(no subject)
Title: Sometimes, It Just Works
Pairing: Sam/Castiel, Dean/Victor Henrikson, (Past Castiel/Anna)
Genre: Alt. Universe, Omegaverse
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 3,625
Summary: Dean and Victor are getting married! Which would be fine, except they're both alphas and they've only been dating for two months. Sam isn't exactly on-board until he meets their therapist, Castiel Novak, and find out that sometimes, things just work.
For: remivel.tumblr.com
Notes at the end.
Their fingers entwined, two men wait for the sun to rise. Their breathing is even, their skin is soft and warm where their bodies meet, their eyes are closed. They lay together and wait, each absorbing the presence of the other. The tall one buries his nose in the other’s dark hair and smiles. His mate holds their hands close to his chest, where both men can feel his heartbeat.
It’s their first night together.
----------
“I can’t believe you, Dean!” Sam said heatedly. His brother stepped into the bedroom behind him and closes the door in a mockery of privacy. The man sitting in the living room could hear everything through the walls, considering Sam’s volume.
“Look, it’s all a bit sudden-“ Dean started, but Sam threw a glare the size of Manhattan his way and he decided to get stubborn instead. “You’re my little brother, Sam, I don’t need your permission, but I could use a little support!”
“Support?” Sam said incredulously. “Dean, you’ve known him for two months and you’re claiming him as your mate? Where do you live? The dark ages?!”
“Sometimes, it just works, Sam!” Dean shouted. He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Look,” he said, “Victor comes from a real traditional pack, so we’ll have a long engagement before we claim each other-“
“Wait,” Sam held up a hand, “what do you mean, claim each other?”
Dean sighed and gave Sam a beleaguered look. “Victor’s an alpha too. So we’ll claim each other.”
“Are you insane?!” Sam said, throwing his hands up in defeat. “You and I can barely live under one roof and you’ve known this guy -this alpha- for two months and you’re going to spend the rest of your life together? There’s no way that’s going to work!”
It took all of a second for Dean to lunge at Sam and slam him against the door, pinning him with a growl.
“Sam,” he said, his anger barely restrained, every word steady, but charged, “I am still head of our family now that Dad’s gone. And you’ve been away at school. And I’m lonely. And Victor makes me happy. Why can’t you just be a good brother and congratulate me?”
Sam fought the urge to throw Dean off and put his fist through his face. He took a few breaths, looking up at the ceiling to avoid Dean’s stare. After a minute, Dean pulled away roughly.
“Dean,” Sam said calmly, “it isn’t that I’m not happy for you-“
“Oh really?” Dean interrupted, “’Cause it doesn’t seem that way.”
Sam took another deep breath. “I’m happy that you’ve found someone who makes you happy. I really am, Dean. You deserve it.” He floundered for a moment. “But you’ve got to admit, you’re moving really fast. I just don’t want you to end up hurt. Not because Victor would hurt you,” he quickly added at Dean’s glare, “but you know, break ups are hard and the chances of two alphas not breaking up isn’t exactly reassuring. I mean, two betas or omegas, sure, but, Dean, when Dad was alive, it was three alphas in one house and we were at each others’ throats all the time!” He spread his arms in a gesture of goodwill. “Maybe it will work out; it’s not unheard of for two alphas to mate. But I want you to be totally and completely sure that this is a long-term thing before you rush into it, okay?”
Dean nodded and gave a weak smile. “I know we’re moving fast, but I swear, we’re not going to mate for, like, eight months to a year. That’s enough time.”
Sam smiled back. “Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged. “Why his pack okay with you two getting engaged after two months but won’t let you actually mate for a year? Seems contradictory.”
Dean laughed. “Probably for the same reasons you’ve been yelling about. Look, dude, it’ll be fine. Victor’s parents are making us go see their ‘pack therapist’. They’re making us go to counseling before we’ve even fought about anything! You’re not the only paranoid one.”
“They’re making you go to counseling first?” Sam asked. “That’s weird.” Dean shot him a Look. “But a good idea!”
Dean reached for the doorknob. “So, are you going to be a decent human being and go meet my boyfriend or is this going to be a problem?”
Sam smiled. “No problem.”
“Just don’t talk about football,” Dean said as a footnote.
“Why?”
“He roots for the Steelers.”
“How can you want to be with this man?!”
----------
Two weeks after Sam found out about Victor and Dean, he met their therapist, Castiel Novak.
“This is weird,” Sam said, muttering to Dean in the kitchen. He could hear Victor talking with Novak in the living room, but had yet to venture out and actually meet the man. Dean shrugged.
“Victor says he does it with all the couples in therapy.” He poured himself a third cup of steaming coffee. “He wants to see what our life is like and how we interact with people or something.” He looked over the brim of his mug at Sam’s skeptical expression. “I’m not saying it’s not weird, ‘cause it is. I keep feeling like I’m ‘on my best behavior’ or something. But it’s just one day.” He smirked. “And I’m surprised you’re complaining. I thought you were all for this therapy idea.”
Sam lifted his shoulders in the making of a shrug, but they stayed put, muscles clenched uneasily. “It’s not that I’m against it, it’s just weird having him just follow you around and watch you guys. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Pretend he’s not there like a piece of furniture or do I talk to him?”
Dean snorted and swilled down half his coffee in one go. “Victor and I are supposed to effectively ignore him once we leave here. I have no fuckin’ clue what you’re supposed to do.”
“How do you even drink that stuff?” Sam rolled his eyes. “That coffee’s so strong, you’re going to burn a hole in your stomach.”
“Eh,” Dean said, unconcerned, “Alphas are made of stronger stuff.” He swallowed the rest of it and put the mug in the sink. “See you after work, bitch.”
“Jerk,” Sam replied automatically.
By four that afternoon, Sam figured it was safe to call Dean and see how it was going.
“I’m either getting used to the little fucker or I’m going insane,” Dean said, his voice echoing slightly, giving Sam the idea that Dean was hiding in the restroom of the mechanic’s shop where he worked.
“Well, if you’re calling him little fucker…” Sam said with amusement.
“Nah,” Dean sighed. “He’s alright. But he just sort of watches me and it’s just freaking bizarre. And every time he writes something down in that goddamn notebook of his, I have to fight the urge to rip it out of his hands and read it myself.”
Sam snorted into the phone. “That’s extreme.”
“I was expecting at least a beta,” Dean said even softer. “You know, someone who could hold their own with all the alphas in the shop. But Novak’s a freaking omega. An unmated omega, and his scent’s all over my car. Sam, I barely know the guy and I keep feeling like I have to protect him from the rest of the shop. They’re all eyeing him up like freaking cherry pie.”
“Is he hot?” Sam asked through his chuckle.
“He’s alright, I guess. Not my type.”
“Of course not,” Sam said. “Your type is tall, muscular black men with huge hands and knots.”
“It’s those big brown eyes,” Dean said in mocking admiration. Sam could practically hear him batting his eyelashes through the phone.
“Alright, sweetheart,” Sam laughed. “Just checking in. You know, because I care.”
“More like because you’re a nosy little bitch.”
“Sure, go with that,” Sam said. “Hey, is Novak going to be with you for dinner and everything? Or is this a nine-to-five thing?”
“Nah, he’s coming home for dinner,” Dean said. Sam heard the gruff tones of Dean’s boss and friend Bobby Singer in the background. “Look, I’ve got to go. You’ll probably like him- he’s a nerd like you.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Sam said as he hung up.
Whatever you could say about him, Dean wasn’t one to purposefully, intentionally, and all-out knowingly ruin Sam’s evening. Drive him insane for a couple hours, sure. But make him actually suffer? Sam was contemplating that thought when he missed Novak’s - Castiel’s - question.
“Sorry, what?” Sam asked, embarrassed. Castiel simply smiled and repeated the question about what college Sam had attended and by the time the topic had turned to something else, Sam was deciding that maybe Dean actually did set out to ruin him.
Not that Castiel was annoying, intrusive, and a terrible person. The problem was that he wasn’t. He was charming and intelligent and confident in that perfectly soft-spoken way that radiated so much from his soft smile that he didn’t need to back it up with extravagance or volume like Dean did.
The problem settling into Sam’s mind, was that Castiel was too wonderful. He knew omegas were the type to fit in anywhere, but Castiel almost seemed custom made for him. The minute Sam laid eyes on him, he got flushed all over; Castiel was gorgeous, but not too gorgeous, but handsome enough that the alpha part of Sam snuck into his personality whispering ‘Want him, want him, want him!’ like a whiny two-year-old. And not to brag, but that didn’t happen often. It was incredibly and completely distracting.
“What do you think about that, Sam?” Castiel asked, turning those big blue eyes on Sam, who felt the heat rush to his face; he’d been daydreaming again.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized again, “I can’t seem to keep my mind on anything. What do I think about what?” He took a rather large sip of wine and hoped the two glasses he’d already had could comfortably account for the blush spreading across his cheeks.
Castiel didn’t seem to notice his absent-mindedness. “I was wondering what you thought about coming in to talk with me in a few weeks. It’s always good to have family input when a new couple are engaged.”
“What, like, just me?” Sam hoped his apprehension didn’t show through his tone, but by the quirk of Dean’s eyebrow, it had.
Castiel smiled knowingly. “Just you. Victor and Dean aren’t the only ones who are trying to get used to a new relationship. Pack dynamics are fickle things, especially when two alphas get involved. I’ve known the Henriksons for years, but I’d like to get to know you, as well.”
Sam nodded stiffly. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Castiel’s smile grew warmer; so did Sam’s face.
“This was an interesting day, gentlemen,” Castiel said at the door an hour later. “I look forward to seeing you next week.” With all hands shaken, he stepped out the door of the apartment and headed down the hall, as calm and collected as he’d been all evening.
“See?” Victor said, smiling smugly. “He’s not so bad.”
“I didn’t say he was!” Dean said defensively.
“Oh, no,” Victor said sarcastically. “You only complained about him for the last two days and spent most of the afternoon torn between punching his shoulder and punching his face.”
Dean shook his head. “Don’t be stupid. I just didn’t like him following us around.”
Victor threw Sam a withered look. “Castiel spent the morning with me at the police department and the afternoon with Dean at the shop. I swear, Sam,” he put his hand on Sam’s shoulder in commiseration, “your brother called me no less than fifteen times asking what was going on.”
“I did not!” Dean shouted from the kitchen, where he plunked the dirty plates roughly in the sink.
Victor and Sam shared a knowing glance.
“Besides,” Dean said, coming back out into the living room, “if I had any… misgivings about you spending all that time with a handsome omega, they were put to rest by the fact that Sam spent the entire dinner drooling over him like he was in heat.”
“Dean!” Sam said scandalized. “I can’t believe you! I did not.”
It was Dean’s turn to share a knowing glance with Victor.
“Jeez, look at that bitch face,” Dean said at Sam’s expression.
Sam walked back to the dining room, where a nice black pen with opal insetting lay on the tabletop.
“Hey, is this Castiel’s pen?” He asked. “Looks expensive.”
“Oh, yeah,” Dean said absently. “I guess we’ll just give it to him next week.”
Sam shook his head, the blush returning to his cheeks. “No, he’s probably still close. The elevator’s down so he might still be on the stairs.” And without a look to see Dean’s puzzled expression, he ran out the door after Castiel.
He was right; Castiel was just entering parking lot as Sam got the bottom of the stairs, having bounded down four flights, praying he had enough agility not to kill himself by falling.
“Castiel! Wait!” he called out. Castiel turned, surprised.
“Something wrong?” Castiel asked calmly.
“No,” Sam said as he jogged up to the other man. “It’s just, you forgot your pen.” He handed Castiel the pen abruptly, realizing what a crazy person he must look like.
Castiel smiled up at him and suddenly it didn’t matter if he looked crazy, it was worth it for that smile.
“Thank you so much,” Castiel said. “I’d have hated myself for losing it.” He tucked it into the inside pocket of his blazer.
“Looks expensive,” Sam said, mentally cringing.
Castiel gave a small shrug. “I don’t know, it came to me from someone else. But I’m rather attached to it.” He smiled again at Sam. “I hope you didn’t find my presence at dinner intrusive. Some alphas don’t like it.”
“No, it was fine!” Sam said quickly. “I like you. I mean, you’re smart and funny, who wouldn’t want you to stay for dinner?” His words spilled out of his mouth, tumbling over one another awkwardly.
“I return the sentiment,” Castiel said warmly. “I have a good feeling that your brother -and you by extension- will fit in well with the Henrikson family. You’re very likable.”
Sam snorted in embarrassment, looking away. “That’s nice of you, considering I spaced out all night.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Castiel shook his head, “it was a pleasant evening.”
The air in the parking lot was warm and dry from the summer heat, but Sam felt a sudden chill run through him as Castiel began to turn toward his car.
“Do you think maybe you and I could talk sometime?” He asked. Castiel crooked his head to the side.
“Well, I did suggest it at dinner,” he said innocently.
Sam braced himself. “No, I meant, like, get coffee or lunch or something. The two of us.”
Castiel’s face became more serious, contemplating for a moment. “I’d like that, Sam,” he said, almost hesitantly.
“Great,” Sam said, latching on. “Are you free Friday afternoon?” His stomach flopped at Castiel’s ponderous expression, as though maybe he was over-reaching some invisible boundary.
“Sure,” Castiel said slowly after a moment. “Is one o’clock alright?”
“Perfect!” Sam said, smiling.
The calmly contented look returned to Castiel’s face. “Have you tried the new Italian sub place off Ritchie Highway? It’s pretty good.”
“I haven’t, but that sounds fine,” Sam said. He shoved his hands in his back pockets to stop them fidgeting nervously. “See you at one, then?”
Castiel nodded. “Great,” he said. “Goodnight, Sam.”
“Goodnight,” Sam replied. He walked back into the building and flew up the four flights of stairs only to slump against the door of the apartment the instant he got inside.
“What’s wrong with you, cupcake?” Dean asked teasingly. “That was a long time to return a pen.”
Sam just shot him an irritated look.
Friday was the best date of Sam’s life, even if he wasn’t quite sure that’s what it was. As before, Castiel stole the show whenever he spoke, but with just the two of them, Sam had no trouble keeping the conversation moving. They spent almost all afternoon talking about everything from Dean’s obsession with his car to the saddest book they’d ever read to who should win the next presidential election.
And the more he learned about Castiel, the harder Sam fell for him. Maybe Dean was right for once, he thought as he drove home with a grin on his face, maybe sometimes, things just work.
It wasn’t until their seventh date that Sam suspected Castiel might not quite feel the same way about him.
They walked along the footpath that wound through the park, dodging little kids on bikes and Saturday joggers. Their silence was comfortable, but something had seemed off all afternoon and Sam couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Is something wrong?” He finally asked. They sat under a huge tree facing a pond, the sun gleaming on the water, which rippled in the cool breeze. It was perfect weather, heaven sent, but there was an uneasiness blanketed over Castiel’s every move.
Castiel looked over at him and for the first time, Sam saw sadness in his eyes.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said. “Today’s been perfect.”
Sam’s lungs clenched up through the lie. “Then why do you look so sad?” He looked back out to the water, unable to meet Castiel’s eyes if this was it, he’d had enough of seeing Sam, Castiel didn’t feel the same way he did.
“Sam,” Castiel started, but he stopped, searching for the right words. “It’s complicated.”
“Don’t we know each other enough that you can tell me?” Sam said, trying to keep his tone light.
Castiel nodded and for a moment, there was silence between them again, but it was oppressive and Sam let it invade him like a disease.
“It’s just,” Castiel began. “It’s just that I’m a little torn, I suppose.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked. He plucked at the grass beneath his right hand, pulling it out of the earth like he wished he could pull the silence out from between them. In the corner of his eye, he saw Castiel look over at him. After a moment, he felt the other man move closer and rest his hand on Sam’s. He looked up.
“I’m starting to have strong feelings for you and I don’t really know what to do with them,” Castiel said softly, his pretty mouth turned down in a worried frown.
Sam let out the breath he’d been holding and chanced a weak smile. “Isn’t that a good thing? Having strong feelings?”
Castiel broke eye contact and the smile slipped from Sam’s face.
“Sam,” Castiel said, “I used to have an alpha mate.” He ended the sentence as if he meant to continue, but did not.
Sam’s stomach dropped. “What happened?” He asked quietly.
“Her name was Anna,” Castiel said, his voice low and heavy. “We grew up together. You could say we were childhood sweethearts.” He started to move his hand away from Sam’s, but changed his mind and gripped it tighter. “We were together for ten years before she died. Cancer. The tumor was inoperable. By the time the doctor’s found it, it was a matter of months before-“ His voice tightened and broke. “That was seven years ago.”
Sam took Castiel’s hand and pressed it to his lips. As much as he cared for Castiel, to lose a mate so young was absolutely heartbreaking. No wonder Castiel had been hesitant about him. Sam shouldn’t have asked, it wasn’t his place, what is wrong with him that he didn’t notice something was off?
“I’m sorry, Cas,” Sam whispered. Castiel leaned against him, resting his head on Sam’s shoulder.
“I thought I’d never fall in love again,” Castiel said. Sam turned and kissed the top of his head.
“It’s okay,” he said into Castiel’s hair. “We’ll just be friends. It’s okay. I understand. I’m sorry.”
Castiel lifted his head to look Sam in the eye. “But that’s just it. I don’t want us to be friends. I thought maybe that’d be as far as things went when we first met, but Sam,” he sat up to be at eye-level with Sam, “I want to be more. I want us to be together.”
He pressed his lips to Sam’s for the first time and Sam felt like flying. It was soft and quick, over faster than it felt, but Sam couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face when he opened his eyes. Castiel returned it somewhat sheepishly.
“I just think maybe we should take our time,” Castiel said slowly, searching Sam’s face.
Sam leaned in a kissed him again, this time slower, more intimate. He tried to send every good feeling he had through the contact of their lips and when they broke apart, Castiel’s smile was unmarred by grief or uncertainty.
“Then we’ll take it slow,” Sam agreed. “I promise.”
----------
Their fingers entwined, two men wait for the sun to rise. It’s their first night together after three years of lunch dates and movie nights and soft, slow kisses outside apartment doors. The photograph on the nightstand shows the two of them slow dancing at a wedding where one of the grooms appears to be arguing in the background with a laughing DJ. The kisses they share are deep and slow and perfect. After three years, they’ve had practice making every second worth remembering.
Outside, the night is warm and quiet, and inside, two men wait for their first day as mates to begin a lifetime.
Author's Notes:
Prompt chosen: An Alpha/Omega knotting fic. Maybe Sam is like THE ultimate alpha and everybody wants to be with him… and then there’s poor Cas, in the bottom of the omega pile. But for some reason, Sam wants him and no one else.
SO, REN. Your prompts were absolutely amazing. Like, it became problematic because I just wanted to write ALL the fic for you and did not have enough time. I wrote about 8k words in three other fics before settling on this one. I just didn't seem to be able to do your prompts justice and then I was freaking out last night because, hello, it was due TODAY and I ended up starting this at, like, ten o'clock last night. I meant for it to be longer and wanted to include so much more, but I ended up liking it the way it is and frankly, I've obviously run out of time.
Anyway. I know it's not really what you asked for at all, but I starting thinking about ~why Cas might be at the "bottom of the omega pile" and I thought, "Well, maybe it's 'cause he's a widower" and somehow I ran with that. I totally meant to have their first knotting in here, but then it didn't seem to work well with the rest of it, and I have, like, four other ideas that I wanted to write about, like, Sam meeting Castiel's family, Dean and Victor's wedding (where Cas' brother Gabriel DJs and causes havoc), and UGH I just got so many feels for an AU. That doesn't happen too often and NEVER happens with my own writing.
Also, I was so close to breaking down and just ASKING you who you'd like with Dean because usually I ship him with Gabriel, but for some reason that just didn't seem to work for me and I always liked Dean and Victor Henrikson together because I think they could have been epic bros outside of the fact that Victor wanted to kill him for most of the time. But then I ran into the problem of seeing them both as Alphas, and then I was like "Well, why not two alphas? Maybe that's why they need therapy!"
This is a long way of saying that I'm so sorry it's not exactly what you asked for, but maybe it's alright and not terrible and even if it is, I've got about five other fics going that are based on your prompts, so. I don't even know.
-Nani
Pairing: Sam/Castiel, Dean/Victor Henrikson, (Past Castiel/Anna)
Genre: Alt. Universe, Omegaverse
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 3,625
Summary: Dean and Victor are getting married! Which would be fine, except they're both alphas and they've only been dating for two months. Sam isn't exactly on-board until he meets their therapist, Castiel Novak, and find out that sometimes, things just work.
For: remivel.tumblr.com
Notes at the end.
Their fingers entwined, two men wait for the sun to rise. Their breathing is even, their skin is soft and warm where their bodies meet, their eyes are closed. They lay together and wait, each absorbing the presence of the other. The tall one buries his nose in the other’s dark hair and smiles. His mate holds their hands close to his chest, where both men can feel his heartbeat.
It’s their first night together.
----------
“I can’t believe you, Dean!” Sam said heatedly. His brother stepped into the bedroom behind him and closes the door in a mockery of privacy. The man sitting in the living room could hear everything through the walls, considering Sam’s volume.
“Look, it’s all a bit sudden-“ Dean started, but Sam threw a glare the size of Manhattan his way and he decided to get stubborn instead. “You’re my little brother, Sam, I don’t need your permission, but I could use a little support!”
“Support?” Sam said incredulously. “Dean, you’ve known him for two months and you’re claiming him as your mate? Where do you live? The dark ages?!”
“Sometimes, it just works, Sam!” Dean shouted. He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Look,” he said, “Victor comes from a real traditional pack, so we’ll have a long engagement before we claim each other-“
“Wait,” Sam held up a hand, “what do you mean, claim each other?”
Dean sighed and gave Sam a beleaguered look. “Victor’s an alpha too. So we’ll claim each other.”
“Are you insane?!” Sam said, throwing his hands up in defeat. “You and I can barely live under one roof and you’ve known this guy -this alpha- for two months and you’re going to spend the rest of your life together? There’s no way that’s going to work!”
It took all of a second for Dean to lunge at Sam and slam him against the door, pinning him with a growl.
“Sam,” he said, his anger barely restrained, every word steady, but charged, “I am still head of our family now that Dad’s gone. And you’ve been away at school. And I’m lonely. And Victor makes me happy. Why can’t you just be a good brother and congratulate me?”
Sam fought the urge to throw Dean off and put his fist through his face. He took a few breaths, looking up at the ceiling to avoid Dean’s stare. After a minute, Dean pulled away roughly.
“Dean,” Sam said calmly, “it isn’t that I’m not happy for you-“
“Oh really?” Dean interrupted, “’Cause it doesn’t seem that way.”
Sam took another deep breath. “I’m happy that you’ve found someone who makes you happy. I really am, Dean. You deserve it.” He floundered for a moment. “But you’ve got to admit, you’re moving really fast. I just don’t want you to end up hurt. Not because Victor would hurt you,” he quickly added at Dean’s glare, “but you know, break ups are hard and the chances of two alphas not breaking up isn’t exactly reassuring. I mean, two betas or omegas, sure, but, Dean, when Dad was alive, it was three alphas in one house and we were at each others’ throats all the time!” He spread his arms in a gesture of goodwill. “Maybe it will work out; it’s not unheard of for two alphas to mate. But I want you to be totally and completely sure that this is a long-term thing before you rush into it, okay?”
Dean nodded and gave a weak smile. “I know we’re moving fast, but I swear, we’re not going to mate for, like, eight months to a year. That’s enough time.”
Sam smiled back. “Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged. “Why his pack okay with you two getting engaged after two months but won’t let you actually mate for a year? Seems contradictory.”
Dean laughed. “Probably for the same reasons you’ve been yelling about. Look, dude, it’ll be fine. Victor’s parents are making us go see their ‘pack therapist’. They’re making us go to counseling before we’ve even fought about anything! You’re not the only paranoid one.”
“They’re making you go to counseling first?” Sam asked. “That’s weird.” Dean shot him a Look. “But a good idea!”
Dean reached for the doorknob. “So, are you going to be a decent human being and go meet my boyfriend or is this going to be a problem?”
Sam smiled. “No problem.”
“Just don’t talk about football,” Dean said as a footnote.
“Why?”
“He roots for the Steelers.”
“How can you want to be with this man?!”
----------
Two weeks after Sam found out about Victor and Dean, he met their therapist, Castiel Novak.
“This is weird,” Sam said, muttering to Dean in the kitchen. He could hear Victor talking with Novak in the living room, but had yet to venture out and actually meet the man. Dean shrugged.
“Victor says he does it with all the couples in therapy.” He poured himself a third cup of steaming coffee. “He wants to see what our life is like and how we interact with people or something.” He looked over the brim of his mug at Sam’s skeptical expression. “I’m not saying it’s not weird, ‘cause it is. I keep feeling like I’m ‘on my best behavior’ or something. But it’s just one day.” He smirked. “And I’m surprised you’re complaining. I thought you were all for this therapy idea.”
Sam lifted his shoulders in the making of a shrug, but they stayed put, muscles clenched uneasily. “It’s not that I’m against it, it’s just weird having him just follow you around and watch you guys. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Pretend he’s not there like a piece of furniture or do I talk to him?”
Dean snorted and swilled down half his coffee in one go. “Victor and I are supposed to effectively ignore him once we leave here. I have no fuckin’ clue what you’re supposed to do.”
“How do you even drink that stuff?” Sam rolled his eyes. “That coffee’s so strong, you’re going to burn a hole in your stomach.”
“Eh,” Dean said, unconcerned, “Alphas are made of stronger stuff.” He swallowed the rest of it and put the mug in the sink. “See you after work, bitch.”
“Jerk,” Sam replied automatically.
By four that afternoon, Sam figured it was safe to call Dean and see how it was going.
“I’m either getting used to the little fucker or I’m going insane,” Dean said, his voice echoing slightly, giving Sam the idea that Dean was hiding in the restroom of the mechanic’s shop where he worked.
“Well, if you’re calling him little fucker…” Sam said with amusement.
“Nah,” Dean sighed. “He’s alright. But he just sort of watches me and it’s just freaking bizarre. And every time he writes something down in that goddamn notebook of his, I have to fight the urge to rip it out of his hands and read it myself.”
Sam snorted into the phone. “That’s extreme.”
“I was expecting at least a beta,” Dean said even softer. “You know, someone who could hold their own with all the alphas in the shop. But Novak’s a freaking omega. An unmated omega, and his scent’s all over my car. Sam, I barely know the guy and I keep feeling like I have to protect him from the rest of the shop. They’re all eyeing him up like freaking cherry pie.”
“Is he hot?” Sam asked through his chuckle.
“He’s alright, I guess. Not my type.”
“Of course not,” Sam said. “Your type is tall, muscular black men with huge hands and knots.”
“It’s those big brown eyes,” Dean said in mocking admiration. Sam could practically hear him batting his eyelashes through the phone.
“Alright, sweetheart,” Sam laughed. “Just checking in. You know, because I care.”
“More like because you’re a nosy little bitch.”
“Sure, go with that,” Sam said. “Hey, is Novak going to be with you for dinner and everything? Or is this a nine-to-five thing?”
“Nah, he’s coming home for dinner,” Dean said. Sam heard the gruff tones of Dean’s boss and friend Bobby Singer in the background. “Look, I’ve got to go. You’ll probably like him- he’s a nerd like you.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Sam said as he hung up.
Whatever you could say about him, Dean wasn’t one to purposefully, intentionally, and all-out knowingly ruin Sam’s evening. Drive him insane for a couple hours, sure. But make him actually suffer? Sam was contemplating that thought when he missed Novak’s - Castiel’s - question.
“Sorry, what?” Sam asked, embarrassed. Castiel simply smiled and repeated the question about what college Sam had attended and by the time the topic had turned to something else, Sam was deciding that maybe Dean actually did set out to ruin him.
Not that Castiel was annoying, intrusive, and a terrible person. The problem was that he wasn’t. He was charming and intelligent and confident in that perfectly soft-spoken way that radiated so much from his soft smile that he didn’t need to back it up with extravagance or volume like Dean did.
The problem settling into Sam’s mind, was that Castiel was too wonderful. He knew omegas were the type to fit in anywhere, but Castiel almost seemed custom made for him. The minute Sam laid eyes on him, he got flushed all over; Castiel was gorgeous, but not too gorgeous, but handsome enough that the alpha part of Sam snuck into his personality whispering ‘Want him, want him, want him!’ like a whiny two-year-old. And not to brag, but that didn’t happen often. It was incredibly and completely distracting.
“What do you think about that, Sam?” Castiel asked, turning those big blue eyes on Sam, who felt the heat rush to his face; he’d been daydreaming again.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized again, “I can’t seem to keep my mind on anything. What do I think about what?” He took a rather large sip of wine and hoped the two glasses he’d already had could comfortably account for the blush spreading across his cheeks.
Castiel didn’t seem to notice his absent-mindedness. “I was wondering what you thought about coming in to talk with me in a few weeks. It’s always good to have family input when a new couple are engaged.”
“What, like, just me?” Sam hoped his apprehension didn’t show through his tone, but by the quirk of Dean’s eyebrow, it had.
Castiel smiled knowingly. “Just you. Victor and Dean aren’t the only ones who are trying to get used to a new relationship. Pack dynamics are fickle things, especially when two alphas get involved. I’ve known the Henriksons for years, but I’d like to get to know you, as well.”
Sam nodded stiffly. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Castiel’s smile grew warmer; so did Sam’s face.
“This was an interesting day, gentlemen,” Castiel said at the door an hour later. “I look forward to seeing you next week.” With all hands shaken, he stepped out the door of the apartment and headed down the hall, as calm and collected as he’d been all evening.
“See?” Victor said, smiling smugly. “He’s not so bad.”
“I didn’t say he was!” Dean said defensively.
“Oh, no,” Victor said sarcastically. “You only complained about him for the last two days and spent most of the afternoon torn between punching his shoulder and punching his face.”
Dean shook his head. “Don’t be stupid. I just didn’t like him following us around.”
Victor threw Sam a withered look. “Castiel spent the morning with me at the police department and the afternoon with Dean at the shop. I swear, Sam,” he put his hand on Sam’s shoulder in commiseration, “your brother called me no less than fifteen times asking what was going on.”
“I did not!” Dean shouted from the kitchen, where he plunked the dirty plates roughly in the sink.
Victor and Sam shared a knowing glance.
“Besides,” Dean said, coming back out into the living room, “if I had any… misgivings about you spending all that time with a handsome omega, they were put to rest by the fact that Sam spent the entire dinner drooling over him like he was in heat.”
“Dean!” Sam said scandalized. “I can’t believe you! I did not.”
It was Dean’s turn to share a knowing glance with Victor.
“Jeez, look at that bitch face,” Dean said at Sam’s expression.
Sam walked back to the dining room, where a nice black pen with opal insetting lay on the tabletop.
“Hey, is this Castiel’s pen?” He asked. “Looks expensive.”
“Oh, yeah,” Dean said absently. “I guess we’ll just give it to him next week.”
Sam shook his head, the blush returning to his cheeks. “No, he’s probably still close. The elevator’s down so he might still be on the stairs.” And without a look to see Dean’s puzzled expression, he ran out the door after Castiel.
He was right; Castiel was just entering parking lot as Sam got the bottom of the stairs, having bounded down four flights, praying he had enough agility not to kill himself by falling.
“Castiel! Wait!” he called out. Castiel turned, surprised.
“Something wrong?” Castiel asked calmly.
“No,” Sam said as he jogged up to the other man. “It’s just, you forgot your pen.” He handed Castiel the pen abruptly, realizing what a crazy person he must look like.
Castiel smiled up at him and suddenly it didn’t matter if he looked crazy, it was worth it for that smile.
“Thank you so much,” Castiel said. “I’d have hated myself for losing it.” He tucked it into the inside pocket of his blazer.
“Looks expensive,” Sam said, mentally cringing.
Castiel gave a small shrug. “I don’t know, it came to me from someone else. But I’m rather attached to it.” He smiled again at Sam. “I hope you didn’t find my presence at dinner intrusive. Some alphas don’t like it.”
“No, it was fine!” Sam said quickly. “I like you. I mean, you’re smart and funny, who wouldn’t want you to stay for dinner?” His words spilled out of his mouth, tumbling over one another awkwardly.
“I return the sentiment,” Castiel said warmly. “I have a good feeling that your brother -and you by extension- will fit in well with the Henrikson family. You’re very likable.”
Sam snorted in embarrassment, looking away. “That’s nice of you, considering I spaced out all night.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Castiel shook his head, “it was a pleasant evening.”
The air in the parking lot was warm and dry from the summer heat, but Sam felt a sudden chill run through him as Castiel began to turn toward his car.
“Do you think maybe you and I could talk sometime?” He asked. Castiel crooked his head to the side.
“Well, I did suggest it at dinner,” he said innocently.
Sam braced himself. “No, I meant, like, get coffee or lunch or something. The two of us.”
Castiel’s face became more serious, contemplating for a moment. “I’d like that, Sam,” he said, almost hesitantly.
“Great,” Sam said, latching on. “Are you free Friday afternoon?” His stomach flopped at Castiel’s ponderous expression, as though maybe he was over-reaching some invisible boundary.
“Sure,” Castiel said slowly after a moment. “Is one o’clock alright?”
“Perfect!” Sam said, smiling.
The calmly contented look returned to Castiel’s face. “Have you tried the new Italian sub place off Ritchie Highway? It’s pretty good.”
“I haven’t, but that sounds fine,” Sam said. He shoved his hands in his back pockets to stop them fidgeting nervously. “See you at one, then?”
Castiel nodded. “Great,” he said. “Goodnight, Sam.”
“Goodnight,” Sam replied. He walked back into the building and flew up the four flights of stairs only to slump against the door of the apartment the instant he got inside.
“What’s wrong with you, cupcake?” Dean asked teasingly. “That was a long time to return a pen.”
Sam just shot him an irritated look.
Friday was the best date of Sam’s life, even if he wasn’t quite sure that’s what it was. As before, Castiel stole the show whenever he spoke, but with just the two of them, Sam had no trouble keeping the conversation moving. They spent almost all afternoon talking about everything from Dean’s obsession with his car to the saddest book they’d ever read to who should win the next presidential election.
And the more he learned about Castiel, the harder Sam fell for him. Maybe Dean was right for once, he thought as he drove home with a grin on his face, maybe sometimes, things just work.
It wasn’t until their seventh date that Sam suspected Castiel might not quite feel the same way about him.
They walked along the footpath that wound through the park, dodging little kids on bikes and Saturday joggers. Their silence was comfortable, but something had seemed off all afternoon and Sam couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Is something wrong?” He finally asked. They sat under a huge tree facing a pond, the sun gleaming on the water, which rippled in the cool breeze. It was perfect weather, heaven sent, but there was an uneasiness blanketed over Castiel’s every move.
Castiel looked over at him and for the first time, Sam saw sadness in his eyes.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said. “Today’s been perfect.”
Sam’s lungs clenched up through the lie. “Then why do you look so sad?” He looked back out to the water, unable to meet Castiel’s eyes if this was it, he’d had enough of seeing Sam, Castiel didn’t feel the same way he did.
“Sam,” Castiel started, but he stopped, searching for the right words. “It’s complicated.”
“Don’t we know each other enough that you can tell me?” Sam said, trying to keep his tone light.
Castiel nodded and for a moment, there was silence between them again, but it was oppressive and Sam let it invade him like a disease.
“It’s just,” Castiel began. “It’s just that I’m a little torn, I suppose.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked. He plucked at the grass beneath his right hand, pulling it out of the earth like he wished he could pull the silence out from between them. In the corner of his eye, he saw Castiel look over at him. After a moment, he felt the other man move closer and rest his hand on Sam’s. He looked up.
“I’m starting to have strong feelings for you and I don’t really know what to do with them,” Castiel said softly, his pretty mouth turned down in a worried frown.
Sam let out the breath he’d been holding and chanced a weak smile. “Isn’t that a good thing? Having strong feelings?”
Castiel broke eye contact and the smile slipped from Sam’s face.
“Sam,” Castiel said, “I used to have an alpha mate.” He ended the sentence as if he meant to continue, but did not.
Sam’s stomach dropped. “What happened?” He asked quietly.
“Her name was Anna,” Castiel said, his voice low and heavy. “We grew up together. You could say we were childhood sweethearts.” He started to move his hand away from Sam’s, but changed his mind and gripped it tighter. “We were together for ten years before she died. Cancer. The tumor was inoperable. By the time the doctor’s found it, it was a matter of months before-“ His voice tightened and broke. “That was seven years ago.”
Sam took Castiel’s hand and pressed it to his lips. As much as he cared for Castiel, to lose a mate so young was absolutely heartbreaking. No wonder Castiel had been hesitant about him. Sam shouldn’t have asked, it wasn’t his place, what is wrong with him that he didn’t notice something was off?
“I’m sorry, Cas,” Sam whispered. Castiel leaned against him, resting his head on Sam’s shoulder.
“I thought I’d never fall in love again,” Castiel said. Sam turned and kissed the top of his head.
“It’s okay,” he said into Castiel’s hair. “We’ll just be friends. It’s okay. I understand. I’m sorry.”
Castiel lifted his head to look Sam in the eye. “But that’s just it. I don’t want us to be friends. I thought maybe that’d be as far as things went when we first met, but Sam,” he sat up to be at eye-level with Sam, “I want to be more. I want us to be together.”
He pressed his lips to Sam’s for the first time and Sam felt like flying. It was soft and quick, over faster than it felt, but Sam couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face when he opened his eyes. Castiel returned it somewhat sheepishly.
“I just think maybe we should take our time,” Castiel said slowly, searching Sam’s face.
Sam leaned in a kissed him again, this time slower, more intimate. He tried to send every good feeling he had through the contact of their lips and when they broke apart, Castiel’s smile was unmarred by grief or uncertainty.
“Then we’ll take it slow,” Sam agreed. “I promise.”
----------
Their fingers entwined, two men wait for the sun to rise. It’s their first night together after three years of lunch dates and movie nights and soft, slow kisses outside apartment doors. The photograph on the nightstand shows the two of them slow dancing at a wedding where one of the grooms appears to be arguing in the background with a laughing DJ. The kisses they share are deep and slow and perfect. After three years, they’ve had practice making every second worth remembering.
Outside, the night is warm and quiet, and inside, two men wait for their first day as mates to begin a lifetime.
Author's Notes:
Prompt chosen: An Alpha/Omega knotting fic. Maybe Sam is like THE ultimate alpha and everybody wants to be with him… and then there’s poor Cas, in the bottom of the omega pile. But for some reason, Sam wants him and no one else.
SO, REN. Your prompts were absolutely amazing. Like, it became problematic because I just wanted to write ALL the fic for you and did not have enough time. I wrote about 8k words in three other fics before settling on this one. I just didn't seem to be able to do your prompts justice and then I was freaking out last night because, hello, it was due TODAY and I ended up starting this at, like, ten o'clock last night. I meant for it to be longer and wanted to include so much more, but I ended up liking it the way it is and frankly, I've obviously run out of time.
Anyway. I know it's not really what you asked for at all, but I starting thinking about ~why Cas might be at the "bottom of the omega pile" and I thought, "Well, maybe it's 'cause he's a widower" and somehow I ran with that. I totally meant to have their first knotting in here, but then it didn't seem to work well with the rest of it, and I have, like, four other ideas that I wanted to write about, like, Sam meeting Castiel's family, Dean and Victor's wedding (where Cas' brother Gabriel DJs and causes havoc), and UGH I just got so many feels for an AU. That doesn't happen too often and NEVER happens with my own writing.
Also, I was so close to breaking down and just ASKING you who you'd like with Dean because usually I ship him with Gabriel, but for some reason that just didn't seem to work for me and I always liked Dean and Victor Henrikson together because I think they could have been epic bros outside of the fact that Victor wanted to kill him for most of the time. But then I ran into the problem of seeing them both as Alphas, and then I was like "Well, why not two alphas? Maybe that's why they need therapy!"
This is a long way of saying that I'm so sorry it's not exactly what you asked for, but maybe it's alright and not terrible and even if it is, I've got about five other fics going that are based on your prompts, so. I don't even know.
-Nani