Chapter Text
It was 3 in the morning and Cas could feel his brain shutting down. Working at this boring fast-food restaurant that serves mediocre fries all to pay off his dumb engineering degree. He could feel himself starting to regret everything that lead him up to this point, maybe it was the need to prove himself to his fucked up family. Or maybe he wanted something to show for himself instead of being the forgotten child. He scoffs when he thinks about the golden child of the family, Micheal. Like hell he is.
He glanced at the clock again and heavily sighed again, only 3 more hours to go.
He yawned and turned from the counter to prep more coffee. He was almost tempted to chug it all but at this point he was already running on caffeine
*ding
Cas heard the front door open and mentally prepared to deal with whatever weirdos appear this early in the morning.
*ding
*ding
He cringed at how many people were coming in.
*BANG
He whirled around to find the source of the large sound and was not mentally prepared for what he was seeing.
A women with dirty blonde hair creepily staring at him. She was leaning across the counter. Nervously Cas looked into her eyes and instead of pupils, cat like clits replaced them. Her eyes were blood red. OH.
Claws.
He stumbled back, leaning against the wall. Barely putting distance between them as she lurched forwards.
Cas could feel the panic rising in his blood. What is she? No what is IT? He swore after this he’d quit his job and stop downing coffee and red bull. This must be a hallucination. The lack of sleep must be catching up to him.
Later he’d deny he started screaming a little but before the lady could come closer,
*BANG
She shot forwards from the impact and played there for a second. Gaping Cas looked up, behind the counter was a short haired man with a blue plaid flannel. Cuffed jeans and admittedly, kinda cute. If Cas wasn’t fearing for his life he would take a moment to appreciate how nice this mans face was.
beside him was a taller man with shaggy hair and slowly brown hair.
Cas couldn’t even begin to formulate words, sure they were attractive people but they just SHOT this monster and is covered in blood??
“Uhhhh” he said elegantly.
The flanneled man regarded him for a second, looking up and down his frame. Was this man with a gun and blood checking him out??
“Hey there.” The guy said flirtatiously. Oh lord, Cas could feel the blush rising up his cheeks. Damn this wasn’t the time.
“What the fuckin hell was that!” He squealed unable to hid how confused he was.
The other man stepped up and he could see the silent argument and scolding in their faces.
“Hi uh sorry about that demon… and my brother.” He smiled apologetically.
“Demon??” he exclaimed.
“Sammy you sure you want to explain this?” The pretty eyed man asked.
“Id like one please.” He said forcefully, “ because from where im standing there’s two people covered in blood and a dead lady.”
“Oh yeah that’s a problem huh.” Flannel guy responded sheepishly. Sammy gave another unimpressed look and turned back to Castiel.
“Youre gonna need to sit for this.” Sighed Sammy, “dean stop stealing the damn chips.” The rustlings stopped. And the adorable guy sat down, Dean. Cas couldn’t have prepared himself for what he was told next.
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By them time sam (referred as Sammy by his brother dean, which slightly relieved Cas) finished explaining it Cas’ head was spinning. At this point he couldn’t blame it on the unhealthy amounts of caffeine but wished he could.
“So let me get this straight.” Cas slowly said.
Dean snorted and whispered “im not straight but okay.”
Cas ignored that comment and would decidedly think about it LATER, “ blonde lady is, who’s now in the dumpster in the ally by the way. That dean casually dragged out was a real demon. And vampires and ghosts and angels all exist?!”
“Well angels arent real but basically yeah.” Sam sent a sympathetic smile, “ I know its a lot to deal with but well..” He trailed off.
“Basically the world is a shit place but hey were here to hunt the sons of bitches!” Dean added helpfully and attempted a happy jazz hands. Cas looked at the two who seemed so calm about the fact blood sucking monsters were roaming around. Cas cleared his throat, “So how do people even get into… this sort of business? Is there an education?”
Again the brothers exchanged a look, which Cas was slightly unimpressed. Whenever his brothers did that it meant they were planning to fuck with him and Uriel.
“Family business sorta thing.” Dean responded with a little less enthusiasm and dripping with hints of magic. He tried to offer a small smile but it felt strained. Cas may have just met them and admittedly isn’t good at people skills, but Cas felt the need to comfort them. A protectiveness from this bloody family business they’ve been doing since god knows how long. And maybe hug dean and not let go.
“Ah family pressure I know how that feels.”
The Winchester brothers smiled at him.
“We better get going uh.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck “we don’t wanna keep you distracted.”
“Uh sure..” Cas said and felt disappointment, “but first do you guys need anything your still pretty banged up.”
Deans eyes lit up, “ oh yeah sure, sam can go grab the stuff, eh Sammy.”
Again an unimpressed eyeball from his brother, it’s a mystery deans older.
“Oh its okay I have-“ Cas was cut off by dean taking off his flannel. Wow arms.
Cas quietly averted his eyes and grabbed some bandages and got to work.
After a few moments, can looked up to see dean staring at him with an indechiperale gaze he wishes he could one day find out what it means.
“This might sting.” He warned.
“Its okay im used to it by now.”
That worried Cas, A lot.
“Because of your profession?” He asked cautiously not wanting to over step this new tentative friendship.
“Haha that but as we said earlier family business. So it was pretty strict so that we wouldn’t die in the field. My dad was… strict.”
Anger rose in his throat before he could control it, “ who the hell puts their kids in that position. I can’t believe your dad what an ASSHOLE.”
Dean just stared at Cas and sam peeked around the corner. Shit, Cas overstepping again. He knew he did this, spoke about things that didn’t concern him without the consequences.
He opened his mouth but before he could get words out, deans lent over and his body was shaking. Oh no.
“dean..” He carefully said. Before he saw deans body was shaking, with laughter. Then he leaned up and back, the laughter racking his entire body. His laughter was honestly something Cas has never seen, its’ hardy and comes up quickly. He has almost crinkles around his eyes that don’t get used enough. Cas could feel heat bloom in his chest, why does this raggedy, covered in blood and beautiful faced man grab his attention so much? Is it the mystery? Is it the small bits of lost childhood coming out in his laugh or his small crimes.
“You’re a funny guy Cas even with your dry humour. I think we’re gonna be good friends.” He grinned.
Earning a grin back as he stuck a a bandaid on.
Dean looked down at the Frozen bandaid and shot was a look, his eyebrow raised.
“What? I love the characters and the songs.” He defended himself
“What are you five?”
“Pfft of course not, could a five year old also have an engineering degree.”
“Wow that’s impressive.”
Cas blushed again, damn this cute boy making him f e e l.
“Do you go to school?”
“No, well I went a few times but you know had to flunk out a few times. Demon profs are horrible test givers, they’re all false.”
Cas shits you not, giggled.
Dean seems to br encouraged by that,
“Hey.. did you have more bandaids?” Cas was so confused, “ Uh yes are you-“
“ Cuz I scrapped my knees falling for you.”
Sam groaned from across the store, which the two forgot he was there.
“Wha-“ Cas didn’t really understand it, what sort of a pick up line was that. Did dean just have these prepared for every cute person he saw. Oh god did Cas just giggle at a fuck boy. He blames the fact its 4:50 In the morning, sure.
*cough*
Sam had come up and neither of the pining messes noticed.
“Alright all stitched up?”
Cas stood up quickly causing Dean to startle,
“Yes uh huh all done. Everything done and stitched.”
“Uhh well we better going.” Dean gave an awkward stand, his posture stiff.
“Yeah we gotta get to Fresno by tomorrow.”
“Fresno!” Cas couldn’t believe this, “but that’s driving all night. You guys should just take a break.”
“ Well we have a lead.”
“ A lead?”
“To our dad.”
Cas just glanced between the two, awkwardly shuffling and not meeting his eyes. After they just admitted to their dad being such a dick their still gonna chase and use up whatever they have left in them to find the asshole.
But yet, Cas understood painfully. His dad was never around and never communicated, he knows he would drop everything for 5 seconds with him. Besides why would these two give up everything for a overtired fast food worker they just met? Who is he to think he’s that important. In the back of his mind he can hear his insecurities whispering, unimportant, not good enough. God he was dumb for jumping to conclusions for these strangers.
“Okay ill get some snacks and drinks, its on me don’t worry.”