Chapter Text
Dean smiled as he looked at the contact that popped up on his phone. “Heya Cas,” he said, putting the phone to his ear. Then he looked back up and frowned. “Hang on a sec, ok?” He put the speaker of the phone to his chest. “Sammy!” he shouted. “Turn that down, will ya? I’m on the phone.”
Sam’s mop-top head poked out from the side of Dean’s door frame that was closest to Sam’s room. “What’d ya say?”
“Music. Down. Now.” Dean said, while pointing towards the phone.
Sam disappeared again and the decibel level of the music dropped significantly. Dean snuggled down on his bed. “Heya, Cas,” he repeated with a smile.
“Hello, Dean. How are you?”
Dean rubbed at his forehead with his free hand. “Eh, I’m ok. Sammy’s making me a little crazy. He’s listening to Stairway to Heaven at full volume.”
Cas let out a small chuckle. “At least it’s a good song?”
“Yeah…Not so much when he’s played it 50 times in a row.” Dean grinned wide as he heard Sam singing along again from through the wall that adjoined their rooms. “And I love my brother, but he’s no Robert Plant.” He shook his head and closed his eyes.
Cas laughed. “I’m very sorry.”
“I’ll live.” Dean propped one barefoot atop the other and let his head hang back against the headboard of the bed. “How are you, though?”
“I’m good.” There was a pause and all Dean could hear was Sam’s wailing and the strains of a guitar. “I’d be better if I could see you,” Cas said, a little quieter than he’d been before.
Cas could hear the smile in Dean’s voice and he said quietly, “Yeah, same here, Cas. We’re still on for Friday night, though, right?” There was a worry in Dean’s voice then that made Cas smile.
“Definitely,” he replied. He was sitting on his couch, one knee tucked up near his chest. He laid his arm against it and let his hand dangle. He absent-mindedly rubbed his fingers together as he spoke. “Is it silly that I’m a little nervous?” Cas asked.
Dean laughed. “I hope not, ‘cause so am I.”
Cas smiled and felt some tension ease at Dean’s confession.
It had been a few weeks since they’d fallen into bed together and it was all very new territory. They’d agreed, once the afterglow of their sudden encounter had worn off, to take things slow from there on out. Dean’s situation was such that he didn’t want to rush into anything, especially as things between he and Cas could very easily begin to affect things between Gabe and Sam. He’d explained to Cas that most of his dating life had been “pre-Sam” as he’d called his life before Sam’s moving in.
So they’d gotten the boys together for another couple of playdates and had talked a lot on the phone, but that was about it. Dean had worked it out for Sam to stay at Bobby’s during the coming weekend though, so Friday was going to be Cas and Dean’s first date.
“Are you still not going to tell me where we’re going?” Cas asked, as he shifted on the couch.
“Nope! It’s a surprise, I told you,” Dean teased. “That’s how a first date should be.”
Cas shook his head with a smile, even though Dean couldn’t see him. “You’re very old-fashioned.”
Dean scoffed. “Says the person who I saw wearing a sweater vest last week.”
Cas’ eyes narrowed and he suppressed a grin. “At least my car is from this century,” he mocked back.
“Cas, you can’t talk about my car, man. I don’t wanna have to end this relationship before it begins.” Dean’s tone was serious, but the chuckle that followed gave him away.
The idea of being in a real relationship with Dean made something flutter in Cas’ chest and he suddenly felt nervous all over again.
Dean smiled and licked his lips. “You’re right though, nothing screams old-fashioned like being a bisexual dude with a muscle car raising your brother like a son.” He rolled his eyes.
“I know. You’re practically a walking billboard for the 1950’s.”
Dean laughed. “Yeah, yeah.”
Cas sighed. “I guess I should let you go… I’m supposed to meet friends for brunch and I’m not even dressed yet.”
Dean’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh yeah?” His voice became deeper and a little breathless. “What are you wearing, then?”
There was a beat before Cas spoke again. He’d dropped his own voice low, and the roughness of it sent shivers down Dean’s spine that hit his groin. “Nothing but a sweater vest,” Cas growled into the phone.
Dean laughed so loudly he bucked up off the bed. He was wild-eyed at the way Cas had simultaneously turned him on and cracked him up. “What the hell, dude?” he gasped.
Cas’ laugh filled Dean’s ear. “I couldn’t resist.”
After a few moments longer of both men laughing, Cas said on a chuckle, “I will call you later, Dean. Tell Sam I said ‘hello,’ ok?”
“Yeah, ok. Later, Cas.”
“Goodbye, Dean.” There was the sound of the call ending and Dean sat for a moment still chuckling softly to himself. Then he realized that it made him a little sad to have such a short conversation with Cas and it sobered him.
He really liked this guy. He’d told Cas he wanted to take things slow because of Sam and Cas’ connection to Gabe. That had been true, as had Dean’s lack of real dating after he’d become Sammy’s guardian. The thing was, Dean also wanted to slow things down because of just how much he’d already found himself drawn to Cas. It was one thing for Sam and Gabe to connect and click, to become fast friends and be close. It was a whole other ballgame for it to be Dean and a man he was dating.
Dean frowned and chewed at his fingernail.