Chapter Text
Cas steps slowly out of the bathroom and directly into Dean’s path while scratching distractedly at his bug bite. Dean puts up his hands in surprise and runs right into him, instinctively grabbing hold of Cas’s forearms to steady them both. “Whoa there.”
Cas looks up at him and his mouth falls open like he’s about to say something, but shuts again. They’d been avoiding each other like the plague, only talking about stuff that had to do with stopping the apocalypse and absolutely none of the stuff they probably should be talking about. Suddenly the contact is too much and Dean pulls his hands away like he’s been burned, which leaves Cas standing with his fingertips frozen over his bug bite in a ratty t-shirt and saggy pair of sweat pants. Dean lets the corner of his mouth twitch into something resembling a smile. It’s hard to imagine the Cas that had thrown him around in the alley being one and the same. He nervously rubs at the back of his neck. “What’s with the new duds?”
Cas squints at him before looking down and relaxing his arms to his sides. “Bobby is letting me borrow these...duds while he washes my old clothing. He said, ‘You smell like a dead fish that’s been laying out in the sun for a whole damn week,’ before handing me these and requesting that I change.” Cas’s face softens as he looks up and reaches his hand over tentatively, “Dean, I—”
“No!” Dean backs away immediately. We’re not doing this. We’re not doing anything. I should go. “I mean, I gotta get going. Lots of stuff to prepare for the apocalypse and all that.” He starts to turn away.
“I didn’t mean anything with the necklace. I was just frustrated with my father.” Dean looks back over his shoulder as Cas continues, “I...forgot how much it meant to you. During the bus trip on my way to assist you with Pestilence, I contemplated everything that could possibly have caused you to think I abandoned you, and based on my limited experiences with human emotion...the necklace seemed most likely.” Cas is staring at the floor, and Dean can’t help but turn back around. He really didn’t have a clue. No wonder he was so freaking confused. No wonder he was so fucking angry that he almost…well. Dean winces. Cas nearly whispers, “It was not my intention to end our relationship with my actions.” Cas lifts his eyes briefly and reaches out again, but almost instantly drops his hand back to his side. “I...I’m sorry, Dean I should not have...”
“But you didn’t. You stopped.” He can’t take all the blame. If either of us was less of a messed up piece of shit then we would have worked all this out without fucking it up so badly. Dean takes a step forward and rests a wary hand on Cas’s shoulder. “You stopped before...” ...before you did anything unforgivable. Cas raises his head expectantly and Dean gulps. The borrowed sweats make him look so vulnerable, so human, so kissable. He leans in until their lips are centimeters apart, “And I forgive you.” Cas closes his eyes and sighs as Dean starts to close the gap.
Just as their lips are about to touch, Sam calls out from behind them. “Dean, we could use some help out here! Where are you?”
They both stiffen and take a step back. “Well, I—” they both stammer out over one another. Dean chuckles a bit and scratches the back of his neck again. Sammy, always good for a cock block. “I better get out there before they storm the house looking for me.” He turns to leave again, but stops and smiles over his shoulder at Cas. Cas smiles weakly back at him. Yeah, they were pretty messed up, but maybe that was just them. Maybe that’s the way they were supposed to be. He winks cheekily at Cas as a promise that everything is going to be okay before heading off to find out what couldn’t possibly wait a few more seconds.
~*~