Chapter Text
Dean's POV
Dean couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the guy that got out of the car parked in front of the recently sold next door house. He had hair the colour of charcoal and eyes blue like the ocean and he looked sharp in his fitted suit. Now Dean had just been gauging what kinda person his new neighbour was, when he took off that dirty trench coat and revealed honest to god wings.
It wasn't like he didn't know angels existed, but since the revolution it was rare to see any that didn't hide the fact. The chilly autumn wind ruffled the mess of feathers as the angel stood there forlorn. They were black, as though they were a void to another dimension, but they couldn't be... Right? Then a ray of sunshine found its way through the thick deck of clouds making the feathers glow a majestic purple and white over their carbon black core, and Dean just stared.
They stood there immovable for what seemed like an eternity before the angel turned to look at Dean. He seemed shocked, had he not been aware he wasn't alone? The blue eyes of worry only met his green for a second before the new neighbour’s trench coat was slung over his wings and shoulders and he hurried into the cottage.
Dean, busted in action, couldn't help but blush. He hurried back to his house where his brother promptly sent him back outside to go on a food run, like he should have half an hour ago.
Oops...
He rushed to the impala and drove away without looking at the newly inhabited house, except through Baby's rearview mirror. Sadly, his view was blocked by the moving van which had just driven up to the angel's house. At least they hadn’t caught his neighbour like he had...
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He was strolling down the dessert aisle humming Metallica when he got smacked on the ass. He turned to tear whoever it was a new one only to find his childhood friend Jo sticking her tongue out at him. As usual, she was still in her roadhouse uniform;
Did she even have any other clothes? Shouldn't she be working on a Thursday evening like this?
He just shook his head. "If you weren't Bobby's girl you'd get a smack right back," Dean said jokingly. Jo just rolled her eyes and hooked her arm around his and they walked on past all kinds of vegan creations.
"We both know you'd never do that even if I wasn't, didn't you say I'm like a little sister to you?" She spoke with feigned innocence before poking him, "besides, Bobby isn't my dad-"
Dean rolled his eyes."Step-dad, I know. But our family isn't exactly built on blood, Sis ." Bobby was like a dad to both of them; unsurprising since he was Sam and Dean’s godfather and Ellen, John, and Bobby had been friends since long before Dean was born.
They paused when Dean unhooked himself to grab a cherry pie from the open cooling cell. Jo raised an eyebrow at him. Dean shot her a wordless 'what?'.
"Dude, you bake the best pies in all of Cali." She considered what she said for a moment before adding, "don't tell my mom I said that. Whoever you're bringing a pie would surely appreciate a homemade one more."
Normally he'd fake a call to Ellen, just to spook Jo, but, instead, he returned the pie and started walking up and down the aisle grabbing ingredients. Jo offered to help and he made full use of ordering her around to hunt for faraway products.
Sam's POV
The sound of keys sliding into the lock was the final straw for Sam's focus. He hadn't written anything for his analysis of last lesson's case for over half an hour, his thoughts always wandering. Now that Dean was home he finally had an excuse to abandon his assignment. He almost flew down the stairs, slowing down only when he heard casual conversation echoing through the hallway. He walked into the kitchen only to get a branch of kale tossed in his direction. He caught it easily and yelled 'Jerk' to which his brother retorted with the usual 'Bitch'.
Jo walked up to him and pulled him into a hug after which she took the kale from his hands and stored it in the fridge. Sam couldn't help but grin as she hit Dean on the back of his head.
"Vegetables need to be cooled, not coldly thrown across the room.”
Dean pretended to be severely hurt and Jo, after an exaggerated eye roll, kissed him on the cheek.
“Ah, thank you, Jo. You’re an angel when you want to be,” he proclaimed.
Sam seized the opportunity to flaunt his knowledge on angel rights to Jo. She listened closely, adding experiences from what she remembered of the pro-angel movement she and her parents were a part of which cost her dad his life. Like usual, she praised her father like a war hero for having protected a flock hiding in their roadhouse. Their father had not been so fond of the “over glorified monsters with wings”. He’d volunteered for the human forces and after getting wounded on the field discriminated them any chance he got.
He’d hoped that he and Dean would follow his footsteps, but Sam had instead been fascinated by these supernatural creatures. Dean often teased him and if dad hadn’t died in the car accident the night of the peace declaration, Sam wasn’t too sure his brother would have gone to college with him.
It was then, that he noticed that Dean hadn’t made a single sly remark or offhand joke only Dean found to be hilarious. He just seemed to be staring out of the window, watching the downpour. He was about to say something when his brother snapped out of it and went about putting away the groceries. Sam was pleased to see that the exact ingredients to a good honest pie were left on the kitchen counter. When Jo left, already late for work, he excused himself and left his brother to baking. He knew better than to bother Dean while making food.
Cas' POV
Cas nearly tore apart the sweater he’d grabbed out of the box at the loud banging on the door. He’d been jittery ever since his neighbour had accidentally seen his wings though he’d been certain no one was around and he could stretch his wings in peace. He placed the sweater back whence it came and stomped down the stairs, defeated. He’d spent hours going over every possible outcome of him living here next to someone who knows. Each alternative had been grimmer than the last. He was certain that the few positive scenarios were off the table. He hurriedly opened his front door, eager to get the imminent discrimination over with.
He didn’t expect to see the dark blonde, green-eyed neighbour on his doorstep or for him to look surprised. He was holding something covered in tin foil and seemed afraid to meet Cas’ eyes. It took the angel a while to realise he wasn’t being yelled at and the frown washed off his face. He tilted his head in confusion as he examined the man standing in front of him better.
Behind the black trendy, glasses a familiar face stared at him. At least some features were, he must have met a relative or an ancestor of the man. His attire of a blue plaid shirt atop a simple grey t-shirt and worn jeans didn’t exactly scream threat. Still, Cas was weary of the item he was holding, it wouldn’t be the first time someone had faked kindness only to abuse the trust it inspires.
“Uhm, I-I saw you moved in and uh... thought I should welcome you with a pie?” Green eyes mumbled in an attempt to break the silence, clearly uncomfortable with being sized up.
“Was that a question or a statement?” Cas asked, his tone gruff. His eyes were locked on the “pie” that he was expected to accept.
Green eyes removed the cover of the plate to reveal a still steaming homemade pie which Cas hesitantly grabbed. There was something about the shy smile that Green Eyes flashed as he accepted the gift that made Cas relax.
“Thank you...” Was all Cas could muster, unsure how to respond to the seemingly genuine kindness.
Green Eyes scratched his head nervously before exclaiming, “Dean, Dean Winchester,” as though he’d finally found the answer to a pop quiz question.
Cas returned the gesture albeit it gruffly, “Castiel... Novak.” The foreign sound of his new fake last name rolled uncomfortably on Cas’ tongue.
The man, no, Dean, didn’t seem to notice his discomfort at what he hated most about moving: Lying. Every town, a new lie, a new last name. He often wondered why he even tried to fit in. Technically, his cover was blown, but Dean didn’t seem bothered by it.
He wanted to ask Dean so many questions but as the man’s phone started buzzing in his pocket panic shot through his bright green eyes. His neighbour ran off, assuring him that he could ask them for help with settling in anytime. Cas was surprised to find himself smiling as he closed the door, determined to turn this building into a home.