Kayla
Title: Kayla
Author: abbylover23
Rating: PG13 for swearing and Dean's general behaviour
Genre and/or Pairing: pre Dean/Castiel, minor Sam/Gabriel
Spoilers: None really but 5x22 to be safe
Warnings: None
Word Count: 4,447
Summary: Dean's always been so good at denial, unfortunately gorgeous bar chicks sometimes try to jump in there before he's good and ready to accept what he wants.
FML, i pray to all available gods that this link works cos apparently, i FAIL at internet links. Thank you to my bff pillywickle for talking/walking me through this. i owe her a McDonalds. Also this fic is kind of happier than i would usually write, I swear if any of my LP readers saw this they would think someone had thrown sugar on me.
Her name was Kayla.
She had smiled at all three of them when they came in. Dean had given her his usual wide smile and winked for good measure, Sam had blushed and tripped over the nearest bar stool and Cas... well Cas hadn’t noticed. Which, in hindsight is obviously why she went for him. It had nothing to do with the fact that since Cas had ditched the tax accountant look and actually grown his hair out a bit he um, well, certainly held his own on the amount of appreciative looks they all got given in any given place. And it’s not like Dean noticed it or anything, he’s just happy his friend is kind of hot. No no, he doesn’t mean like hot hot ‘cos it’s Cas and he doesn’t think about Cas like that at all.
At all.
What he means is that he’s aware that Cas is aesthetically pleasing.
Anyway, Cas and his acceptable face had sat down next to Dean at the table and immediately begun to study the menu with an avid fascination. Dean had signalled for the waitress and Sam had tried to wipe the dirty glass table top.
Sam was a total girl for the record.
“Two beers please,” he said beaming up at the girl, “and a water.”
“Actually I think I would like a beer please,” Castiel cut in.
“Uh huh,” Dean pointed at him warningly, “you think I’m gonna let you drink alcohol Cas? No way.” Not after what he’d seen. Hell they might have won but even if Cas was living with them Dean was damn sure gonna try like hell to make sure he didn’t live like them... Too much.
“Dean,” Cas began patiently, “it is one beer.”
There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other in a way that was totally manly and totally normal and finally Dean sighed and rolled his eyes, “fine, you can have one.”
It was kind of annoying that Castiel was able to manipulate him with those damn big blue eyes. Or kind of cute; he’s not picky.
“It’s so cute that you’re keeping an eye on your boyfriend,” the girl cooed, smiling brightly at them all.
“What?!” Dean spluttered awkwardly, feeling his face flush up, “we’re not- he’s not-”
Only he’s allowed to use the word “cute” damn it! At least he makes it sound manly.
“We are not together,” Castiel interrupted smoothly. “We work with one another.”
Dean tried not to feel too disappointed by Castiel’s description of their relationship because yeah, that’s what they were right? Work partners.
Nothing more.
Nada.
Zilch...
He cleared his throat and shifted, “yeah, that.”
The girl shrugged and glanced at Sam who smirked and lifted one shoulder in return. She grinned one of those stupid- I’m a woman and I can bond with you because you, Sam Winchester, are basically a woman-grins and walked away.
“Don’t encourage her Sammy,” Dean chided.
“What? Dude you know I’m completely behind it.”
“Damn it Sam shut up.”
“I’m confused,” Castiel began.
“What else is new?” Dean muttered.
Cas’ blue eyes filled with hurt as they fixed on him and for a second Dean felt awful and then the expression was gone and Castiel sat up, his face visibly hardening, “I was merely going to ask why the young lady assumed we were a couple. It seems to always happen with us.”
Sam snorted and Dean flipped him the bird, “just ignore it Cas, some people are dense about these things.”
“Yeah, some people are real dense,” Sam sniggered. Dean was going to kill his brother and then die of embarrassment.
Castiel scrunched up his nose in confusion, “but we are not a couple.”
“Exactly, and we don’t act like one right?”
“Well-” Sam began.
“I swear to god Sammy,” he shot him a warning look and then glanced back at Cas, “look, don’t worry about it man. It’s all good.”
“But-”
“Cas drop it ok? Don’t think about it.”
There was a silence and then Castiel said quietly, “I’m going to use the bathroom,” and then he was gone.
Dean sighed and shook his head, “damn temperamental angels.” He glanced up and rolled his eyes at Sam’s exasperated look, “what?”
“Dean, you’re being a dick.”
“Excuse me?!”
“To Cas! He was just asking a few questions. It’s only been a month- he’s still not used to this life. And for the record,” Sam leant forward, “you do act like a couple. He’s bound to be getting confused.”
“What?! That’s bull man.”
“Dean, you order for him. You order for him.”
“So?”
“So, you fix his clothes, you mess with his hair, you stare at him for so damn long sometimes I think I really am gonna die in your car because you don’t ever look at the road.”
“I-”
“Dean you tell him off for getting in your personal space when you’re the one who steps in his. All. The. Time.”
“But that’s just- you know, me and Cas stuff.”
“Exactly! This is Castiel Dean. After everything we all went through he could have gone home. You know, he could have,” Sam fluttered his fingers, “flown off and been all angelic again. But he didn’t.”
“What’s your point Sam?”
“He chose to stay here. With us,” Sam added with a pointed look.
Yeah, Dean knows that. And doesn’t it scare the ever loving shit out of him? But there’s just no way he’s saying so to his baby brother- that would prove Sam actually knows him better than he sometimes knows himself. And he doesn’t. Because Sam is a giant girl and Dean is not ‘kay?
And oh fuck he’s freaking in love with Cas. That...
Where the hell did that come from?!
So he’s been a little slow on the uptake here clearly. Shouldn’t someone have filled him in about this? Hell Chuck writes about what he has for breakfast, didn’t he think about mentioning it?
Couldn’t Sam have told him a year ago instead of going into gory details about bumping uglies with the bitch demon formerly known as Ruby?
He sighed, not willing to give in so easily and stretched back, glancing lazily at his brother and smirking, “sorry Sammy, again, I’m drawing a blank as to what you’ve got your panties in a twist about.”
Sam gave him bitch face thirty-three which meant he knew Dean was being deliberately dense about something and it was irritating him no end. Normally Dean loved that face, but he couldn’t handle a heart to heart in the middle of a shitty bar somewhere in Wilmington... Especially when he may have just shot his chance with Cas to pieces by being mean to him, again, and his heart was currently resting somewhere in his boots. So instead he stared stubbornly at his hands.
“Look Dean, stay in whatever little denial village you’ve built up in your head, but please quit being a bitch to Cas. Like I said; he doesn’t have to be here. And you might not be willing to admit it but if you drive him away you’d be pretty fucking miserable.”
He really, really doesn’t like that Sam knows him better than he knows himself.
And how the hell does his gigantor brother always work out these things about him before Dean gets the chance to? And why didn't he say something earlier?!
“I’m not gonna start braiding his hair Sammy.”
“For Christ’s sake Dean! I don’t think Cas would even let you do that. I’m just saying, you’ve been an asshole to him ever since we finished the apocalypse and eventually...” Sam hesitated, “everyone has a breaking point man. Don’t push Cas to his ok?”
“Sam, you-”
“Excuse me?”
They both looked up to where the girl from the bar entrance was smiling shyly at them both. Dean grinned and sat back, willing himself to look enthusiastic; it didn’t really come off convincingly. “What can we do for you sweetheart?”
“The guy you’re with?”
“Skinny with a mass of hair he can’t control and blue eyes that persuade you to buy shit he doesn’t need-” he stopped and cleared his throat, “the one we came in with?”
She blushed and then shrugged, “yeah. He got a story?”
Fuck. He wasn’t expecting that. He must have looked visibly shocked because she held up her hands, “if he’s taken-”
“He’s not,” Sam cut in and Dean could have punched him. Sam gave him another pointed look, “he’s very much single and he’s a little bit shy so if you wanna talk to him...”
The girl gave a knowing smirk and nodded, “got ya.”
She twirled and headed away towards the bar; Dean scowled at her back and then turned to Sam, “what the hell? You can’t just go around selling Cas like that. What if he doesn’t want to talk to her?”
Sam shrugged, lifting up his beer, “he doesn’t look too panicky about it.” Dean twisted to look over to where Sam was gesturing and felt his jaw drop. Castiel was back from the bathroom and was leaning, fucking leaning, against the bar whilst the girl twisted her fingers in her hair and beamed up at him. Cas must have said something along his normal lines of ‘I am trying to be an awkwardly cute human’ because she burst into peals of laughter suddenly. She responded and just like that Castiel laughed. And not just that tiny curl of a smile he sometimes had that made Dean’s insides go weird, a full on bark of a laugh.
Huh.
Dean hadn’t realised how much it meant to him when he made Cas laugh. Hell it had taken him months to make the damn angel smile and now some whore had spent just thirty seconds with him and he was already laughing?! It felt like something heavy was pressing hard against his chest. He gripped the bottle he was holding tightly and tried to sit back, look relaxed, anything to avoid watching Cas sail off into the sunset with some hot piece of ass that didn’t yell at him or have a shit load of issues on her back.
When he glanced up at his brother he realised Sam was grinning, “dude what?”
“Your face man, it’s priceless.”
“My face is fucking perfect unlike your ugly mug,” he shot back crossly.
Sam shook his head, “Dean, don’t worry, I’m sure Cas still-” he stopped as Castiel suddenly appeared beside them.
“Hey there cowboy,” Dean drawled, lifting his beer, “nice one.”
Castiel frowned at him, his usual ‘I do not know why you continue to speak to me when I have met the love my life’ face firmly in place.
Ok, so he’d never actually given Dean that look before and maybe she wasn’t the love of his life.
Yet.
But oh god if she turned out to be... Dean felt sick suddenly and annoyingly like a twelve year old girl who’d just discovered that Matthew Fox was forty and married and probably unlikely to want to have her babies. He tried to smile weakly, “so you gettin’ on alright over there Cas?”
“Yes, thank you, Kayla is extremely interesting.” Kayla? What kind of a stupid name was that?
“That’s great Cas,” Sam smiled encouragingly, “does she wanna come and sit with us?”
Dean kicked his brother under the table and Sam flinched but didn’t budge, his jaw set as he smiled at Cas.
“I’m sure she would appreciate that,” Castiel glanced almost nervously at Dean.
He shrugged, “hey man I’m not gonna hit on her or steal your thunder don’t worry.”
“I do not have any thunder Dean; the weather is fine out.”
“Nah I meant I’m not gonna- look never mind Cas, just bring her over ok?”
“I don’t wish to disturb our evening-”
“Just fuckin’ do it Cas!”
“Very well.” He could have sworn Castiel sighed and muttered something under his breath as he turned away.
“Smooth,” Sam murmured.
“Shut up Sammy, maybe you should go and get a lady friend too- then you and Cas can drive off all happy and-”
“For god’s sake Dean,” Sam snapped suddenly, “nobody’s abandoning you anytime soon. You’re fucking stuck with us!”
“Yeah for now,” he retorted, “but what happens when I screw up Sam? What then?” Shit he had meant to say something a whole lot less needy but damn that had just slipped out.
“Everybody screws up Dean. Cas knows for a goddamn fact you’re not perfect but does he look like he cares? Quit with the whole ‘woe is me shit’ and suck it up and tell Castiel how you feel. Or I’ll do it for you.”
“Don’t you dare Samantha- I swear I’m not above texting Bobby from your phone and telling him you wanna be his bitch.”
“Dean!” Castiel had reappeared and was giving him a reprimanding look. Unfortunately Kayla was also with him.
“Sorry,” he glanced at the girl reluctantly, “sorry.”
She shrugged, “don’t curb your language on my behalf. Castiel tells me it’s normally quite colourful.” She smiled up at the angel and Dean felt his pulse quicken in irritation. Never hit a woman. Never hit a woman.
“Yeah,” he narrowed his eyes at her, “I’m a peach right Cas?”
“That is not the first word I would use to describe you Dean,” Castiel said carefully as he guided Kayla into the booth and then slipped in beside her. Their eyes met and for a brief second everything felt normal again; and then the damn girl moved and reminded him of her existence.
She stuck her hand out at Sam, “Kayla.”
Sam beamed at her, “Sam, this is my brother Dean.”
Dean gave her a weak smile, “hey.”
“Nice to meet you,” she leant forward on her elbows, “so Cas told me you guys are in town on business?”
Cas? She was fucking calling him Cas?!
Ok, so Dean knew he wasn’t a lot of things; he wasn’t that smart and he wasn’t ever gonna be president or solve world hunger... and ok he was never gonna be a particularly humble guy but damn if he was supposed to be the only one that called Castiel Cas. He’d almost punched Sam the first time he’d heard him use the nickname. He still wasn’t quite over it. And don’t even get him started on how he’d felt when Anna used it. He’d nearly set her ass on fire.
Call him possessive, call him whatever you like but he’s never been much and he’s never had much and he cannot stand having what little he does have being taken away. And he certainly can’t watch it happen.
“I’m gonna get another beer,” he muttered before stalking away from the table. He could hear Sam trying to apologise uncomfortably and then start rambling about whatever their supposed business was. Castiel’s eyes burnt into his back but he refused to turn around.
He took his time at the bar. The girl who’d served them earlier flirted with him but he was constantly distracted by the Kayla chick fucking putting her hands all over Castiel. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she talked animatedly, making both Sam and Cas laugh every once in a while and gripped his beer hard.
“Honey, you’ll get some nasty scars if you break that bottle there.”
He snapped his head up and exhaled, loosening his grip as he grinned at the bar girl, “sorry, in a world of my own.”
She smiled softly and then leant forward conspiratorially, “if it helps, every time you look at me, he looks like he wants to do some serious damage.”
Dean’s eyes widened in surprise, “really?”
She laughed, “yeah, it’s funny what you miss when you’re not looking for it right?”
He stared at her, “yeah... yeah it is.”
She flicked a tea towel over her shoulder and shrugged, “so what you waiting for? You don’t want him to go home with her do you?”
“Na uh,” he said quickly, straightening up and heading back over to the table. He turned suddenly and leant over the bar, “thanks by the way, you know I’m not normally like this.”
The girl smiled softly, “I didn’t really think you were a cards and candy kinda guy don’t worry. But like I said earlier, you two are sweet together.”
It felt kind of nice to hear that said out loud... Even if it was girly and ridiculous and totally not true. Because he and Cas were totally manly guys... Who just happened to have epically long and silent staring conversations and stood in each other’s personal space because it was more convenient for- for people passing by on the street.
Right?
He shook himself, hell he was Dean freaking Winchester. This was his personal angel of the lord and the guy had died for him and Dean would do the same thing for him and there was no way some tiny blonde chick was getting in the way of his plan for a happy ever after story with Cas to tell to Sam’s kids.
“Sorry about that,” he slipped in opposite Cas, shoving Sam into the corner and planting his feet either side of Castiel’s legs underneath the table, leaning them in and applying pressure. Castiel made a noise of surprise and looked up at him, Dean smiled widely, “so what we talking about?”
“Kayla was just telling me about the art exhibition in town on Degas, it sounds amazing,” Sam said brightly, “we’re gonna go tomorrow.”
He cocked an eyebrow, “oh we are, are we?”
“I’m the curator so I can get you guys in whenever,” she shrugged, smiling, “it’s no problem.”
Dean snorted, “I’m sure. Well that sounds swell doll but I’m afraid we’ve got plans for tomorrow. Desgas-”
“Degas,” Sam cut in.
“Yeah whatever, but sorry, the dude’s art will have to wait- we have plans.”
“We do?” Sam’s eyes narrowed, “what plans?”
“We’ve got stuff to do,” Dean said stubbornly, “or at least Cas and I do. You can go be an art geek if you like Sammy.” He pushed his foot against Castiel’s calf, “you still with me over there Cas?”
The angel started out of his trance- the one that looked remarkably like someone trying to pretend they weren’t playing footsie under the table- and blinked rapidly, “I’m fine,” he said hoarsely.
“You sure?”
Kayla had narrowed her eyes and was looking straight at Dean like she knew exactly what game they were suddenly playing. “You know, it’s always nicer at the gallery at night anyway,” she shifted closer to Cas, “more atmospheric. Are you free tomorrow night Cas?”
Castiel cleared his throat and looked around wildly, “I-”
“He’s free I think,” Sam said smirking.
“He’s not,” Dean corrected, “we’re leaving tomorrow night.” He tilted his head to one side and pulled a face at Kayla, “what a shame. Ah is that the time?” He stretched and then stood up, making sure to nudge his foot hard against Castiel’s one last time, “we better get going.”
“Oh,” Kayla pouted, batting her eyelashes at Cas, “you think you could walk a girl home? You never know what’s lurking round the corner.”
“Yeah, some big scary cat might eat you,” Dean said darkly.
She glanced up at him, her eyes clearly saying back off bitch and then back at Cas, practically simpering, “I’m only down the road but it would be awfully nice of you.”
The girl from the start of the evening that might have gone in Dean’s kind of cool book was totally gone. In her place was a fully blown angel stealing demon and he wanted to exorcise her like right the fuck now.
Castiel looked confused again and then opened his mouth, “perfect,” Kayla interrupted, “you’re such a gentleman.”
“Cas,” Dean grabbed his friend’s arm as Kayla danced over to the bar to grab her coat, “you don’t have to walk her home you know.”
“I know,” Castiel raised an eyebrow, “but she would like me to.”
“Yeah but-” he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t get the fucking words out.
“I will be fine,” Cas said softly, something in his eyes that he couldn’t put his finger on, “I will see you both back at the motel.” He nodded at Sam and then with a final glance at Dean, strode over to where Kayla was waiting. Her parting shot at Dean was a smug I win fucker and he gripped the table to prevent himself from shooting her in the face. He scowled, threw a twenty on the table and then stalked towards the exit.
They walked in silence, Dean storming on ahead furiously with Sam trailing behind, trying not to laugh at his brother’s pout.
Once they were back at the motel Dean threw the key on the table and turned to glower at his brother, “thanks for all your help back there Sam, real nice.”
“Dean,” Sam began in a soothing tone, “if you want this, you should at least have to fight for it.”
He blinked incredulously and then scrunched up his face in distaste, “what is this? Mean Girls Strike Back? Jesus Sammy we’re not in high school anymore! Cas has just gone home with a girl.”
“So what?”
“So,” Dean made an obscene gesture with his hands, “you know.”
Sam blinked; a blank expression on his face.
Dean sighed, “he doesn’t even know what a pick up line is Sam! He’s probably gonna get tied up and robbed and left on a bed somewhere.”
Which is totally not how Cas’ first time should be by the way. But at some point in the future handcuffs might come in useful... He blinked and shook himself, “what I’m saying is that now Castiel is off doing god knows what and-”
Sam rolled his eyes and planted one of his huge hands on Dean’s shoulder, “and he loves you, you blind moron. He’s about as likely to do anything with her as I am to marry that bar girl.”
Dean snorted, “she was pretty cool actually.”
Sam blushed, “yeah but uh,” he ran a hand across his neck awkwardly, “actually I-”
“Sammy!” Dean jumped three feet in the air and turned, gun immediately in hand and felt his jaw drop as he stared down the barrel into Gabriel’s face. “Oh,” Gabriel smirked, “I’m early. Awkwarrrd.”
“Oh my god,” Dean groaned, “Sam please don’t tell me-”
“Don’t even go there Dean, you’re the one who’s too chicken shit to tell my little brother how you feel. At least Sammy’s open about his feelings. And getting laid... Regularly.” Gabriel waggled his eyebrows and Dean tried not to puke.
“Uh, mental picture I don’t ever ever need man,” he raised his eyebrows at his unusually quiet brother and gestured with his gun between him and the archangel, “you wanna start talkin’ Sam?”
“Um-”
“Sam and I got together about the time Mikey burnt Anna to a crisp,” Gabriel shook his head, “I was just so broken up about that you know?” He grinned, “we discovered we’re pretty good at mutual comforting.”
Dean covered his ears suddenly, “oh god oh god I changed my mind I do not need to hear this,” he closed his eyes as an added safety measure and fumbled towards the door, “I’m gonna go get another room ok Sam?”
He could hear Sam’s grin now, little fucker that he was, “no worries.”
“Get one quite far down,” Gabriel called out.
Dean groaned and slammed the door, “you didn’t have to say that,” he heard Sam say laughing.
“Yeah but it’s just so fun to fuck with him.”
“You’re a cruel man.”
“Eh, I do alright, besides I love you so I don’t have to be nice to anybody else.”
Holy shit. Was he always the last to figure these things out?! And yet weirdly he was happy for his brother. So long as Gabriel didn’t decide to get his kicks from killing him again anytime soon.
“Dean?”
He felt a pair of hands pull his own hands away from his face and he opened his eyes in surprise, “Cas! You’re back!” On instinct he threw his arms around the lithe angel tightly.
“Oof- yes-” Castiel said breathlessly, “Kayla was ah- rather more forceful than expected.”
“Shit,” Dean pulled back and examined Cas’s face, “she didn’t hurt you did she?”
“No,” Castiel’s voice was amused, “she would have difficulty doing that.”
Dean realised he was practically cradling the angel’s face and let go quickly, “shit Cas I’m sorry I was such a douche earlier.”
In an uncharacteristically human move Castiel shoved his hands into his jean pockets, “I am fairly used to it Dean,” he said softly.
“But you shouldn’t be,” Dean said crossly, “you should tell me when I’m being a dick Cas!”
Castiel let out a huff of amusement and yep, there was the weird feeling in his stomach, all was back to normal.
He never thought he’d be so glad to have butterflies.
“Very well, I will tell you.” There was a silence as they gazed at one another and then Castiel looked at the floor, “but you cannot have it both ways forever.”
Dean blinked and shuffled awkwardly, shifting his weight between his feet, “what are you talking about?”
Castiel sighed, tipping his head back briefly and then fixed him with an intense gaze, “I realise that we are connected and always will be and I understand if you wish to keep things as they are but you cannot alienate any other person who wishes for... more than that from me Dean. If you do not want what I-”
“I do,” he blurted out suddenly and then reddened and looked back at his feet, his boots fascinating all of a sudden. “I mean, you know, I don’t want to alienate other people ‘cos I don’t want there to be other people Cas.”
“I see...” Castiel sounded confused, “so-”
“So when I said earlier that we weren’t a couple?”
“Yes.”
“Can I take it back?”
Castiel was silent for a moment and Dean could barely breathe as he looked up. Cas had a serious look on his face, “that depends.”
He swallowed, “on what?”
“On whether or not you can handle a lifetime or two of both Sam and Gabriel saying I told you so.”
Dean let out a laugh and then moved all the way into Castiel’s personal space, “I think you’re more than worth that Cas.”
Castiel hummed his approval and then they were grinning at each other like idiots, “come on,” Dean grabbed his hand, “I definitely don’t want Gabriel interrupting this.”