Work Text:
Dean adjusted the straps of the bag slung over his shoulder, glancing at Charlie as they walked down the quiet street. "Alan really couldn’t have waited until tomorrow for those part ?" he grumbled, though there was no real heat in his tone.
Charlie chuckled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "You know how he is. When it’s about the team, it’s ‘urgent.’ Besides, it’s not like we had anything else planned."
Dean shrugged, conceding the point. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the air was warm but not uncomfortable. As they rounded the corner, Dean spotted a familiar figure standing stiffly in front of a large tree, arms crossed and brow furrowed.
"Is that… Kim ?" Dean asked, squinting.
Charlie followed his gaze and nodded. "Yeah, looks like it. What’s he doing ? Staring down a tree ?"
They exchanged a quick glance before approaching cautiously. Kim didn’t seem to notice them at first, too engrossed in whatever had caught his attention. His usually composed demeanor was replaced by an expression of deep confusion mixed with mild frustration.
"Hey," Dean called out softly, trying not to startle him. "Everything okay ?"
Kim turned sharply, his piercing eyes locking onto them. For a moment, he looked almost annoyed at the interruption, but then his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Dean. Charlie," he acknowledged with a nod.
"What’s going on ?" Charlie asked, tilting his head curiously toward the tree. "Did it insult you or something ?”
Kim’s lips twitched, though it was hard to tell if it was from amusement or irritation. He held up his hand, displaying a small but noticeable bite mark on his palm. “The little devil is stuck in there,” he said dryly, gesturing toward the hollow in the tree trunk. “I tried to help it out, but it decided I was the enemy.”
Dean stepped closer, peering down into the shadowy opening. Sure enough, a pair of beady eyes glinted back at him, accompanied by a faint chittering noise. The raccoon was wedged tightly, its fluffy tail flicking in agitation.
“Oh, poor thing,” Dean murmured. “It’s just scared.”
Charlie joined him, adjusting his glasses again as he leaned in. “Aw, it look just like you.”
Dean shot Charlie a sharp look, his cheeks flushing slightly. “What ? No, it doesn’t !”
Charlie grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, Dean. Look at those big, round eyes. The fluffy little face. The way it’s all panicked but still kind of cute. And it also like to bite people, just like you !”
Dean huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I wouldn’t try to bite you if you stopped patting me on the head," he muttered, his voice tinged with mock indignation.
Charlie smirked, reaching out to ruffle Dean’s hair despite the protest. “But you’re cute. What am I supposed to do ? Resist ?”
Dean swatted his hand away, his cheeks flushing even deeper. “I’m older than you, you know. Show some respect.”
Charlie laughed, clearly unfazed. “Age is just a number when you’re this adorable.”
Kim watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by their bickering. "Are you two done ?" he asked dryly. "Or should I leave you to your little moment while I figure out how to free this raccoon ?"
Charlie perked up at that. “Alright ! Let’s save the raccoon that looks like Dean !”
Dean groaned, rolling his eyes. “Why do you keep saying that ? It doesn’t look like me !”
Kim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if already regretting their involvement. “Focus,” he said firmly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. “It’s too high for it to climb out on its own,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “And it’s too deep for me to reach in without getting bitten again.”
Charlie crouched down, extending his hand toward the raccoon. "Hey there, little buddy," he cooed, his voice soft and soothing. "Let’s get you out of here, yeah ?"
The raccoon’s eyes narrowed, and before Charlie could even blink, it lunged forward with a sharp hiss, snapping at his fingers. Charlie yelped, jerking his hand back just in time to avoid another bite.
"Okay, okay ! Not a fan of me, I get it," Charlie said, holding his hands up in surrender as he stood up. He glanced at Dean with a sheepish grin. "Your doppelgänger’s feisty."
Dean shot him a glare but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at his lips. Kim sighed, stepping forward again. "Clearly, it doesn’t trust you," he said, nodding toward Dean. "You try."
Dean hesitated for a moment before crouching down in front of the hollow. He reached out slowly, his voice gentle as he spoke to the raccoon. "Hey, it’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you. Let us help."
The raccoon tilted its head slightly, its beady eyes studying Dean intently. After a tense moment, it let out a soft chitter and shuffled closer, its movements cautious but no longer aggressive. Dean carefully slid his hands around it, lifting it gently from the hollow. The raccoon clung to him but didn’t resist, its tiny claws gripping his jacket as if seeking comfort.
"See ? Told you," Charlie said with a triumphant grin, crossing his arms over his chest. "You’ve got raccoon whisperer vibes. Or maybe it just recognizes its own kind."
Dean rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small, proud smile that tugged at his lips as he cradled the raccoon carefully. "Shut up, Charlie," he muttered, though there was no real bite to it. He turned his attention back to the little creature, gently stroking its fur as it began to relax in his hold.
Kim watched the scene with a faint smirk, clearly amused by the dynamics between the two. "Well, now that you’ve got it out, what’s the plan? You’re not keeping it, are you ?"
Dean frowned, looking down at the raccoon nestled against him. "I mean...there is no raccoon in Thailand, so it was probably abandoned, I can’t just leave it here. What if something happens to it ?"
Charlie clapped him on the shoulder. "Dean, you are not adopting a raccoon."
"Why not ?" Dean protested, his voice rising slightly in defense. "It’s not like we can just abandon it !"
Kim sighed again, rubbing his temples as if already foreseeing the chaos this decision might bring. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But if P’ Alan or Babe find out about this, it’s your problem, not mine."
Charlie grinned, clearly enjoying the situation far too much. "Oh, I can’t wait to see P’Alan’s face when he finds out you brought home a raccoon. He’s gonna lose it."
Dean ignored him, too busy cooing softly at the raccoon, which was now nuzzling into his chest as if it had already claimed him as its new owner. "You’re safe now," Dean murmured, his voice almost embarrassingly tender. "We’ll figure something out, okay ?"
Charlie snorted, shaking his head. "You’re such a softie, Dean. You know that, right?"
Dean didn’t respond, too focused on the raccoon in his arms. The little creature seemed to sense his affection and let out a soft chitter, its tiny paws kneading at his shirt.
"Alright," Kim interjected, clearly ready to move on from the raccoon drama. "Now that we’ve solved that crisis, what are we doing ?”
Charlie glanced at Dean, who was still completely absorbed with the raccoon, and sighed. "Well, we should probably get going before P’ Alan starts wondering where we are. Dean, you’re carrying that thing the whole way, though."
Dean nodded absently, still stroking the raccoon’s fur. "Fine by me," he said softly, his tone almost dreamy. "It’s a girl, so I think I’ll call it...Cherry."
Charlie blinked. "Cherry ? That’s what you’re going with?"
Dean shrugged defensively. "What ? It’s cute."
Kim groaned, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "This is going to be a disaster." But he didn’t argue, simply turning on his heel and gesturing for them to follow. "Let’s move and get whatever P’ Alan need ."
Dean turned toward Kim. “Wait, you’re coming with us ?” But he got no response.
Charlie fell into step beside Kim, still grinning ear to ear. "Oh, this is going to be great. I can already picture Babe’s face when he sees Dean walking in with a raccoon. He’s gonna have a full-on meltdown."
Dean trailed behind them, cradling Cherry protectively against his chest. The raccoon seemed to have fully warmed up to him, its tiny face nuzzling into the crook of his arm. Dean couldn’t help but smile softly, already feeling a strange sense of attachment to the little creature.
As they walked, Charlie turned his head slightly, glancing back at Dean with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, if you keep baby-talking that raccoon like that, Winner might get jealous."
Dean’s face flushed instantly, and he shot Charlie a glare. "Shut up," he muttered, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the way Cherry chose that moment to let out a tiny, almost affectionate chirp.
Kim snorted but didn’t comment, clearly choosing to stay out of this particular conversation.
They made their way to the supply store Alan had sent them to, the raccoon still cradled in Dean’s arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Kim led the charge, grabbing the parts Alan needed with practiced efficiency while Charlie lingered near the snacks section, debating whether or not to grab a bag of chips "for the team." Dean stayed near the entrance, murmuring softly to Cherry, who seemed content to just nestle against him, occasionally peeking out at the new surroundings with curious eyes.
"Alright," Kim said, reappearing with a box of supplies tucked under one arm. "Got everything. Let’s go before Dean starts trying to buy a leash for that thing.
Dean pouted but didn’t argue, following Kim and Charlie back to Kim’s car. He climbed into the backseat, carefully holding Cherry in his lap, while Charlie slid into the passenger seat, already tearing into the bag of chips he’d ultimately decided to buy.
The drive back to the garage was uneventful, though Charlie kept glancing back at Dean and smirking every time he caught him baby-talking to the raccoon. Kim focused on the road, though his occasional side-eye suggested he was already regretting getting involved in this whole situation.
Alan was waiting for them near the garage entrance, arms crossed and brows raised as he spotted Cherry. “What… is that?” he asked, his tone equal parts confused and amused.
Dean hesitated, instinctively shielding the raccoon from Alan’s scrutiny. “It’s… uh… a raccoon,” he said lamely, his cheeks flushing.
“I can see that,” Alan replied dryly, stepping closer. “Why is it here?”
“Dean’s adopted it,” Charlie chimed in helpfully, grinning like a madman. “His new best friend. He named it Cherry.”
Alan stared at Dean for a long moment before sighing deeply, rubbing his temples. “Of course he did.” He glanced at Kim, who shrugged as if to say “Don’t look at me, I tried to stop him”.
“Look, it was stuck in a tree, and it needed help,” Dean explained defensively, his voice rising slightly. “I couldn’t just leave it there!”
Alan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, though the faint smile tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. "Alright, alright. I’m not going to fight you on this. Just... keep it out of the garage. Babe’s going to have a field day when he finds out, though."
Dean groaned, clutching Cherry a little tighter. "Why does everyone keep saying that? It’s just a raccoon. It’s not like I brought home a bear."
"A bear might be easier to explain," Kim muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Dean.
Charlie, meanwhile, was practically bouncing on his heels, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Oh man, I can’t wait to tell Sonic and Jeff about this. They’re gonna lose it. Hey, do you think we can train it to fetch tools or something? That could actually be useful."
Dean rolled his eyes. “I don’t think that how it works,” he said before soothing Cherry, who had started to squirm slightly in his arms. "Shh, it’s okay," he murmured softly, stroking the raccoon’s fur. "You’re safe now."
Alan shook his head, clearly deciding it was better not to engage any further. "Alright, let’s get these parts inside." he said, taking the box Kim was carrying.
Kim nodded and followed Alan into the garage, taking out his phone to send a “get your ass to the X-Hunter garage NOW!” to Winner, leaving Charlie and Dean standing near the entrance. Charlie turned to Dean with a mischievous grin. "So... what’s the plan? You gonna build Cherry a little raccoon treehouse ?”
Dean shot Charlie a look, his cheeks still tinged pink from all the teasing. "Maybe," he muttered, though the idea was already taking root in his mind. He glanced down at Cherry, who was now peering up at him with those big, round eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile. "She’s probably tired of being squeezed into tight spaces like that tree. She deserves her own little spot."
Charlie chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re really committing to this, huh? I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised—you’ve always had a soft spot for strays." He paused, then smirked. "You gonna build it yourself or ask Winner for help? Because I can already picture him trying to assemble a raccoon treehouse while you stand there looking adorable and giving him ‘please Daddy’ eyes."
Dean’s face burned, and he immediately swatted at Charlie’s arm. "Shut up! I don’t—I mean, I wouldn’t—" He stumbled over his words, feeling flustered as Cherry chirped softly in his arms, as if mocking him. "Anyway, it’s not like it’s a big deal. It’s just a small project."
Charlie raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself way too much. "Uh-huh. ‘Just a small project.’ Sure, Dean. Maybe you can get Kim to help too—he looks like he could build anything with how good he is at …everything."
As if on cue, Kim emerged from the garage, his expression as stoic as ever but with a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "If you're planning to build a raccoon mansion, leave me out of it," he said dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I’m not your personal contractor."
Dean huffed, adjusting Cherry in his arms as she squirmed slightly. "It’s not a mansion. Just... something small and comfortable. She’s been through enough already."
Just as Dean finished talking, Winner’s car screeched to a halt outside the garage, kicking up a small cloud of dust as he stepped out. His eyes immediately zeroed in on the scene—Dean standing there with a raccoon cradled in his arms, Charlie grinning like a lunatic, and Kim looking like he wanted to be anywhere else.
“What is that?” Winner asked, though it was less of a question and more of a demand as he closed the distance between them in a few long strides. His gaze flicked from Dean to the raccoon, then back to Dean, his brow furrowing.
“It’s Cherry,” Dean said defensively, his voice softening as he glanced down at the raccoon, which was now peeking out from the crook of his arm. “She was stuck in a tree, and I couldn’t just leave her there.”
Winner’s face remained unreadable for a moment before he let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Dean,” he said slowly, his tone carrying a mix of exasperation and something softer that only Dean ever seemed to bring out in him. “You can’t just bring home wild animals.”
“She’s not wild!” Dean protested. “She’s... she’s sweet. Look at her!” He shifted Cherry slightly so Winner could see her better, and the raccoon let out a small chirp, her beady eyes blinking up at him.
Winner hesitated, his stern expression faltering for just a second as he met Cherry’s gaze. Then he quickly composed himself again,crossing his arms over his chest and fixing Dean with a look that was equal parts stern and fond. "Dean, Sunshine" he said again, his voice firm but not unkind. "What exactly do you plan to do with... Cherry? You can’t just keep a raccoon. They’re not pets."
Dean blinked, his lower lip jutting out in a pout that made Winner’s resolve waver just a little. "Why not? She’s small, she’s harmless, and she needs someone to take care of her. I can handle it."
Winner sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "You’re impossible," he muttered, though there was no real bite to it. He glanced at Cherry, who was now nibbling on Dean’s sleeve, and then back at Dean. "Fine. But if this ends up being a disaster—and it will be a disaster—it’s on you."
Charlie burst out laughing, clapping his hands together. "Oh, this is gold. Dean and Winner, proud parents of a raccoon. I can’t wait to tell Babe."
Winner shot him a glare, but before he could retort, Kim stepped in, clearly done with the whole conversation. "If we’re done here, I’m going back."
Winner glanced at Dean, who was cradling Cherry like she was the most precious thing in the world, and let out another resigned sigh. "Alright. Let’s get this over with," he said, gesturing toward his car. "But if she makes a mess in my backseat, you’re cleaning it up."
Dean beamed, his earlier defensiveness melting away as he followed Winner to the car. "She won’t! She’s a good girl, aren’t you, Cherry?" he cooed, scratching under the raccoon’s chin. Cherry responded with a soft chitter, her little paws kneading at Dean’s shirt.
Charlie watched them go, still grinning like he’d just won the lottery. "This is going to be amazing," he said to Kim, who merely raised an eyebrow and walked out of the garage without a word.
The drive to their apartment was short but eventful. Cherry alternated between nuzzling into Dean’s chest and trying to climb onto Winner’s arm. Winner flinched every time her tiny claws grazed his hand, but he didn’t say much—mostly because Dean kept scolding him for being "too tense" and "scaring Cherry."
By the time they arrived at their apartment, Winner was already mentally preparing himself for the chaos that was about to unfold. "Alright," he said as they stepped inside, his tone firm but patient. "Ground rules. No raccoons on the couch, no raccoons in the kitchen, and absolutely no raccoons in the bedroom."
Dean frowned, holding Cherry protectively against his chest. "That’s not fair. She’s just a baby. She needs somewhere comfy to sleep."
Winner crossed his arms, his expression unyielding. "She’s a raccoon, Dean. Not a baby. And she’s not sleeping in our bed."
"But—" Dean started, only to be cut off by Winner’s raised hand.
"Look," Winner said, his voice softening just enough to take the edge off. "I’m not saying she can’t stay. But we need some boundaries. We’ll set up a little area for her—maybe in the corner of the living room. She can have a bed, some toys, whatever. But she’s not taking over the apartment. Deal?"
Dean hesitated, glancing down at Cherry, who was now nibbling on the hem of his shirt again. She let out a soft chirp, and Dean’s resolve crumbled. "Fine," he muttered, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely happy about it. "But she gets the nice blanket from the guest room."
Winner groaned but didn’t argue further. He knew better than to push when Dean got that determined look in his eyes. "Fine," he said, heading toward the closet to dig out an old box they could use as a makeshift bed. "But if she chews up my shoes, you’re replacing them."
Dean ignored him, too busy cooing at Cherry as he carried her into the living room. "Don’t listen to him," he whispered, scratching behind her ears. "You can chew all the shoes you want. Daddy’s just being grumpy."
Cherry chittered softly, her little nose twitching as she sniffed at Dean’s fingers, already seeming to understand that she’d found herself a very lenient caretaker.
Winner emerged from the closet with a box and an nice looking blanket, shaking his head as he watched the exchange. "You’re spoiling her already," he muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. He set the box down in the corner of the living room, arranging the blanket inside to make it as comfortable as possible. "There. Raccoon palace, complete."
Dean smiled brightly, carefully placing Cherry in the box. She immediately began exploring her new space, sniffing at the blanket and pawing at the edges of the box. "See? She loves it," Dean said, his voice brimming with pride.
Winner crossed his arms, leaning against the wall as he watched Cherry dig into the blanket. "Great. Now that that’s settled, can we talk about how this is probably a terrible idea?"
Dean turned to him, his expression softening. "I know it’s not... conventional," he admitted. "But she didn’t have anyone else, Winner. I couldn’t just leave her there. And look at her—she’s already so happy here."
Winner sighed again, but this time it was accompanied by a small smile. "You’re too soft for your own good," he said, pushing off the wall and walking over to Dean. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair out of Dean’s face, his touch gentle despite his exasperated tone. "But I guess that’s one of the things I love about you."
Dean’s cheeks flushed, and he looked away, trying to hide his smile. "You’re not fooling anyone, you know. You’re just as soft as I am. You’re already letting her stay here without much of a fight."
Winner raised an eyebrow, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Don’t push it," he warned, but there was no real threat behind his words. He glanced down at Cherry, who was now curled up in the blanket, her tiny paws clutching at the fabric as she dozed off. "She does look kind of cute like that," he admitted grudgingly.
Dean grinned triumphantly, leaning into Winner’s side. "Told you so. She’s going to be the best little roommate ever."
"Yeah, until she starts stealing food and tearing up the furniture," Winner muttered, though he couldn’t quite keep the fondness out of his voice. He wrapped an arm around Dean’s shoulders, pulling him close. "But I guess we’ll deal with that when it happens."
Dean chuckled softly, resting his head against Winner for a moment before pulling away to kneel beside Cherry’s box.
Dean gently scooped Cherry up from her makeshift bed, cradling her carefully in his arms. She blinked up at him sleepily, her tiny paws kneading the air as if protesting the disturbance. "Alright, little one," Dean murmured, his voice soft and soothing. "We’re just going to clean you up a bit. You’ll feel so much better afterward, I promise."
Winner watched from the doorway of the bathroom, his arms crossed over his chest but his expression less stern than usual. "You do realize raccoons don’t exactly enjoy baths, right?" he said, though there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Dean shot him a quick smile. "She’ll be fine. I’ll be gentle." He set Cherry down in the sink, running the water until it was lukewarm. Cherry immediately started to fuss, her tiny claws scrabbling against the porcelain as she tried to climb out.
"Easy, easy," Dean cooed, holding her steady with one hand while using the other to wet a washcloth. He dabbed it lightly on her fur, being careful not to get water in her eyes. "It’s not so bad."
Cherry let out a series of high-pitched chitters, clearly unimpressed, but she stopped struggling as much as Dean worked the washcloth through her fur. Winner sighed and stepped forward, grabbing a towel from the rack. "Here," he said, holding it out. "At least use this when you’re done. She’s going to shake water everywhere."
Dean grinned up at him. "Thanks you,” he said, taking the towel and draping it over his arm. "See? You’re already getting into the raccoon dad thing."
Winner rolled his eyes, leaning against the counter as he watched Dean continue to gently clean Cherry.
Cherry, for her part, was starting to relax a little under Dean’s careful ministrations. Her tiny body stopped tensing as much, and she even let out a soft, almost contented chitter as Dean rinsed the soap from her fur. "There we go," Dean murmured, his voice warm with affection. "All clean. You’re such a good girl, Cherry."
He then wrapped Cherry in the towel and lifted her out of the sink. She nestled into the fabric, sneezing once before curling up against Dean’s chest. "Look ! She’s fine," Dean said triumphantly, stroking her damp fur. "And now she smells nice too."
Winner raised an eyebrow. "Nice? She smells like your lavender soap."
"That is nice," Dean replied defensively, though his grin softened into a fond smile as he looked down at Cherry. "Right, little one? You smell amazing now."
Cherry chirped softly in response, her tiny nose twitching as she nuzzled deeper into the towel. Winner shook his head but didn’t argue further, instead following Dean in the kitchen.
Dean carefully set Cherry down on the kitchen counter, still wrapped snugly in the towel. He grabbed a small bowl and filled it with water, placing it in front of her. "Here you go," he said softly, watching as Cherry poked her nose out of the towel and sniffed at the water cautiously. After a moment, she leaned forward and began lapping at it delicately.
Winner leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. "You realize we’re going to have to figure out what raccoons actually eat, right? She can’t just live off your weird obsession with lavender-smelling soap."
Dean shot him a playful glare. "I already Googled it. They can eat fruits, veggies, and some protein. We have some apples and carrots in the fridge. She’ll be fine for now."
Winner raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, instead opening the fridge to pull out an apple. He grabbed a knife from the drawer and began slicing it into small pieces. "Here," he said, sliding the plate of apple slices toward Cherry. "Let’s see if she likes this."
Cherry’s nose twitched as she caught the scent of the apple. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out with one tiny paw to grab a slice. She nibbled at it cautiously before diving in enthusiastically, her little claws clinging to the fruit as she ate.
Dean grinned, his eyes lighting up with joy. "See? She loves it!" he said, his voice full of pride. He reached out to gently stroke her back, careful not to startle her as she munched happily.
Winner watched the scene unfold, his stern expression softening despite himself. "Alright, fine," he conceded with a reluctant sigh. "She’s... kind of cute."
"Kind of?" Dean teased, glancing up at Winner with a playful smile. "She’s adorable, and you know it."
Winner rolled his eyes but didn’t argue further, instead leaning back against the counter and crossing his arms. "Just don’t let her get too comfortable in here," he warned. "Raccoons are notorious for getting into everything. We don’t need her raiding the pantry in the middle of the night."
"I’ll make sure she behaves," Dean promised, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he wasn’t taking Winner’s concerns all that seriously.
Winner let out a soft groan, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You’re going to be the death of me, Sunshine," he muttered, though the fondness in his voice betrayed his words.
Dean chuckled softly, leaning over to give Winner a quick peck on the cheek. "You say that like it’s a bad thing," he teased, his voice warm and light. Winner’s stern expression cracked slightly, and he huffed, though he didn’t pull away.
As Cherry finished her snack, she let out a soft chitter and began sniffing around the counter, her tiny nose twitching as she explored her new surroundings. Dean quickly scooped her up before she could venture too far, cradling her against his chest. "Alright, little explorer," he murmured, his tone affectionate. "Let’s get you settled in your new spot."
He carried her back to the living room, where the makeshift bed sat in the corner. Dean gently placed Cherry inside the box, fluffing up the blanket to make it as cozy as possible, making sure she was snug and comfortable. "Goodnight, Cherry," he whispered, his voice warm and affectionate. "Sleep well."
Cherry let out a soft chitter, her tiny paws twitching as she drifted into sleep. Dean stayed there for a moment longer, watching her with a fondness that made Winner’s chest feels warm.
Winner cleared his throat, breaking the quiet moment. “Alright, raccoon wrangler. Let’s get some rest before she wakes up and decides to redecorate the place.”
Dean stood up reluctantly, casting one last glance at Cherry before following Winner toward their bedroom. “She’s not going to redecorate,” he said defensively, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Winner smirked, pushing open the bedroom door. “Famous last words.”
As they settled into bed, Dean couldn’t help but glance toward the living room, half-expecting to hear the telltale sounds of Cherry getting into mischief. But the apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the AC.
Winner reached over, flicking off the bedside lamp and pulling Dean closer. "Relax," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "She’s fine. And if she does cause trouble, we’ll deal with it in the morning."
Dean sighed, nestling into Winner’s side, his head resting against his chest.
"Thanks for letting her stay," he said quietly, his voice filled with gratitude. "I know it’s not what you wanted, but... it means a lot to me."
Winner sighed, pulling Dean closer. "I didn’t want a raccoon in my apartment," he admitted, his voice low. "But I do want you to be happy Sunshine. So... if this makes you happy, then I guess I can deal with it."
Dean smiled up at him, his eyes shining with affection. "You’re the best," he said softly, pressing a quick kiss to Winner’s jaw before resting his head back on his chest.
As he fell asleep, Dean couldn’t help but smile to himself. Despite everything, he felt a deep sense of contentment. They had each other, their friends, and now... Cherry. It wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs.