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“Dean Winchester.” Dean stated clearly when the optometrist receptionist asked his name.
Health care wasn’t exactly high on his agenda – he’d expected to be dead long before getting old was a problem, but after he had caught Cas squinting his newly human eyes at his phone, he had agreed to tag along for Castiel’s first visit to the eye doctor. Dean wasn’t getting any younger either, as Sam had so helpfully pointed out, so here they were, probably both about to be saddled with glasses.
“And what’s your name sweetie?” The kindly woman, probably in her 60s enquired of Castiel.
“My name is Castiel.” He replied politely, giving her a slightly pained grin.
“Ok hunny, and what’s your last name?”
Castiel paused. “Um, I’m, well it’s um, I don’t really, um. It’s- “
“Winchester” Dean cut in without hesitation, not even looking up from his phone to acknowledge the woman was still present.
The receptionist noted it down on her clipboard. Looking at the pair smooshed up together on one too-small couch, you could almost hear her mind whirring - while the two men in front of her were both undeniably good looking, they also looked nothing alike. One was fairer haired, freckled, with a little bit of pink on his face where the Kansas sun had obviously caught the high points of his cheekbones. The other was darker and effortlessly tanned in that way that really only a more olive skin tone can pull off. Not brothers she surmised and made the obvious next guess.
“Oh, that’s lovely,” she gushed “how long have you two darlins been together?” Castiel glanced quickly to the man sitting at his side. He’d immediately caught the assumption in her tone, but he wasn’t sure if Dean had done the same. He was soon certain that he had not when, without pausing Dean quipped back “11 years”, still absent mindedly scrolling his phone.
“Oh congratulations!” She exclaimed, “that’s a great achievement for any couple! You sit tight and I’ll get you boys in to see the doc as soon as I can.”
Dean’s head suddenly snapped up as he finally processed her departing comment.
Faced only with her departing back. Dean shrugged and looked back down at his phone.
After a few moments Dean realised that Cas hadn’t spoken in a while. Before the receptionist had come over, he’d been rambling on about bees or something, but he certainly wasn’t now. Dean looked up at his companion beside him. Cas was sitting ramrod straight, his hands awkwardly placed on his knees and staring straight ahead. His eyes were almost comically wide like a deer in headlights.
“Cas? You ok buddy? It’s just an eye exam.”
Roused by Dean’s concern. Cas tilted his head to look up at his friend.
“Dean. The receptionist. I think she thought we were together Dean. Like together, together. Married.”
“So?” Dean’s expression was unreadably neutral, so Castiel continued undeterred.
“I thought that might make you uncomfortable.”
“Does it make you uncomfortable Cas?” Dean flicked off his phone screen and spun it in his hand much like he might a blade.
“Well, no Dean.” Castiel twisted slightly in his seat to look directly at Dean. “I think you know how I feel Dean, but we never, you know. We didn’t speak of it again after my return from the Empty.”
“Ok. Good then.” Dean opened his phone again, recommencing scrolling. “Although now you mention it, I guess it is a bit backward. If we’re going to be letting people assume we’re married, you should at least take me out on a date first.”
“Oh.” Castiel’s jaw dropped, gaping wordlessly, studying the side of Dean’s face as he continued on his damn phone. “Oh. Sure. Okay Dean. Yeah. We could do that.”
“Okay good. Let’s do that.” Dean nodded to himself.
“Good.”
“Okay that’s settled then.” Dean finally looked up from his phone, working his jaw and turning to face Castiel fully. “Oh, and Cas. Me too man. me too.”