Chapter Text
"Hey there sunshine," swinging arms and legs in a stiff, almost-skipping motion whilst licking his lips and flashing a smile that just misses being easy, Dean Winchester clears his throat and stops just behind the chair wherein sits Castiel, Angel of the Lord, as he had initially referred to himself all those years ago.
"Hello Dean," the angel says, as gentle and easy and solid as always. With a - warmth, and affection within his face and words, something that hasn't been on Dean's radar the entire time they've known each other, but makes his heart want to do a triple-lindy out of his chest at the way the guy speaks now.
Cas lifts his eyes and smiles softly. "How are you?" He's asking this as he turns the page of some book, the text looks like it's in enochian, and Dean's dumbass thought goes straight to his mouth from his brain as he says
"I'm good, Cas. You reading up on how much those flying-ass monkeys miss you in Heaven?"
Cas's face darkens. "Oh, they don't miss me," he says darkly. "Whoever is left-" and his face drops.
Dean is sweating, backpedaling. Swearing internally because he was going to make a comment (and still might) about what that Alfie dude had said, about Cas's heart -
Screw it, may as well say it anyway. Since Cas was the one to tell him
Knowing you has changed me. I love you.
"Yeah, well you always had too much heart for 'em, anyway," Dean says weakly.
The angel actually snorts, and speaks more softly "Thank you for saying so, but none of my siblings would see that as a positive thing. My...penchant for learning to emote was one of the things Naomi told me I was ....'reprogrammed' on multiple occasions for." Castiel lifts his hands and actually correctly uses air quotes before dropping both hands into his lap.
And, oh, Dean realizes. Oh, crap. Cas wasn't there to hear that. He wasn't with Dean and Sam and Crowley and Kevin or his mom. Probably the wildest grouping there had ever been for any of them; Crowley had told them on that occasion he'd bought the moon!
Or claimed it, that douche said, for Hell. Tried to bid his own soul. That was when Cas was in the middle of all...the lobotomizing at bible camp, Dean realizes with cold dread. So even if he was ready to pull out the fact he heard another angel say that, which he isn't, the timeframe of it was arguably during one of the worst experiences - or at least, top ten for the angel, Dean would say. Top ten at least in recent years.
Didn't stack up to some things Dean said to him, or to the simple fact that he's here, he's back, out of the Empty, and Dean hasn't said anything much to him at all. He hasn't brought up Cas's... happiness, or. His confession, actually; because what else had it been? Them both standing there staring at each other, so close to dying for, Dean thought, good; Cas pouring tears and pouring out his heart, his feelings -
Feelings Dean was too much of a coward to say anything to. Too much of a dick to bring up again.
So here he is, fumbling something like those idiots should be sorry they lost you, and the fact that Naomi bitch ever programmed -
"Reprogrammed, Dean," the guy is interjecting, all serious and saying with a steady gaze from those clear blue eyes "She told me... I came off the belt with a crack in my chassis. She had fixed me before, but in Falling the way I did," he inclines his head, gesture as much as words saying "for you" so clearly it's like he spoke in his original angelic tone, the one that blew every window in and made Dean's ears feel like they were bleeding
"Ya couldn't be fixed, huh?" Dean's voice is nearly a mumble with how rough it's gone, and low. He feels as though his windpipe is being tightened, like he's losing the ability to breathe. And all this after some stupid comment, way to go, he chastises himself. Of course, he'd say something stupid. Dean winces and blinks as Cas just turns his head and says
"That is what she indirectly told me, yes."
"Well, that's bullshit, Cas," Dean snaps, feeling a fire in his throat, like he'd pressed a gun there, the hot muzzle -
He thinks he gets what got Bobby so bad now, how the guy could get so freaking angry that he'd blow air and find something to throw
Especially when Cas just sits here right now and -still so calmly!- tells him "There was always something ... different. Strange, I suppose, about me." He pauses, a crease forming between his brows as they drop a little. "Even Lucifer told me what an odd thing I was."
Now it is Dean who scoffs. "Lucifer, the friggin devil? Look, Cas, if we go by any'a HIS crap -" Dean stops, shakes his head. "Unbelievable," he almost whispers. Grabbing hold of and then dropping hands from his hair "...ya know you make it so damn difficult, Cas"
"I'm sorry, Dean," Cas instantly replies with his eyes widening, a softer look of sorrow crosses his face. "Clearly this conversation is a distressing one for you," but it is also absolutely clear the guy is confused. Which is amply evidenced when next he asks "-I make it... difficult to do what, exactly? Besides hunt, which of course you have far more experience with, but"
Dean sighs heavily, letting out a groan as he drops to sit beside the angel at the table where he has laid out various texts, alongside the one he's currently evidently reading.
Why, who the hell knows.
Resting, practically slamming forearms atop the table heavily, shoving fingertips through his hair again, Dean's voice is muffled on his next words. "this has nothing to do with hunting, I'm trying -" dropping hands and turning his face to look at Cas incredulously. Guess he has to come right out and say it. How fitting, for a guy whose modus operandi would probably be best or aptly described as 'on the nose'. "I've been trying to flirt with you, pal."
"...Oh" Cas's eyes drop to study the table and he opens and closes his hands. A wind would whip up at this moment, if they were outdoors. "I'm sorry," he says at length, speaking far lower.
There is what sounds like a sigh, a hissing intake of breath from Dean beside him. And then, a chuckle.
Dean's strong hand reaches out and clasps his arm, and the angel looks up to see Dean's eyes crinkled. Such kindness he has. "It's okay, man. You don't hafta keep apologizin'. 'Sides I haven't exactly been uh, upfront or, how would you say it? Forthcoming -" Dean hits upon the word, a shift and quirk of his mouth precedes pause before he grows still. Castiel's gaze flickers back and forth across the table as he abruptly snaps his head once again upright, thinking wAit-
Dean clears his throat and says now quick, before he chickens out (which he can't believe, he's Dean Winchester, what is wrong with him?) He faces Cas, feels face and ears burning. Licking his lips and smacking them before lowering his chin and lifting his fingers in an almost-accusatory gesture, eyes widening "Cas, you know I'm flirting, right? And you're cool with it? Because I'm gonna get us a table at a burger place if you are" and he's babbling, saying "I'll even listen to that crap music you like, I don't-"
"Dean." Cas says his name as if calling, and his hands are on Dean's knees and then somehow, his face as the guy says, patting Dean on the cheek so gently that Dean almost has heart failure "I don't need to eat, as you know. But I am very adept at sitting," he jokes, a teasing cant to his tone. Dean can tell it's Cas joking from the twinkle in his eyes, and if he had any less self-control he would be throwing himself at him.
"Is that -" Dean's throat is about to close. His eyes get big and his voice nearly squeaks. Holy shit. "Is that a yes, d'you wanna get a burger with me?"
And with a smile as heart-rending as the one he gave before the Empty took him (though with none of that bullshit happening this time, damnit) Castiel says simply "Of course, Dean." A slight pause "... it's a date."
A date.
As it stands, Dean is floored. He blinks, shakes his head with a slight sharp sound and explosive exhale. "You - alright. Okay I'll uh - just go an' get a table for us then" practically staggering to his feet and ready to grab the keys to Baby - because he can tell, from the nod and little smile Cas now gives him that the guy wants to do this and Dean sure as hell 's not passing such an opportunity up.
It's a date. They're going on a friggin date!
And if Dean pumps his fist or jumps and clicks his heels in the air, friggin sue him. He is going on an actual date, so he can totally get a pass.
Just like Swayze.