Supernatural fic: Grace Under Fire 2/10 (Dean/Cas PG-13 AU)
Title: Grace Under Fire [chapter 2/10]
Rating: PG-13 this part. R or NC-17 eventually.
Pairings/Characters: Dean/Castiel, some Balthazar/Sam, Ellen
Genre: AU, romance (still mostly fluffy for now)
Spoilers/Warnings: AU references to season 6
Word Count: apx 1,785 this part (3,560 so far)
Summary: The one in which Castiel and Dean are already stupid for each other even though they havent said a word to each other yet.
A/N: Also the one in which I still had no idea where I was going, but was trying to build it up to something. And again, more fleshed out than it was when first posted.
Disclaimer: Supernatural is the brain-spawn of the almighty Kripke. Im just showing love... And Im really unoriginal.
~ previous
Sorry about that, boys, Ellen apologized as Dean rounded the truck to the drivers seat.
No problem, Ellen. False alarms are better than the real thing, right? Dean replied, climbing into the truck.
You said it, she answered. Stepping up to the passenger side of the truck, she fixed them both with a steely-eyed gaze they knew all too well. You boys be careful, you hear? And send my regards to Chief Singer, she smirked, always ready to mock her old friend Bobbys official title.
Will do, Sam grinned through the window. She turned one last maternal glare on them for good measure, then stepped away from the truck, heading back towards the school.
I swear to Christ, one day Im gonna set fire to that Crowley guys stupid pink apron, Dean muttered as Ellen walked away. Sam chuckled at that as he handed the truck keys over, but Dean didnt laugh with him. Gripping the steering wheel tight, he took a deep breath, needing a moment to clear his head. The dark-haired teacher had already left the parking lot, but he couldnt shake the feeling of those blue eyes on him, still pressing at him like a physical weight and leaving him slightly breathless.
Are you alright? Whats with you? his brother asked.
Nothing, Dean replied shortly.
Nothing at all.
It wasnt like this was the first time hed been attracted to a guy or anything. Thered been that thing with Andy one time in High School when theyd gotten really, really high together. That brief, wild, thing with Nick when Sam had taken off to college. And Victor, once theyd stopped fighting long enough to work out why they seemed to want to fight all the time in the first place...
You sure? Sam raised an eyebrow.
Yeah, Sammy. Im fine, Dean sighed, finally starting the truck so they could leave.
Riiiight, Sam drawled. Cause I noticed you seemed to be distracted by something. Or should I say, some-one.
Dean snapped his head towards his brother at that, and Sam grinned at him knowingly. Was it that obvious?
Dude. You so owe me.
What? Dean replied, his face crinkling up in confusion.
His name is Castiel. And I just agreed to go to dinner with one of the other teachers in exchange for his phone number.
What?! Dean sputtered in disbelief.
You so owe me, Sam smirked.
~
Morning! Sam called out, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as he practically bounced into the living room where Dean was staring blankly at the television.
Dean grunted in response as Sam flopped down next to him on the couch, then went back to sucking down the copious amounts of caffeine he needed to be anywhere near the kind of awake his brother always seemed to spring out of bed with. He supposed Sam simply slept better, and he wished his own sleep could be as untroubled, for work if anything, given that on some shifts they had to be awake and ready at a moments notice. But Sam wasnt even home by the time Dean had crawled into bed after his shift last night.
Whatd you get up to last night? Dean asked, still not really seeing what was on the television but too brain-dead to look away from it.
My dinner with Balthazar was last night, Sam replied.
Dean hissed in a quiet breath as his brain jolted awake, suddenly aware of where this topic would most likely end up and not looking forward to it.
Ah, he replied on the exhale, taking another sip of coffee and trying to remain nonchalant.
Dean, Sam turned to him, fixing him with wide eyes, I made a passing comment over dinner about sometimes listening to classical music and afterwards he took me to Opera in the Park. Opera. In. The Park, Sam emphasized. I had a really good time. his brother sighed happily, snuggling back into his seat. Dean snorted.
Yeah well, you always did have a thing for blonds, he snarked.
Sam sent him a bitch-glare from across the couch, which only served to make Dean snicker at him.
So Did you go home with him? he asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Sam rolled his eyes.
For the millionth time Dean, it was just a friendly thing.
You also said you were open-minded, Dean leered.
I am, Sam replied. But... But even if I was attracted to him, his brother stammered, suddenly blushing so much that Dean had to raise an eyebrow, I wouldnt go home with someone on the first date! Sam finished in rush. Im not like you, Dean, he added, kicking Deans leg. Dean kicked back.
Prude.
Slut.
Bitch.
Jerk.
Ahhh I just love these mornings together, Dean sighed mockingly. Sam rolled his eyes again, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff, but Dean could see the small smile on his brothers face. And then Sam said,
He did get a bit handsy though.
Dean snorted out a laugh.
Well, shit, Samantha, do you need me to go and defend your virtue now?! he chortled.
Shut up, Sam huffed. "Besides, its your fault my virtue was in danger to begin with.
Dean stopped laughing at that, snapping his mouth shut with a scowl as he turned back to the television. Sam stared at him silently from across the couch, in that way he knew meant his brother was working up to say something he might not like. He tried to ignore it, in the hope his brother might let it go, but after a few more minutes it was just too unnerving.
What? Dean grumbled, gulping down more coffee.
Have you even called him yet?
Sam he warned.
Oh come on, Dean. You need to start dating again.
What are you talking about? I date, he protested indignantly.
Im not talking about random hookups, Dean. But yeah, its been months since you even had one of those, Sam replied, his brows furrowed in concern.
Dean sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. Sam had a point. Hed tried picking up a few times after he and Lisa had split up, but after a year of being in a stable relationship, one night stands just didnt have the same appeal as it used to. Dean didnt like to admit it to himself, but he needed something more now.
He just wasnt sure if he was ready to go through all that again, though. And he had a feeling this Castiel guy wouldnt just be a one-time thing. As it was, he couldnt get the memory of those intense blue eyes out of his head, that mess of dark hair, those ridiculously full lips He couldnt stop thinking about what those lips would feel like, taste like that lean frame pressed against his own
Dean shook himself. He couldnt remember the last time hed been so powerfully attracted to someone. Guy or girl. And that was only after seeing the man once across a crowded parking lot for Chrissakes.
Dean. Please, Sam said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Will you at least try? For me? his brother pleaded. "In return for putting my virtue on the line?" he added with a small grin.
Dean chuckled at that, but he could still see the concern in his brothers eyes. Dean sighed in defeat, unable, as ever, to resist that look.
Alright, Sammy. Ill call him.
~
Castiel was already well into his coffee when Balthazar entered the teachers lounge, sinking down into the chair opposite him with his usual Monday morning sigh. Castiel raised his eyes from his newspaper momentarily to lift his mug in greeting.
How was your date? he asked conversationally.
Oh lord, Balthazar drawled, The things I would do to that boy.
Castiel quirked his lips in amusement. He could only imagine. Wait, no, he didnt want to imagine.
If he wasnt so painfully straight! Balthazar lamented.
Like thats ever stopped you before, Castiel pointed out.
True, Balthazar ceded with a nod of his head. But alas! My charms failed to achieve the desired effect, he sighed.
Well I hope you didnt scare him too much, Castiel chuckled.
Me? Scary? Never! Balthazar scoffed.
Balthazar, you scare me on a daily basis. And thats even after years of knowing you, Castiel replied wryly.
Meh, Balthazar shrugged. He doesnt know what hes missing out on.
Or how lucky he is to get away with his life, Castiel shot back.
You wound me, Balthazar whimpered, clutching at his chest theatrically.
Grinning, Castiel went back to his paper. Balthazar seemed content to pout in silence for a few more moments, but then leaned forward and began to peer at Castiel more closely.
How about you? Anything... interesting this weekend?
Castiels grin froze at the tone in his friends voice. Hed come to dread that tone, as it usually led to the other man roping him into some harebrained scheme he always ended up regretting. Like the time Balthazar begged him to pretend to be his boyfriend to get into a Swingers party... Castiel only just managed to escape being the twelfth member of some sordid orgy, but it didnt save him from seeing more of his friend's anatomy than hed ever wanted to.
No nothing interesting happened... Castiel replied cautiously. Balthazar pouted again, but said nothing more. When the other man hopped up from his chair to make himself some coffee, Castiel frowned down at his paper.
His weekend had been rather pathetic actually. Hed spent the entire time on his couch, watching bad television and going through more than a few bottles of wine as he engaged in what could only be classified as moping over the memory of green eyes and freckles. The memory of Dean, as Balthazar had informed him.
It was frustrating, really, how easily Balthazar had managed to get a date with Sam Winchester, while Castiel had stood dumbstruck as the whole thing played out before him. It was pathetic. Hence the moping.
Castiel sighed as he gathered his things for class.
He was almost out the door when his phone vibrated in his hand, flashing an unknown number.
Hello? Castiel answered uncertainly.
Um Hi, is this Castiel Milton? A gruff, but pleasing, voice asked.
Yes? Castiel replied, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Uh this is Dean Winchester?
Castiels breath caught in his throat.
Um my brother Sam got your number from your friend Balthazar. He said I should give you a call.
Castiels eyes whipped over to Balthazar, and the other man raised a questioning eyebrow at him when he caught the gaze.
Uh Yes Hello, Dean.
A wide grin broke out across Balthazars face.
~ tbc