Chapter Text
Cas was gorgeous. Just standing there, all long and lean, chatting to their mutual friends like he didn’t even know how goddamn perfect he was. He’s telling Charlie about the new job he has lined up for the new year, working as a homeless advocate. The ink wasn’t even dry on his degree and here he was making the world a better place already. Dean could drink to that.
He took another long draw from his fifth, (or was it sixth?) beer. It was hard to count after Charlie had pulled out the holiday jello shots, with their pretty little red and green layers. Or was it the tequila Benny had brought? Hoo boy, best Christmas party ever! And even better because Cas was here. Gorgeous fuckin’ perfect Cas with his messy dark hair and baby blues that he uses to stare right into Dean’s soul. Like he owned it. Like Dean wished he owned it.
Cas threw his head back and laughed at some nerdy joke Charlie made. It was a whole body laugh with happy crinkles around his eyes and a wide smile that took Dean’s breath away. The deep guffaw was so adoringly infectious that everyone else around Cas joined in. He could literally light up the room just by being in it.
Dean would be an idiot to not lock that down.
Fuck, isn’t that the best idea ever! He’s going to lock that ass down right here and now. Claim him in front of all of their friends to witness and cheer them on, it was gonna be epic. Cas was totally going to fall madly in love with him right there on the spot. They wouldn’t be roommates anymore…they’d be boyfriends. Yes!
Dean emptied his bottle and put it down on the table, he needed another beer but there was something else he had to find first. Charlie had it last, where was Charlie? She’d know, she knew everything.
“Charles!? Charles! Need your help!” He raised his voice until he got her attention.”Charles! Where’s it?”
He had everyone’s attention now. Good. Even Cas was looking at him. Perfect.
“I see you watchin’ me, Cas. S’good ‘cause I gotta tell you somethin’ special.” Dean took his right hand and pointed to his own eyes before pointing at Cas just to let him know he was watching. Cas quirked his head to the side and looked at Dean. “Don’ worry, s’good, real good. Promise.”
He gave Cas his best smile. What was he doing again? Right! He needed Charlie.
“Charles! Help me find it!”
“Dean, how much have you had to drink?” Charlie asked as she came up beside him. She gently pried the drink out of his hand that he didn’t remember getting.
“Hey, Charles.” Charlie was his best friend, she was awesome. “You’re awesome Charles! Hey everybody, Charlie’s awesome. Let’s drink to Charlie!”
He reached out for his drink to toast his bestie, but she moved it away faster than he could get to it.
“Hey! Don’ be playin’ keepaway. S’mine.” He reached again, but she handed it off to Cas who had come over to stand with them.
“I think the party is winding down, Dean. Let’s get you home.” Cas said in his deep voice. Too bad Dean wasn’t ready yet, he had important shit to do first.
“Can’t wait for you to take me home Cas, but not ‘til I tells ya what I need to say.” He did his best to waggle his eyebrows suggestively. “You’re gonna like it a lot.”
Charlie and Cas both speak at the same time.
“Probably better for you to discuss at home,” said the former. “Whatever it is, it can wait,” said the latter. Both of them trying to edge Dean closer to the door.
And that’s when Dean saw it! Lurching forward towards the small table by the entryway, Dean grabbed the headband Charlie had been wearing to greet her guests earlier. He quickly put it on, there was no time to waste. The gaudy spring-loaded mistletoe bounced merrily over Dean’s head.
“Found it, Charles! Found the kissletoe!” Now all he needed was Cas. Where’d he go? Dean turned in a complete circle, which wasn’t really a good idea because woo dizzy, his stomach kept moving even after Dean stopped. “Cas! There you are!”
“Oh fuck.” A horrified Charlie mumbled off to his side, peeking through her fingers.
Cas was standing right there, right in front of him. His blue eyes were wide open and he was absolutely silent. Maybe he knew what Dean was going to say and was thrilled. Hell yeah, that’s it!
“Cas, Castiel,...Cas. I gotta tell you a secret.”
“Dean…” Cas started to talk, but it was not his turn.
“Not ‘til I’m finished, Sweetheart.” Oh, he liked the sound of that. ”I’mma gonna call you that from now on, Cas. ‘Cause you’re my favorite. Like, my all-time favorite. I know we’re best buddies and roommates and all, but I don’t wanna call you that anymore. I wanna call you sweetheart. I can do that, right?”
Cas exhaled slowly. “Call me whatever you want, Dean. Let’s just get home, okay?” He was holding Dean’s coat, where did his coat come from? Was Cas magic? Dean twisted away from Cas’s reach. He wasn’t finished yet, it was still his turn. His stomach did a funny little flip.
“Shit, are you magic, Cas? ‘Cause if you are, you have to tell me. I don’t want to be surprised by any witch babies.”
“What?” Dean wasn’t sure who said it, everyone was watching them now. His plan really was coming together.
“Witch babies. If you’re magic and we adopt they’ll give us witch babies. And nobody wants that to be a surprise. I mean it’d be awesome ‘cause we could mojo shit. But I need to know, y’know? I wouldn’t love them any less or nothin’, but you gotta prepare for that shit, y’know?” And just so Cas understood, he was going to get everyone to agree with him right now.
“Hey, everyone here tell Cas that s’okay if we adopt magic kids, but it’d be rude to keep it a secret from me.”
“He’s not wrong.” Benny chimed in, smiling. Another solid friend. He was happy for them, Dean could tell. Maybe he could convince Cas to let him be the godfather.
“Thanks, man. I knew you’d get it. See Cas? Benny gets it. Dontcha Benny?”
“Sure do, Cher.” Dean looked at Benny again. He was holding up his phone. “Getting it all on camera right now to play at your wedding.”
Benny was a genius! Definitely godfather material.
“You’re a genius, Benny! I’d kiss you right now ’cept I gotta purpose, no– I gotta porpoise, no–shit mother fuck, what’s the word? Pro–prop– ah hell, I gotta ask Cas to marry me first!” He looked at Cas, his eyes were really, really big now and he was so surprised he wasn’t even moving. Perfect. Dean must be nervous, he could feel the butterflies in his stomach. Or was it heartburn? Huh. But he was doing this no matter what.
“Cas! You gotta marry me ‘cause I’ve been in love with you since always, and I was too scared to tell you. But I’m telling you now because I’ve got Charlie’s kissletoe on and that means you have to love me back after I kiss you.”
“Dean, you really need to…” Cas was talking again, why was he talking?
“Less talking and more kissing.” Dean wasn’t going to wait anymore. He put Charlie’s headband to use and finally, finally, kissed Cas. It was even better than he’d imagined it would be. Like, way better. When he was done he stepped back and grinned happily, he’d done it! Cas must be thrilled! “There, now tell me you love me back.”
“Dean, please. Let’s just go home.” Cas said quietly, he didn’t even look happy, instead, he looked sad? No, that can’t be right. Kissing Cas under the kissletoe guarantees more kisses. Why is Cas trying to get Dean to put his coat on again?
“What that fuck, man? You’re s’posed to love me back!” The butterflies had morphed into wriggling fish.
“Dean, let’s talk about this when we are alone—and sober.”
Shit, shit, shit what was happening? Cas was supposed to be happy, Cas was supposed to love him back. But he didn’t, and now Dean had ruined everything. Not only had he most definitely ruined their best friend status, he probably ruined their platonic roommate situation…no way Cas would want to renew the lease with him.
The feeling in his gut couldn’t be ignored any longer, he bent forward and hurled all over Cas.