the pie on the bedside table. He turned toward his angel, who was sitting on the bed. It was a testament to how far they had come that Castiel didn't immediately shoot to his feet in attention as soon as Dean entered the room. He took a seat by Cas and turned the angel's face toward him by placing the tip of his finger underneath the angel's chin.
Cas shivered from his touch but allowed Dean to turn his face.
"You love me?"
Dean asked quietly even though he already knew the answer. He wanted to hear it from his angel's mouth for himself.
Cas searched his eyes before a look of determination spread through his own, and he replied with a trembling voice.
"I love you, master."
In answer, a trembling smile spread across Dean's face.
"I love you too, my angel. I have been in love with you for a while now. But I always feared that if I said something about it, then you would say 'yes' out of some sense of duty you feel toward me. And not because you reciprocate my feelings." He finally let his fingers touch the lips he had been dying to touch for over a month now.
"I love you, master. While I am grateful for the kindness and support you have shown me. But I don't love you because of that. I love you because I like my master very much."
Cas broke eye contact with him. Dean had his heart in his throat. He had to clear his throat before he could say anything.
"Then you should stop calling me 'Master'. I want us to have a relationship in which we both stand on equal footing. "
Cas looked at him and then flashed him the brightest smile he had ever received from the angel.
"Okay, Dean."
Dean shivered at the sound of his name from those sinful lips. He couldn't resist reaching forward and tasting Castiel's lips with his own. It was like an electric shock went through his system the moment his lips touched with his angel's.
Dean was no virgin. But that was the most earth-shattering kiss he had ever had. When they came up for air, he noticed how red Cas's lips looked. He couldn't resist himself from diving in for another sweet kiss. Castiel reciprocated enthusiastically, but his kisses were still hesitant, and he kissed as if Dean was his first. May be he was for the angel, and that thought was enough to make him hard. He groaned the second time they came up for air.
Cas was watching him through his thick lashes and with a happy grin tugging at his kiss swollen lips.
"Dean, I have been in love with you for some time as well." He quietly explained.
"When did you know?" Dean couldn't resist asking.
"I knew I felt something more than what a slave was supposed to feel for his master, the first time you invited me to watch a movie with you. Then, it was just the little things you did that increased my fondness for you."
"All those things that you told Gabriel?"
Dean asked with a teasing voice that made Cas blush, but he nodded.
"But I knew it was love when you came to my rescue today at the store."
"I am so happy, Cas. You have no idea. I love Sam, but I have always envied him for what he shared with Gabriel. Now that I have the same opportunity to share my life with someone who loves me and whom I love, I can't believe it."
Cas smiled before a troubled look crossed his face. Hesitantly, he asked Dean. "I know humans hate us for the destruction we caused to humanity. But forgive me if I am wrong, but your hatred always seemed more deep and personal. "
Dean picked Castiel's hand in his, sliding his fingers between those of his angel as he thought of what to say.
"I don't hate you, Castiel. But you are right. My hatred for the angels had been personal. It is because I lost both of my parents in the fight between angels and humanity when I was just a kid. We were raised by my uncle. Sam was only six months old, and I four when we became orphans. I don't remember my parents well, and Sammy doesn't at all. But Bobby, my uncle, says that they loved us a lot."
"But I have learned a lot since. Like all humans aren't the same, all the angels aren't either. It's time that we move on."
Cas squeezed his fingers before bringing his hand to his mouth and kissing each of his knuckles. He didn't say anything because there wasn't anything to say. Dean loved him a little more when he didn't try to offer Dean pity.
"When I saw the love that your brother and Gabriel shared today, I longed to have something like that for myself. I didn't expect the night to end the way it did. But I can not be happier. I will be forever grateful to Sam for bringing me from that facility and giving me a life and a place to call home with someone who loves me and whom I love with all my heart."
Dean couldn't resist kissing Castiel again. The pie laid forgotten on the bedside table as they made out with each other. Each kiss shared came with a promise of a future filled with happiness and joy.
He couldn't wait for that bill to pass in the parliament that would allow him to legally claim Castiel as his partner for the world to know. But for now, this had to be enough. Dean Winchester was the happiest man alive from that night onwards. Because he fell for an angel.